Notes to accompany "Discipleship - Emotional Health , Week 4 "

Living in brokenness and vulnerability

In God’s Kingdom the way up is the way down!

                                                          Philippians 2: 5-11

Servanthood

1.  Developing a theology of weakness

The curse of the Fall is in our relationships and our work.

Genesis 3: 16   Genesis 3: 17-19

Relationships will be marked by pain and misunderstandings

Thorns and thistles will mark our work

Why?  Why does God do this?

He releases the curse in order to drive us to our knees to seek Him, to recognise our need for a Saviour

Galatians 3: 21-25

Most people flee, fight or hide.

Which of these truths best describe you?     

• I am guarded and protective about my faults & flaws

OR

• I am transparent and disclose myself to appropriate people
• I naturally focus on the flaws, mistakes and sins of others first

OR

• I am aware of my own flaws and have compassion on others.  I am slow to judge.
• I give my opinion a lot, even when I’m not asked

OR

• I am slow to speak and quick to listen.
• I don’t get close to people.

OR

• I am open and curious about others
• I often hold grudges, blame others and rarely ask  forgiveness

OR

• I take responsibility for myself, I let go of resentment and I ask forgiveness.
• I deny, avoid or withdraw from painful realities

OR

• I look at the truth, even when it hurts.

Paul’s example

21st Century culture measures strength in terms of power, and wealth and success.  Sadly, much contemporary church culture has embraced this.  Yet in 2 Corinthians 12 Paul argues for the authenticity of his leadership, not by appealing to visions or gifts but to his weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

2.  Accepting your thorn

The world says that weakness and failure are signs of a loser.  God says that they are gifts to draw us close to Him.

God delights in working through very imperfect people

God has always used cracked pots.  We just have to admit that that is what we are.

Prodigal Son             Luke 15: 11-32

The extent to which you and I are aware of our brokenness is the extent to which we truly grasp the glory of the Gospel and, like the younger son, revel in the Father’s love.

How can you know if you’re like the older brother?

• When you hold on to your anger rather than deal with  it responsibly.
• When you grumble and complain a lot
• When you hold on to offence

The great fruit of choosing brokenness is that people will be drawn to us, just as they were drawn to Jesus.