Reconciliation Workshop (Obstacles & The 6 Stages of Reconciliation) with Dr. Salim Munayer

Dr. Salim Munayer is the founder of Musalaha, a faith-based organization that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and also international groups, based on biblical principles of reconciliation as taught by Jesus. Salim’s material is included as part of the curriculum at Pepperdine University along with another university in the U.K..

Salim is the author of Journey Through the Storm and Through My Enemy’s Eyes: Envisioning Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine.

When we go to another country, we need to learn their language and cultures in order to communicate with them. We become ambassadors. This is the incarnational model.
Too often we expect others to learn our language and our culture and adjust to us.

A Ministry of Reconciliation:

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Our message is to be reconciled to God and the announcement of the new creation! God is reconciling the world to Himself, and we are invited to join Him in this work.

  • Our vocation is a ministry of reconciliation.
  • Too often we buy into an Epicurean philosophy which divides the physical and the spiritual.
  • Heaven and earth overlap. We are to join God in bringing more of heaven to earth.
  • The old has gone and the new has come. Much like the way a snake sheds its skin, we are invited into a process of transformation.
  • God is pleading to the world through those who follow Jesus. We are to take upon ourselves the pain and injustice of the world. We are to be empathetic ambassadors. We need to take up our cross and die to self. What happened on the cross is Jesus took upon Himself the sins and injustices of the world upon Himself. We are to do the same like sponges – soaking up the darkness and with the power of Christ spreading the light.
  • Are we including others who are different than us? Does our church look like our neighborhood?

The Characteristics of an Intractable Conflict:

  • Violent
  • Demanding
  • Zero sum nature
  • Ethos of the conflict as an obstacle
  • Religion (competing religious worldviews and identities)

Oftentimes diplomacy does not work when it comes to an intractable conflict.

What works is a grassroots movement.

The Power of Grassroots Movements:

See “Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.” and The story Leymah Gbowee.

The early church was a grassroots movement. The early church believed what Jesus said and lived it out, and the Roman Empire was upended. They loved their enemies. They lived differently choosing to live holy lives. Their communities were diverse in terms of ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status. They served those who were suffering. Too often in our day, Christians are passive. They listen to a message and never truly act upon it.

Often women are the true catalyst for change. See The story Leymah Gbowee.

See “Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.”

It is important to address the severe imbalance of power when it comes to conflict.

The Example of the First Conflict in the Early Church:

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

– Acts 6:1-7

Notice how those with less power, those in the minority, were given a voice and power as they were the ones chosen to solve the problem. Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas were Hellenistic Jews.

Obstacles to Reconciliation:

  1. Finding a forum to develop relationships and trust.
  2. Ignoring reality or maintaining status quo.

Asking for forgiveness and saying sorry is not enough. This is a start for sure, but there still needs to be justice. Too often we do not address the systemic issues that need to change. We can be blind to the systemic issues.

In the cross the love of God and justice of God come together. This is redemptive love.

Both love and justice need to be involved.

Without justice then the systemic issues continue and more conflict will happen.

Justice without love turns into revenge.

Physical Obstacles:

In Israel and Palestine, there are separation walls, checkpoints, living in different neighborhoods with varying access to opportunity, misinformation and disinformation and lack of information arising from being unable to meet the other side; and violence and/or the perceived threat of violence.

In the U.S.A. there are gated communities, segregation in our cities, misinformation and disinformation and lack of information arising from being unable to meet the other side; and violence and/or the perceived threat of violence.

Emotional Obstacles:

  • Fear
  • Suspicion
  • Despair
  • Complacency and apathy
  • Denial of responsibility and reality
  • Anger
  • Hatred
  • Bitterness and blame

One time prayer is not usually enough. This takes hard work.

Psychological Obstacles:

1. Racism stems from the following

  • Labeling people as “other”
  • Moral superiority (In marriage – “I provide for you!” “I have taken care of you!” given as excuses for not needing to change.)
  • Ethnocentrism
  • Fear of losing control

2. Dehumanization and demonization (“The other person or persons are beyond redemption.”)

3. Victimization, secondary victimization

4. Self-fulfilling prophecy: not allowing for a positive outcome to occur

5. Trauma: emotional or physical wounds leading to psychological distress. Too often we have neglected to work towards healing our trauma. Trauma from the past can trigger responses in the present.

We need to be patient with each other and invite the Holy Spirit to bring new creation into our lives and into our relationships.

These obstacles can be overwhelming and even depressing, but we have hope in Christ and His work in us and through us!

The Stages of Reconciliation

Stage 1 – Beginning of Relationships

Actions:

  • Meet on neutral ground
  • Participate in non-threatening activities
  • Meet in an equal and balanced group
  • Build trust.
  • Take risks by sharing personal stories.

Feelings:

  • Excitement
  • Enthusiasm
  • Caution
  • Hesitation
  • Curiosity

Stage 2 – Grievances

Actions:

  • Unload grievances
  • More trust-building

Feelings:

  • Risk could be rewarded with injury
  • Surprised, vulnerable, antagonized, overwhelmed
  • Identity (personal and group) is challenged or even attacked.

Often there is a huge gap in understanding each other in this stage.
Some want to defend themselves or argue that what the other person is feeling is not accurate.
Some are in denial of what the other person has experienced.

Stage 3 – Withdrawal

Actions:

  • Meet grievance with grievance
  • Relationships fade

Feelings:

  • Confirmed suspicions
    “withdrawal was inevitable”
    “we will never understand each other”

Countering Withdrawal – The Contact Hypothesis

When two groups come together they must do the following:

  • Have equal status in the context of meeting each other.
  • Share common goals.
  • Have little to no competition between them.
  • Be supported by authority figures.

For Musalaha, they created the Desert Encounter as a way to create a neutral ground and a place where they are more open to listening and learning. They travel together, cook together, live together, and get to know each other. Your enemy becomes your source of survival!

Stage 4 – Reclaiming Identity

Actions:

  • Examine identity, as it is the first casualty of painful conflict.
  • Take time for self-reflection and affirmation.
  • Might be done at the expese of the other.
  • Make internal decision to move forward or not.

