THRIVE: Believing Right Information About Ourselves

Written by Ed Allen
 Sunday, 08 February 2009 09:00

Sermons - THRIVE: A Field Guide to Uncertain Times

mp3

Sermon Notes

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Apostle Paul

Thriving in uncertain times depends on us choosing to believe right information about ourselves.

1. We become who we are by relating to God and to God’s people

  • We learn how to connect spiritually to one another by connecting to God.

2. As we become who are are there is a radical shift in our self-understanding

  • Philippians 3:1-11
  • Paul injects his old self-understanding and gives his past resume, but says that his past accomplishments are like rubbish and puts no weight in those accomplishments, because the important thing is knowing Christ.

3. Because of this identity shift, we inevitably press into a new lifestyle based on our new identity

  • Philippians 3:12-14
  • Identity -> Preferences -> Choices
    We make choices out of our understanding of our identity

4. Our new attitude and lifestyle fosters conditions under which we thrive in spite of circumstances

  • Philippians 4:4-13
  • You can't short-circuit this process

Practical Actions: How do we step toward choosing to believe right information about ourselves?

  1. Remember God in your successes
    • Rehearse your successes
    • and rejoice in the Lord because of them.
  2. Don’t worry about tomorrow, but cover it in prayer
    • Make a worry list
    • Cover everything on it in prayer
    • and in thanks
  3. Choose to think right thoughts about yourself

Small Group Questions

  1. What is the definition of “content”? What does it mean to you? On a scale of 1-10 how content are you in your life right now?
  2. Ed said that we learn to connect to people by being connected to God. What type of people are you drawn to? Describe some people in your life that you feel like you have a real connection with.
  3. What draws you closer to God and how do you connect with Him?
  4. Read Philippians 3:1-11. Paul became like a laser in his focus on Christ. Have you narrowed your focus? What are you pursuing right now? Can you list your priorities on one hand?
  5. If first your identity and then your preferences are rooted in Christ, what choices and actions are making that support this? Is there anything you could be doing differently?
  6. Ed gave us some steps to follow in choosing to believe right information about yourself. First, remember God in your successes. What success have you had in your life recently?
  7. Share one or two things you would put on a "worry list" and have the group pray for it.
  8. We need to choose to think right thoughts about ourselves. What do you need to hear God say to you right now? Hand out paper to the members of the group and have them write down what they need to hear God say to them this week. Take it home and keep it in a place they will see it everyday. Have members share what they wrote if they are willing.
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