What Should We Do With Shame? | Uncommon Unity | Greg Ford
How to Make Pure Decisions | Uncommon Unity | Greg Ford
ICEBREAKER:
If your life was a TV show, which show would it be?
MESSAGE NOTES:
Purity: in order
Reciprocity: Give & Take
[Ecclesiastes 4:9-12]
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
[Romans 12:15]
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
[Ephesians 2:10]
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Adrenaline (passion)
Serotonin (happiness)
Oxytocin (closeness, emotional attachments)
Dopamine (which causes you to be numb to pain and stress, and it makes you tired)
[Romans 7:21-25]
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus…
What is the right way to think about guilt and shame?
Guilt is designed to keep us from shame.
[Proverbs 26:11]
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
[James 1:14-15]
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Correction is about protection. If God is correcting you, He is protecting you.
[Hebrews 12:5-11]
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Appropriate shame is temporary.
Inappropriate shame is permanent.
What is the appropriate way to deal with your shame?
I felt the shame, I learned the lesson, then I had appropriate detachment from the shame.
What is shame trying to tell my purity: something is out of order.
We need to feel it appropriately, learn from it, and release shame.
How does shame bring us to uncommon unity?
[Galatians 6:1-3]
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
QUESTION 1: How does the relationship between guilt and shame play itself out in your personal faith journey?
QUESTION 2: How can we practically avoid repeating foolishness as the Bible mentions in Proverbs 26?
QUESTION 3: What is your biggest take away and action step from these keys scriptures, as it applies to your life today?
GUIDED PRAYER:
God help me to have understanding around the guilt and shame I may feel, and let each feeling be used as a tool to grow closer to you. Help me to have strength and guidance from your spirit, and to learn and grow from each experience I go through. Also, give me insight to help those around me in this way as well. Amen.