Feelings:

  • Stuck
  • Distant
  • Bitter
  • Defeated
  • Frustrated

These feelings are the key to spiritual growth! If you are content then you see no reason to change or grow.
When you think everything is ok then there is no longing for new creation.
There has to be a death before we can experience the new life. There is no resurrection without the crucifixion!

Our identity is being constructed in the context of community. In community we are constantly negotiating who we are. If you are open to this then you will be blessed.

Same is true in the context of marriage and in our families. What is your family’s identity or mission?

What is needed for change?

1.Bridging

  • Try to bridge the gap between two narratives.
  • Form them into a third narrative.
  • Create a joint narrative that serves as a foundation for reconciliation to be built upon.
  • Or accept that the two narratives will never be bridged and focus on areas of weakness in both narratives.

2. Redeeming memory to counter victimization

3. Trauma training – seek forgiveness and healing. Forgiveness does not equal reconciliation.

4. Identity transformation

What about when only one person in the conflict wants to work towards reconciliation and the other does not?

Help the resistant one to see the beauty of working through the conflict.

Create ways for both parties to do something together.

You won’t lose your identity but your identity will be restored.

Narrative Provides the Following:

  • Identity – There is a focus on positive in-group images, and blame is attributed to the other side. For example, both Israelis and Palestinians see themselves as the true victims of the conflict and see the other side as the aggressor.
  • Legitimacy – It is important that each side sees themselves as “right” and the other side as “wrong.”
  • Functional Truth – This is a partial truth that serves the purpose of offering legitimacy and only serves the truth as a secondary condition.
  • Zero Sum Mentality – Because so much rests on narrative, anything that challenges the narrative is very threatening. This leads to zero sum mentalities which refuse any critique.

Stage 5 – Committing and Returning

  1. Restoring Individual and Group Relationships – this means constructively engaging with the other side to allow inner healing to take place, rebuilding trust, and reclaiming one’s identity to bless one’s neighbor. This includes taking concrete steps towards a more peaceful environment.
  2. Addressing Systematic Injustices – this means dealing with the core issues of the conflict and challenging policies, systems, legal structures, etc. that oppress people and cause an imbalance of power, which damages the ability to reconcile.

Stage 6 – Taking Steps

While working through the process of reconciliation, sustainability is key. The crucial first step is the building of relationships. This is a very difficult step, as it requires participants to step out of their comfort zones and reach out to people on the “other” side. 

After relationships have been established, participants can begin to deal with the issues; a process that is never easy, but is made possible because of the personal relationships that have been built. Next, participants need to receive training in reconciliation and in leadership, so they can best impact their society by spreading the message of reconciliation and hope. Participants who have gone through this process are able to bear witness to its transformative power, and help recruit new participants and bring them into the process. 

Reconciliation Workshop (5 Basic Needs) with Dr. Salim Munayer

Dr. Salim Munayer is the founder of Musalaha, a faith-based organization that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, and also international groups, based on biblical principles of reconciliation as taught by Jesus. Salim’s material is included as part of the curriculum at Pepperdine University along with another university in the U.K..

Salim is the author of Journey Through the Storm and Through My Enemy’s Eyes: Envisioning Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine.

We follow the Prince of Peace, so we should bring peace to those around us.

In initial attempts to bring people together, it did not go well. In large part, this was because we do not have a solid understanding of the theology of reconciliation.

Too often we see reconciliation as something that happens between us as individuals and with God rather than seeing how reconciliation should also happen between us and others.

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

What is Conflict?

Conflict comes in many forms and expressions. It can range from a minor disagreement between two people to international war.
Conflict is an unavoidable element of life. There is a potential for disaster in any conflict, but there is also the potential for positive change.

Often, if people are happy they are not as willing to change.
If you think all is ok, you will not be as open to the changes needed to make things better.

Three Main Sources of Conflict:

  1. As people our differences can create disagreement.
  2. Human subjectivity.
  3. Competition over resources.

We need to be more patient with each other and accepting of our different perspectives.

Intergroup Conflict:

  1. The conflict is larger (in terms of involving more people) than individual conflicts.
  2. Same vs. Other / Us vs. Them = Intergroup conflict expressed by dehumanizing others.
  3. When the rights or needs of a group are not being met, a group will fight for them.
  4. Many of these needs are connected to identity.

The Reverse Refrigerator Effect:

  • Normally a refrigerator cools everything that inside of it, and as a result emits heat into the outside world.
  • Identifying with a group focuses on inner warmth, everyone within the group benefits from the heat.
  • However, because of the inner heat, cold exclusion is offered to everyone outside the group.
  • This is how the ‘Us vs. Them’ attitude develops.

Competition between groups creates enmity.

Internal cohesion of a group is contingent on the level of external pressure.

Conflict and Identity (Simmel’s Rule)

The pressure challenges or denies our needs, and since each need is an essential part of what makes us who we are, when

Our Five Basic Needs:

  1. Meaning – how we understand the world and basic principles such as justice, truth, and value. Other groups are threatening because they are calling our forms of meaning into question. Competing religious, political, and ideological meanings contribute to the conflict. If angry then area of threat is meaning.
  2. Connectedness – our sense of belonging and community expressed through language, tribe, religion, etc.. When this is denied we can feel lonely and alienated.
  3. Security – our physical security, as well as a guarantee of our basic human rights, which include emotional, spiritual, and economic security. Security relates to connectedness. Fear can lead to violence.
  4. Action – our feeling of being in control, and/or in charge of our environment. When we are denied action, and our power, autonomy and agency are limited, we feel a sense of depression and resignation. (This happens in the U.S. as well through racial profiling, incarceration, and gated communities).
  5. Recognition – our need to be recognized and acknowledged for our actions. We feel shame when we are not recognized. It is important to acknowledge wrongdoing.

Jesus said that we will find fulfillment when we realize who we are as created in the image of God.

So how do we bring change to our world that is so broken?

1. Look for ways to bring meaning, connectedness, security, action, and recognition to others in your lives. Understanding the needs of others is a way of

2. Bring peace to your home, your neighborhood, and your place of work.

3. “Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.“

4. Consider the story Leymah Gbowee

The Post-Christian Podcast – A.J. Diaz (Pets As a Path for Outreach)

In a city like Austin where there are more dogs and cats than people who follow Jesus, a unique way into the hearts of those we are trying to reach includes their pets!

