I know it's been a while since I've actually written a post, but here's what you can look forward to. Each week-when there is Youth Group, I will be posting on Messy Spirituality, a book by Mike Yaconelli. Now, that's not to say that there won't be any blogs concerning scripture, recent events, or things I've been kicking around/thinking about. I just plan to share my notes and small group discussion questions with you-to give you something to chew on. *I suggest getting yourself a copy of the book. If you'd like a copy-ask me.
HERE'S CHAPTER 1:
THE WORKSHOP OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Who wants to live a godly life?
Our author, Mike Yaconelli had been trying to follow Jesus for over 45 years, but kept losing Him in the crowded busyness of his life. Here’s a quote: ‘I know Jesus is there, somewhere, but it’s difficult to make Him out in the haze of everyday life. Yet when I look at the yesterdays of my life, what I see, mostly, is a broken, irregular path littered with mistakes and failures.’ (pg. 10)
Does that sound like you?
Is the only consistency in your life your inconsistency?
Are who you want to be and who you are very different?
So what is spirituality?
What do you think of when you hear the word spirituality?
Do you think of monks, the disciples, saints, grandparents?
Generally speaking, most people who use the word spiritual describe it or attribute it to those who they think pray all day long, read their Bibles constantly, never get angry or rattled, have an ‘inside’ track to God, or have special powers.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with that kind of living, monks are able to experience, seek, and know God in ways we haven’t…but what about the rest of us?
What about those of us who are single, married, have kids, or go to school, have a job, have friends, have the scars of rejection upon their hearts, are lost, seeking understanding and acceptance?
Is there a spirituality for the rest of us who don’t have it all together and probably never will?
YES!
WHAT LANDED JESUS ON THE CROSS?
The idea that common, ordinary, broken, screwed-up people could be godly.
WHAT DROVE HIS ENEMIES CRAZY?
Jesus’ criticisms of the ‘perfect religious’ people and his acceptance of the imperfect non-religious people. (Luke 11:37-54)
Jesus basically said anyone can be spiritual.
The pages of the Bible are filled with messy people. Think of Old Testament and New Testament.
God chose a murder to free his people…
God chose a crazy and a drunk to build a boat…
God chose a person who was filled with lust, had an affair, killed her husband, then married her.
That’s just the Old Testament, just look at the failures those few alone had-those are ones we would all be embarrassed of. But why should we be surprised? All of God’s chosen in the Bible had moments of weakness and strength, courage and fear…but they were also murderers, adulterers. Yet, they were men and women who could be gentle, holy, defenders of the faith one minute and insecure, unbelieving, grudge-holding tyrants the next.
THE SCANDAL OF SPIRITUALITY:
THE ANNE LAMOTT STORY (PG. 17-19).
THE TRUTH ABOUT MESSY SPIRITUALITY:
MESSY SPIRITUALITY UNVEILS THE MYTH OF FLAWLESSNESS AND CALLS CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE TO COME OUT OF HIDING AND TO STOP PRETENDING.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY HAS THE AUDACITY TO SUGGEST THAT MESSINESS IS THE WORKSHOP OF AUTHENTIC SPIRITUALITY, THE GREENHOUSE OF FAITH, THE PLACE WHERE THE REAL JESUS MEETS THE REAL US.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS A CELEBRATION OF A DISCIPLESHIP WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS THE SCANDALOUS ASSERTION THAT FOLLOWING CHRIST IS ANYTHING BUT TIDY AND NEAT, BALANCED AND ORDERLY.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE; IT IS A MIXED UP, TOPSY-TURVY, HELTER-SKELTER GODLINESS THAT TURNS OUR LIVES INTO AN UPSIDE-DOWN TOBOGGAN RIDE FULL OF UNEXPECTED TURNS, SURPRISE BUMPS, AND BONE-SHATTERING CRASHES.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS THE DELIRIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF A LIFE RUINED BY A JESUS WHO WILL LOVE US RIGHT INTO HIS ARMS.
QUESTIONS:
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS’ CRITIQUE OF THE PHARISEES?
READ: Luke 11:37-54
WHAT DO YOU THINK JESUS WAS TRYING TO SAY IN VERSE 39?
‘You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness’
DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING A FAKE OR A ‘POSER’?
DO YOU LISTEN OR EVEN ACCEPT SOMEONE ONCE IT’S BEEN REVEALED THEY’RE A POSER?
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WAS TRYING TO SAY IN VERSE 46?
‘For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.’
DO YOU THINK JESUS WAS ASKING THEM TO BE MORE HUMBLE AND THOUGHTFUL?
ARE YOU THOUGHTFUL AND HUMBLE WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING, LISTENING AND SHARING?
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU HELPED?
HOW DID YOU EASE THEIR BURDEN?
JAMES BOND SAID IT BEST: ‘WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON GIVING ADVICE NEVER TAKE ANY ADVICE?’
IS THAT YOU? ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO JUDGES AND INSISTS ON ALWAYS BEING RIGHT?
-WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS OR PARENTS
DO YOU HAVE A MESSY LIFE?
CHALLENGE:
THINK ABOUT HOW MESSY YOUR LIFE IS…HOW YOU MIGHT BE TOO BUSY FOR GOD (READING YOUR BIBLE, GOING TO YOUTH GROUP, CHURCH OR SUNDAY SCHOOL) OR TOO BUSY TO DO GOD’S WILL (HELPING SOMEONE WHO’S HURTING OR MARGINALIZED IN SCHOOL-THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO SIT ALONE).
READ MATTHEW 25:31-46
ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHO ARE THE ‘LEAST OF THESE’ JESUS SPEAKS OF IN YOUR BUSY LIFE?
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