Recently I interviewed Annemarie (A.J.) Diaz about her first book My Beautiful Bellissima: Stories of Love and Heeling which is a compilation of stories centered around the dogs she has loved and learned from, and also sharing her own struggles with fears and anxiety, which were overcome with the help of feral adoptee named Bellissima (Bella).

She lives in Central Texas with her husband Shaniko, mother-in-law, and three beautiful fur babies. A.J. is a lifelong lover of nature and animals, finding inspiration and joy in the beauty of God’s creation. She has a passion for fostering reconciliation, reconciliation between humans and the natural world, humans and God, and humans and one another. She is part of Gateway Church in Austin.

Recently, we baptized a young woman from a Muslim background who was invited by another woman from our church when their dogs connected at a dog park.

The Post-Christian Podcast and Giveaways:

Our goal with The Post-Christian Podcast is to reframe, simplify, and focus on our mission to make disciples in a post Christian culture. We discuss reaching new people and raising up leaders while removing the barriers of churchianity.

Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter at www.ericbryant.org for a chance to win future book giveaways and assessments!

Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Post-Christian Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube.com/@ericbryant777, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Listen or Watch Here:

APPLE PODCAST – An Interview with A.J. Diaz

FRESH – The Prayer for Wisdom

Today we concluded our series called Fresh: Prayer Recipes for a Changed Life at Gateway Church in Austin.

We should pray for wisdom to make the best decisions for ourselves and others, with God’s guidance.

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

DIGGING DEEPER

Watch Here:

Message Notes:

Big Idea: We need God’s wisdom to navigate the complexities of life. 

If you are new to Gateway, you may not know that we refer to Sundays as our inspire service. Our goal is to help you, equip you, inspire you to take a next step in your spiritual journey. 

  • For some of you that could be to continue to explore God as you are considering who God is and who Jesus is. 
  • Maybe you are coming with a level of interest or curiosity or genuinely searching. 
  • Others of you have had an experience with God. At one point in your life, you may have surrendered your life to follow Jesus and discovered a relationship with God. 

Wherever you are in your journey, there is always more. There is always an invitation to something deeper.

Now some of us may not be exploring God or trying to grow in your relationship with God. You may be here as a courtesy to a family member or a friend or because your kids want to be here. I want you to open your heart and mind to the possibility of more.

Sometimes crisis opens us up to the spiritual in ways the normal day to day may not.

At the beginning of the pandemic, 

  • a study by the University of Copenhagen found that google searches for prayer in ninety-five countries increased exponentially during the global pandemic. 
  • They found that prayer was relatively stagnant, but as the number of Covid cases rose, so did the number of internet searches on prayer, surging to the highest level in the past five years by March 2020. 
  • The pandemic unleashed an urgency to seek God in ways the world hasn’t in a while. 
  • For fun, do a google search on Covid 19 prayers, and you will find page after page of them. 

Since the new year, we have been looking at some different ways the Bible shows us how to pray and seek God through a variety of different circumstances. 

Each of them, so far, has been related to how to pray during times of difficulty, trial, or sin. It’s not surprising that times of crisis lead people to seek God for help and answers. But, we know that we need God above and beyond those times. 

Our commitment to prayer and seeking God is a daily need, no matter what we’re facing. 

Our hope is that you not turn to prayer as a last resort but as a first priority!

The Bible contains over 600 prayers, in addition to the book of Psalms which consists of another 150 prayers!

“Prayer is so great wherever you look in the Bible, it’s there. Why? Everywhere God is prayer is.”

– Tim Keller

Today we’re going to end our series by talking about the importance of praying for wisdom. 

This is a great place to land because it’s something we all need for any moment, each and every day. It also sets us up for our next series where we will explore this concept of wisdom and how to live by it in our daily lives.

We make thousands of decisions every day. A while back we did a message on how our decisions impact the world around us, they carry weight. 

How often do we seek God in these decisions, especially the ones where we are unsure of what to do next? 

We may respond in a variety of ways. 

  • Is our first thought to ask God for wisdom, or is it to text a friend or turn to the internet for our favorite influencer’s hot take on the subject? 
  • Or, maybe we do go to God for help with a decision, but really we’re looking for God to drop the answer from the sky?
    “God, just tell me what to do, what is your will for my life?”
    We just want to sit passively till God tells us what to do, instead of partnering with Him in living wisely. 

With all the decisions we make in a day, with the multiple interactions we have with strangers and loved ones, we need God’s wisdom to navigate the nuances and complexities of life. 

But what exactly is wisdom and why should I seek it? 

What is wisdom? 

There are many different ways to articulate the concept of wisdom, but what when we are talking about Biblical wisdom, it boils down to is this: 

Wisdom is truth applied in context. 

It isn’t about flashes of brilliant insight, it’s about knowing “Truth” in context, combined with the discipline to act.

This definition implies certain premises that we must be clear on if we are to pursue wisdom 

We must acknowledge that there is Truth. 

This runs counter to the trends of our culture that truth is something we determine or discover within ourselves, rather than something that is fixed by our creator. 

That’s why we hear things like, “that’s your truth” or “speak your truth.” 

We must acknowledge that Truth is deeply embedded in who God is, how He created the world, and how He has designed us (His image) to live in it. 

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place -Prov. 3:19

This truth can be found on the first page of the Bible. There is a design and order to which God created the world and a right and best way to live in it. 

We must acknowledge that the world does not operate by God’s design, so life is messy and complex. 

Wisdom was lost in the garden. The choice to eat from the one tree God said not to, was a choice to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong instead of choosing to submit to God’s definition. In other words, the choice resulted in doing what was “wise” in our own eyes instead of choosing to grow in God’s wisdom. 

God’s wisdom no longer comes naturally to us. We are bent toward defining right and wrong for ourselves instead of submitting to God’s definition. And as a result, the world is not as it should be and we are not as we should be. 

Whereas, certain decisions should be quite obvious, like, “Should I lie on my taxes or should I cheat on my spouse?” 

Some decisions are messy and figuring out what is right or true can be really, really difficult. 

An obvious place to go in Scripture to witness this reality is the story of Solomon. Although he was flawed in many ways, King Solomon is still renowned for His great wisdom and is believed to be responsible for penning most of what is known as wisdom literature in our Old Testament (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs). The genesis of Solomon’s wisdom is found in 1 Kings 3 when he has just assumed the throne of his father David. (David, the man after God’s heart who conquered nations, united the twelve tribes under a united monarchy and was promised by God to never lack a son to sit on his throne forever.) So, no pressure, Solomon! 

It’s important to note, right off the bat, that Solomon “loved the LORD” and was “walking in the statutes of his father David.” It’s clear Solomon is beginning his reign from the best starting place, a relationship with God, when God appears to him in dream and makes a simple, yet astounding request- 

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” – 1 Kings 3:5

The God who created the universe out of nothing just handed Solomon a blank check and said “you name it. There is no limit.” 

What would you ask God for?

Solomon’s response is baffling. He doesn’t ask for what you might think- wealth, power, military strength, although he gets that as a bonus. 

Without hesitation he says, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.”

So, instead of first jumping into the answer to God’s questions, he takes time to acknowledges God’s faithfulness and goodness to his father and his people. 

Then he continues-

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.”

Now we see Solomon acknowledging his own limitations. He is young and inexperienced and he has much self-awareness around that. He begins his reign humbly recognizing his place and the daunting role that is before him. Seems like he’s already off to a wise start! 

And FINALLY, Somolon gets to the answer – 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Solomon is anywhere between 18-24. I don’t know about you, but at that age if someone handed me all that power, I would ask for something entirely different. 

Of all the things he could ask for, he asks for a discerning heart, or more literally, a listening heart, to be able to lead God’s people from the place of knowing God’s definition of right and wrong. 

It is a reminder of how much listening is involved in making wise decisions. 

Solomon’s humble request reflects all of the premises we just talked about- he acknowledges that there is truth embedded in who God is, how he’s created the world and how he should live in it, but that governing this people is messy and he needs God’s wisdom to know how do it well. 

This request pleased God so much that he tells him he will not only grant him “a wise and discerning mind, “like no one before him or after him” but also what he did not ask for- riches and honor like no king before or after. Pretty sweet deal! 

Solomon’s wisdom is put to the test in the very next scene-

In 1 Kings 3:16-27, King Solomon demonstrates his wisdom when two women come to him with a baby, each claiming to be the child’s mother.
Solomon suggests cutting the baby in half and giving each woman half.
One woman agrees, but the other begs Solomon to spare the child’s life and give him to the other woman.
Solomon then identifies the real mother as the one who showed compassion and love for the child, and he awards her full custody of the baby.
This event showcases Solomon’s discernment and wisdom as a ruler.

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. 1 Kings 3:28

This scene shows us wisdom in action. His wisdom showed up in making the right decision given the information he had. The baby, in the end, went to the mother that truly cared about him. 

Here see one important aspect of wisdom on display: 

Wisdom is contextual (not black and white) because life and people are messy. 

Do you ever come across people (or maybe you are like this yourself!) who always seem to have the answers for all the world’s problems? And you’re like, no, life is not that simple or clearcut! The right thing to do is not always black and white. 

We all know this, right?
Have you ever tried to have a conversation with two kids who have been in a fight? Getting the full story is tricky and figuring out the right way to handle it is tough. 

Truth applied in one situation may not work the same way in the next.
How you handle one situation with one of your kids is not necessarily the wise way to handle the same situation with another.
The way you lead some people in your workplace may be different from the way you need to lead others. 

As we read on in Solomon’s story, God does indeed give him 

 and the ability to rule well so that His people are described as happy and flourishing. His wisdom was so great, it attracted people from all nations to travel to hear his great wisdom.  

Here is another confirmation about wisdom- 

 God is pleased when we ask for wisdom and pleased to give it. 

“It pleased the Lord that Solomon asked for this.” -1 Kings 3:10. 

If wisdom is submitting to God’s definition of right and wrong and acting on it, would that not be something God is eager to dish out? 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, and leader of the Jerusalem church wrote a letter clearly drawing from the wisdom of the book of proverbs. He says…

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5

God is not stingy with wisdom. He is delighted to give it to us. The problem is that we don’t ask for it. 

One other thing we learn about wisdom from Solomon’s story- 

Wisdom must continually be sought after. 

It’s not a one and done thing, but something we must constantly choose and ask for. We see this to be true in the tragic end of Solomon’s story- he eventually abandons God’s wisdom.
Whereas, Solomon began his reign, loving God and walking in the ways of his father, David, it ends with him loving many foreign women and those women turning his heart after their gods.
You see, God’s secondary blessings of wealth, power, etc. became sources of downfall b/c Soloman didn’t steward the initial blessing of wisdom and God’s instruction to “walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life”- 1 Kings 3:14.
The consequence is disastrous, resulting in the fracturing of his great kingdom.  

If he had only stuck to his own advice- 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Prov. 4:6-7

We never arrive and get our fill of God’s guidance in our lives.

Jesus was constantly getting away alone with God, we see this especially in key moments of weighty decisions.   

If we are to know the truth embedded in who God is, we have to pursue knowing God for who He is. Praying for wisdom and getting to know God’s wisdom through His word must go hand in hand. If we want God’s wisdom, His answers to our problems, but we don’t want God, that is the road to foolishness. 

Will I know what is wise when I see it? 

Walking in God’s wisdom will often look foolish to the world. 

It is a difficult choice and not necessarily popular. 

As we learned recently through our series on Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The ways of God’s kingdom are upside down and to follow them may look ridiculous to those around us. It’s self-denial instead of self-indulgence; It’s forgiving instead of retaliating

Walking in wisdom requires courage. 

Remember, biblical wisdom is truth APPLIED in context. It’s more than just knowing the right thing to do, but knowing how to do it and then acting on it. 

This is challenging to do. In the age of information overload, where there are a plethora of voices and opinions vying for attention. Where we are instructed to just look inside ourselves to find truth and discover who we are. Where the culture’s idea of wisdom is to trust our emotions, intuitions, desires and follow our heart as faithful guides to living a good life. 

One of the biggest hindrances to our pursuit of God’s wisdom to be aware of is the pervasive influence of technology and social media. 

In his recent book called Digital Liturgies, author Samuel James makes this bold observation:

“In the online age, our default is to lose touch with reality… Every person living in a modern, digitally connected culture is constantly inhabiting a moral and intellectual habitat that distorts the biblical story of reality.”  

– Samuel James, author of Digital Liturgies

Whether we are aware of it or not, it forms and directs our loves and desires.  We need to train ourselves to identify and interact with technology in positive ways that are uplifting and soul-forming (while also recognizing that our default is to doom-scroll towards our own malformation)

I’ve noticed that I have an urge to scroll when I have downtime or I’m just tired. It is compulsive. I want to mindlessly flip through funny videos of strangers, tips on how to make quick, easy meals, and how to parent my two year old. The truth is, though, that it is not mindless, or heartless. It affects both. I walk away feeling discontent and with the sudden desire to buy things I don’t need or be doing more with my life than God is asking me to do. I leave believing a different story than what’s actually true. I don’t like that. I don’t want to be formed by the images and voices on my screen, but by God’s word. He knows me best and He knows what’s best. 

Walking in wisdom requires community.

We need others in our life to help us in this spiritual journey. Too often our Westernized viewpoint makes us so individualistic we refuse to ask for help or we isolate or we make decisions that keep us too busy for genuine relationships.

My life has changed so much because of this community. Gateway South has become like my extended family. Sundays are like a family reunion! God works in my heart through the worship, through the message, through the times in prayer, and through the conversations in the lobby before or after.

But Sundays are really just the beginning. True community happens in a group. 

In this new season, I want to encourage you to step out of anonymity into a community. 

If you aren’t in a group, today is a perfect day to choose one. 

Whether it’s a serve group on Sunday mornings, a grow group to go deeper in Scripture, a heal group to help in a difficult life season, or a community group where you can meet others and belong.

Listen, the truth is there’s no context for following Jesus in isolation. Christianity can only be done in COMMUNITY. 

Walking in wisdom produces good fruit. 

Back to the question from the beginning, do we turn to the advice of others before turning to God or are we waiting for God to drop a sign from the sky on what we should do. If we are walking by God’s wisdom that will be evident by the fruit it produces. 

Once again, James sheds some light on this truth. 

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. – James 3:13-16

There are two kinds of wisdom here, the “wisdom” of the world, which produces things like bitter envy and selfish ambition. 

James goes on to explain that the wisdom that comes from God is “ is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17

Would it be wise to post this comment on facebook?
What am I hoping it will produce in me and others? 

We can recognize wisdom from its fruit. 

Life is messy and not black and white; we need God’s wisdom to navigate the complexities of life. 

Many of us are facing tough questions, some of them showed up in the prayer cards over these 3 weeks of pray first

  • God, give me the wisdom to know how to be a light to my children who are far from you. 
  • Give me the wisdom to know how to navigate the mental health of loved ones. 
  • Help me know how to talk to my child about their struggle with sexuality or gender. 
  • Should I move my family or stay put? 
  • Should I get a new job? 

These are difficult decisions and we’re terrified to make the wrong move. Here’s the good news. 

We can pray for wisdom. Praying for God’s wisdom over our own, is how we continue to surrender to His idea of human flourishing. It’s saying, God I trust you and submit to what you say is best, not what I think is best. 

We can read and reread God’s word where we find the story of God’s wisdom and how we are designed to live in it. 

We can let others walk with us. We have so many ways to connect with others where you can know and be known by them. Step into a group where you can navigate the complexities of life with those who are also doing the same. We are not meant to do it alone.

Solomon had wisdom beyond imagination, but even he failed to live by God’s wisdom completely. 

And there were many who came before and after him that showed potential, but ultimately failed as well. 

Then Christ came, the one who submitted to God’s wisdom perfectly in every situation. He is the Truth and Wisdom personified.
When tempted to choose His own way, He remained faithful. 

The wisest thing we could ever do is choose Him, love Him, and be like Him in the world. If you’ve yet to take that pivotal step toward Jesus, which means to turn from choosing what’s right in your own eyes toward Jesus’ perfect wisdom, receiving the gift of what He has done for you, and committing to following Him with your whole life, that invitation is open for you today. Please come talk to someone on our prayer team about taking this next step. 

Today, we’re going to see Jesus’ wisdom on display as we witness people taking the step to publicly identify with him through baptism and submit to following Him with their whole lives. 

Stick around to support them and if you’ve never been baptized before, but think this might be your next step, come talk to one of our pastors or leaders up at the front to find out more.

Let’s close with this famous prayer for wisdom by Reinhold Niebur, one that we say every Monday night at Restore. It’s the Serenity Prayer. Would you say it with me?

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

FRESH – The Prayer Out of Nowhere

Our new series at Gateway Church in Austin focuses on prayer as we start the year with our Pray First Initiative.

Step into a brand-new year with our series, “Fresh.” Just as many of us aim for healthier choices in January, we’re exploring various prayers from the Bible as revitalizing “recipes” for a transformed life.

Each prayer serves as a distinct ingredient in our spiritual journey, offering the reality of forgiveness, renewal, strength, and guidance. Embracing the desire for a fresh start, we’ll unpack these prayers, each one a potent tool for igniting change within.

This is an exploration of these spiritual “meals” that go beyond mere words, shaping and infusing our lives with purpose and vitality. Together, let’s discover the transformative power of prayer and embark on a journey towards an enriched life.

The prize of prayer is not health and wealth; it’s God Himself.

Discussion Questions:

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

DIGGING DEEPER

Message Video:

https://youtu.be/F52q-vf5JM4?si=0CQ0yBkGCXSgq8a7

Message Notes:

What were you doing in 1999? Maybe you weren’t yet alive! Maybe you were a kid playing on your Nintendo DS or a teenager and enamored by Dawson’s Creek or The Matrix? Maybe you were listening to the Miseducation of Lauren Hill on your Sony Walkman? Maybe you were stocking up in preparation for Y2K?

Deborah and I were going through LaMaz classes getting ready for the birth of our first child. All was going so well – until the day he was born.

Since Deborah was the one about to do all of the work and our maternity room included a tv and vcr, I let her choose the movie. She chose Sleepless in Seattle. All was going fine – Tom Hanks was falling in love with Meg Ryan when all of a sudden an alarm started going off.  Suddenly nurses and our doctor came running in and tried to determine why Caleb’s heart rate was dropping. Was the cord wrapping around his neck? Or was there something worse going on?

They rushed Deborah out of the room so they could take her to a room for an emergency c-section. When Caleb was born, there was no sound. I wanted to hear the sound of a baby crying, but he wasn’t crying. He wasn’t even breathing. One of the nurses began to perform CPR on his little body. With great relief, he started to breathe and cry, but it was the faintest cry I had ever heard. Something was not right.

The doctors assured us that it was probably just fluid on his lungs. They needed to send him to a different hospital that had a Neonatal Intensive Care Unity to make sure, but all should be fine. I’ll never forget seeing Caleb in the incubator as they brought him into Deborah’s room so she could see him and say goodbye. She would continue to recover at the first hospital while Caleb was being sent to the 2nd one.

After making sure Deborah had all that she needed, a little later that day I drove to visit Caleb at the 2nd hospital. It was then that I found out our only son was in grave danger. The doctor explained to me that Caleb had a heart condition. Without surgery, he would not survive.

I was in shock. How could this be happening?!?!  As I drove back to tell Deborah that our son may not survive much longer, I prayed a very angry prayer. I shouted at God. “How could you do this to us?!? We have given our lives to serve you! We moved across the country to serve you. We’ve tried to honor you in how we live! Why would you do this?!”

I could hardly see the road in front of me as bitter tears filled my eyes. Finally, pausing to catch my breath and wipe my tears, a Bible verse crashed into my mind, It was my favorite verse, a verse I had shared with our youth leaders and teenagers and others many, many times.

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” – 1 Corinthians 4:20

The verse took me off guard at first. What did that have to do with anything?

Once again: it came crashing into my mind:

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” – 1 Corinthians 4:20

It was then I realized, my faith was being tested. It is easy to trust in God when everything is going great! Very little faith is required! A deep faith is necessary to trust God when things are not going well.  Shallow faith gives up.

I had a choice to make: will I just talk about trusting God or will I actually trust Him and experience His power?

What we discovered is that in the midst of suffering, we can feel God’s presence even more. He cares for us, and sometimes we will not know how much until we are in the midst of painful times.

After driving to the hospital to tell Deborah about Caleb’s heart condition, my mind was racing. What can I say to Deborah to help her through this? How do you tell a new mom her child may not live?

I held her hand and told her the situation. The calmness she exuded in the face of such adversity calmed me until I realized she was still heavily medicated. 

As the days went on, and Deborah came home from the hospital we visited Caleb every day. The plan was to let Caleb grow as big as possible before having the heart surgery. The goal was two months. When he turned two weeks old, the doctor’s feared he wouldn’t make it to two months. He needed the surgery the next day. 

Caleb looked so fragile as we held him for the last time before the surgery. He seemed barely alive with all of the tubes coming in and out of his little body. 

As we prayed for him, hugged him, and kissed him – we placed him on the little metal table that he was going to be laying on during the surgery. I felt like Abraham in the Old Testament who was about to sacrifice his son Isaac thinking that was what he was supposed to do. We prayed God would take care of our son, and if he would allow us to do so, we would be honored to raise him.

A few hours later we received word that he made it through the surgery and was responding well! He was going to make it!

Two weeks later I was talking with doctor. Caleb’s heart was surgically repaired, but he still had to eat with a feeding tube. The doctor explained to me that if a newborn doesn’t eat within the first few weeks of life when it was instinctive then he would have to learn how to eat. Learn how to eat? How do you teach a baby how to eat? He explained: “To teach him how to eat, you are going to need an occupational therapist who understands sensory integration.”

My jaw dropped! Deborah had just graduated with a degree in occupational therapy and her concentration was in sensory integration. Tears came to my eyes. Suddenly the fog of the last few weeks had been blown away. It all made sense to me! This little baby needed this mommy. God wasn’t punishing us. He was blessing us with one of the greatest miracles of our lives! Not only did God prove He cared for us. He proved He cared for our helpless son.

Now Deborah works with children as an occupational therapist. These kids are alot like Caleb who is 24 years old now!

Through the trials, we learned that we could bring our pain to God in prayer, finding comfort and experiencing His presence even in the darkest moments.

We all face challenges. There are good days and bad days. There are great days and tragic days.

This month we are exploring various prayers from the Bible to have ready when we need them.

Our hope is that you will discover the transformative power of prayer and embark on a journey towards an enriched life. If you have missed any you can go back and listen to the podcast, watch on our website, or watch on YouTube.

As always, check out the Digging Deeper to help you apply these messages to your life.

In week 1, we looked at The Prayer for Screw-Ups. In week 2, we looked at The Prayer When You Don’t Have Words. Last week, we looked at The Prayer for Living, Not Dying.

In this season of our Pray First Initiative and as we begin a new year, we don’t want you to default into seeing prayer as a last result, but instead see prayer as your first priority!

Today, we are looking at The Prayer that Came Out of Nowhere. It’s a prayer that came out of a place of pain.

There is a prayer that jumps off the page in the middle of genealogies and lists of kings and tribal rulers of Israel’s history. Take a look at what I mean…

In the middle of all of this comes what is known as the prayer of Jabez.

Nestled among a list of genealogies in the beginning of 1 Chronicles, we find this odd break in the list where the chronicler highlights a man and his prayer. While it seems out of place, the chronicler is intentional. The chronicler often inserts narrative within the genealogies in order to highlight an important theme. Prayer is one of those themes. Each theme is meant to remind God’s people that, though He may seem absent, He is has not left them and He’s worth seeking with all their heart. The Prayer of Jabez is one of those important reminders.

This little prayer we find is situated in the book of 1 Chronicles. The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are often overlooked because they are a re-telling of the story of the kings and Kingdom of God’s people. Chronicles was written during the final period of the Old Testament- long after Israel’s hey-day as a powerful Kingdom, the split of this kingdom, their exile and subsequent return from exile. They are no longer the great nation they once were and they are not experiencing the blessing of the promised land and most of all the blessing of God’s powerful presence and rule. In the midst of this pain and longing, Chronicles was meant to keep their hope alive that, though their true King, the Messiah, had not yet come, God is faithful to His promise, so keep waiting, keep looking and keep hoping for His arrival.

Now if you’ve been in Christian circles over the last couple decades you probably have some familiarity- good or bad- with a book by the same name. But my guess is most of us have probably never come across this prayer.

So what was his prayer?

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. – 1 Chronicle 4:10 

Things to note that help us recapture and reclaim this prayer:

  • Jabez is a royal son of Judah. Is israelites would’ve known that blessing (Gen. 49:9-12)
  • Jabez is fatherless In a genealogy listing fathers and sons, Jabez has neither.
  • When it says “more honorable than his brothers” it is referring to the other men of Judah. Some who in fact forfeit their land and possessions due to their evil choices- Onan (1 Chron. 2:3), Achan (2:7), Hezron and Jair (2:21-22) This detail is super important as a premise to J’s prayer. It speaks to his character.
  • A Bible Commentary explains something very important about this random man mentioned only once in the Bible:

“Jabez means “pain,” and though we don’t know the cause of his (mother’s) pain, we know he’s without a father—a profoundly painful situation in ancient Israel (or anywhere for that matter). Living at the time of the Judges, a time renowned for its chaotic anarchy, Jabez’s father may have been killed or his mother raped. Regardless, his plight stands in stark contrast to the father-son pattern found in 1 Chronicles 4.”

– GC Commentary

Much like we talked about last week, Jabez did not let whatever his relationship was like with his earthly father derail him from understanding the character and nature of our Heavenly Father.

There are some important takeaways that will help us understand God and the relationship He wants to have with us.

1. We can come to God in prayer with our pain.

Jabez’ name meant pain. It could be the emotional/physical pain of his mother. Or the pain of being fatherless which was a shameful and harsh life in the ancient world. It’s not good when your name is Pain.   That is…unless your global superstar T-PAIN…because then all you do is win.

    Think about that for a moment. Jabez’ mom gave him the name “Pain.” That would be like you naming your child “C-section” or “Epidural” or “Preeclampsia.” Can you imagine? “Come here, C-section! You need to help your brother with the dishes!”

    Regardless of his name, Jabez did not want to be defined by his worst moment. Nor did he seem to believe that he needed to resign himself to that—how often do we simply resign ourselves to the narrative that says, “This is all I’ll ever be…”

    His name may be “Pain,” but he wanted to be known as “Blessed.”

    He cries out to God in faith. His trust in Yahweh is deep because He knows the abundance God offers, even when He has nothing. 

    Jabez “called upon the name of the God of Israel”. This is a major premise of his prayer (along with the mention of Jabez’s character as honorable- that he appeals to this God who is in covenant relationship with Israel. This name encapsulates the very promises of God that they are clinging to. And, it shows that He knows the character of the God He’s praying to.

    Have you allowed yourself to be defined by your worst moment?
    Have you begun to consider that your life in God’s hands has unlimited potential?

    2. God desires to bless us.

    I know preachers and some televangelists have ruined and skewed this concept. That if you buy this bottle of spring water they prayed over for $59.99 God will double your bank account. Or that being a Christian means if you have enough faith you won’t experience financial, marital, or physical hardship. And this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

    We have to take this blessing of Jabez in context. God desires to bless us and to see us prosper, both spiritually and physically. Psalm 1:1–3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

    Here, we see that those who delight in the Lord and follow His ways will be blessed and will prosper. This includes both spiritual blessings, such as peace and joy, and physical blessings, such as health and abundance. The Bible is full of scriptures on blessings and favor.

    To be blessed by God means to receive His favor, provision, and protection. It means to experience His love and grace in our lives and to have a relationship with Him. Being blessed by God does not necessarily mean that we will be free from trials or hardships, but it does mean that we can trust in His faithfulness and goodness even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

    The blessing is the presence of God that lavishes his love, forgiveness, peace, joy, etc.

    This is not to say that God doesn’t take care of us and “bless” us physically, financially, etc., of course that is still the case. But those things alone are not proof positive of a life close to God.

    When God does bless us in this way it is ALWAYS so that we can help and bless others. Remember the Israelites point to Abraham as their spiritual father. To Abraham God made this promise:

    “I will make you into a great nation,  and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:2-3)

    It is ok to ask God for His blessing. But we need to constantly check our heart and ask “Why? Is this for my gain alone, or is it for others to know God and see Him through me?”

    Implied in this is learning to trust God even if what we asked for in prayer does not come to pass.

    Also implied is a level of gratitude for all the ways God has already blessed us even if what we ask for does not come to pass.

    3. We can pray for influence

    Jabez asked “enlarge my territory.”

    We can ask God to expand our influence not for selfish gain, but to grow his kingdom. So others may experience his goodness through us.

    Ephesians 1:17-18- 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

    Paul is saying I pray God would open your eyes to a bigger vision than what you currently have.

    But God will only entrust to us when we show we are faithful with what we currently have.

    When I was going to school at Baylor and 19 years old, I had the opportunity to meet a man named Henry Blackaby. He wrote a book called Experiencing God that was quite impactful in my life. A few of my friends met him the day before me, and they shared with me how amazing it was to meet him. One of the girls actually started crying as she shared how meaningful her time with him was. She went on to say: “I felt like I was talking with an angel from God.”

    You can imagine, after that kind of description, I could not wait to meet him!

    My opportunity finally came, so I approached him with a question I had carefully crafted. This was my moment to have a word from God through his messenger Henry Blackaby.

    I said to him: “I am 19 years old, and I really want to make a difference in the world: what advice can you give to me?”

    I’ll never forget his response. He looked at me and said: “If you are faithful in the little things, God will give you more.”

    I was so excited! Henry Blackaby had promised me an amazing future! I hurried back to my apartment to tell my roommate (and best friend since 7th grade) what Henry Blackaby had said! I burst into the apartment and told Craig: “Henry Blackaby just shared with me an amazing promise, an amazing prediction! He told me that if I was faithful in the little things, that God will give me more!”

    Craig started laughing! That was not what I expected or what I wanted. Through his laughter he said: “That’s a verse in the Bible! Jesus said that! That wasn’t a specific message for you! I learned that at church in elementary school!”

    In the parable of the talents, Jesus said these words:

    ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!

    Craig was laughing, but I wasn’t. 

    Rather than feeling hopeful for my future, I felt embarrassed, but I also felt convicted. I was helping at a church as a youth pastor. I was making $70 a week to invest in a handful of teenagers, but I wasn’t really making an effort. After a few months, we had shrunk down to one youth. I was no longer a pastor of youth, I was a pastor of A youth. This little youth group was beneath me. I had bigger things to do after I graduated.

    Henry Blackaby’s message was exactly what I needed. I didn’t deserve more responsibility when I wasn’t faithful with what I had. Over the next several months I changed my behavior. I began to prepare for each time together with the students (well with the student, at first). I actually began to work really hard at what I had been given. Our little group began to grow and make a difference in the lives of some of the kids in the neighborhood. After graduating, I was invited to help start the youth group at a church plant in Seattle – an opportunity I would probably not have had if I had not decided to be faithful with what I had been entrusted with at that time.

    In what areas, are you letting things slip? In what areas have you stopped making the right decisions no matter how small they are?

    4. We can ask God for protection

    Jabez said “…keep me from harm”

    If you grew up going to church, maybe you have heard people pray using words and phrases in prayer that don’t make sense in real life. Christian comedian Tim Hawkins has a great bit on praying for a hedge of protection. What’s a hedge? Why not pray for a cement wall of protection? A hedge? We act like the devil’s Kryptonite is landscaping!

    As always, to understand the Bible start with Jesus. What does Jesus say about protection?

    In the Lord’ prayer, Jesus taught us to include:

    Matthew 6:13- “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

    We can ask God for victory in the middle of attacks and temptations, but also ask him to thwart the plans of the enemy

    “The devil wants you to focus on your pain- to focus on escaping it, comforting yourself from it, and wallowing in it as a victim. But when you focus on what God wants, then you can trust that your pain will no longer be the center of your life.” – Chris Hodges, “Pray First”

    5. Our prayers find significance ONLY in His presence

    We’re not meant to see this prayer as a magical mantra to get God to do what we want, rather, what this prayer demonstrates is that God hears the prayers of those who seek Him, it is a reminder to God’s people (and to us) to not give up praying during difficult circumstances. Finally, it’s a call away from self-sufficiency to dependence on God. He wants to be asked. He wants us to bring our needs and concerns to Him and trust that He will answer according to His perfect will.

    Jabez prayed “Let your hand be with me…”

    God’s presence in your life as you walk with Him and trust Him, no matter the results, will bring a humility that ultimately He is in control.

    He gives and takes away. His presence will allow us to trust his heart, even when we don’t understand

    Restarting Now for 2024

    So we are one month into 2024. 
    How are you doing so far? 
    Have you been able to be faithful to the little things you felt God calling you to do this new year?
    If you dropped the ball or have found yourself slipping, start afresh. Ask God for forgiveness and help to be more faithful.
    Maybe you didn’t have goals, have you considered God may want you to dream with Him about the future He wants for you?

    What if God has more for you so that you can bless more people?

    How has He already blessed you? How are you passing on that blessing to others?

    We are invited into something supernatural!

    The Creator of the Universe loves you! He wants you to know Him and experience His presence, His peace, His blessing!

    And by the way, He can blow your mind with what He can do in and through you!

    Another one of my favorite passages of Scripture comes from Ephesians when Paul prays for those he was writing to who follow Jesus:

    Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20

    God can do immeasurably more than what we ask or imagine!

    And His power is already at work within us!

    We can experience His presence, His power, His peace right now! We experience heaven on earth and bring more of heaven everywhere we go as we bring His power, presence, and peace with us into our homes, our place of work, our neighborhoods, and to our friends!

    God wants to bless you so you can bless others. He wants to give you more influence so you can bring more heaven to your part of the world. He wants to guide you so that you might know His love, presence, and wisdom. He wants to protect you because this world is broken and there is evil that opposes God’s ways and His people. 

    This week I was reminded of Mike Papale who was the Care Pastor at Gateway South Austin before he died from cancer at the age of 54. In the midst of the pain and suffering he was experiencing and in the midst of saying goodbye to his wife and 3 kids who are teenagers, I will never forget in one of my last conversations with him he said that he was experiencing God with Him like never before. It was like the atmosphere between heaven and earth was thinner. He explained that he had been asking God to help him out of the pit he was in, and instead he experienced God coming into the pit to be with him in the midst of it all.

    Have you invited Jesus to join you in the pit?
    Have you asked God to forgive you for going your own way?
    Have you asked Jesus to lead you, to guide you, to be the One you follow?

    You see, God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to give His life for humanity, and all who call on His name will be rescued. He willingly died on the cross taking upon Himself the sins and evils of humanity so that we might experience forgiveness and new life and find purpose in bringing more of His presence to earth wherever we go.

    If not, you can do so right now. It’s as simple as praying in your heart and mind: “Dear God, please forgive me. I need what Jesus did on the cross to count for me. Lead me. I surrender myself to follow you.”

    If you prayed this for the first time, we want to help you in that journey! In fact, next week we will be celebrating baptism which is a beautiful symbol of discovering forgiveness and being raised to live a new life! So let us know if you started this relationship with God today through the connect card or come and share this with the prayer team. 

    Or perhaps you prayed this as a marker for restarting your relationship with God or recalibrating your relationship with God to making Him and His guidance more of a priority. For you, your next step is to join a group. You cannot become all God is calling you to be without community. Use the connect card or the connect spot to join a group – we have new groups just about to start, and we even have a Groups Expo today so you can find the best group for you.

    The Post-Christian Podcast – Darrell Thomas (Author of An Excellent Life)

    Darrell Thomas is the author of An Excellent Life: How True and Lasting Success is Achieved.

    About Darrell:

    “At the age of 35 Darrell started his life over. Having just moved to Charlotte, NC with no place to live, not a friend or family member for over 250 miles, and only $35 to his name, he set about rebuilding his life. This book was written in “real-time” as he consumed information on how to live a successful and excellent life. What you are about to read is the net result of over 25 years of struggling, learning and overcoming.

    Today Darrell is a highly successful public speaker, entrepreneur, author, and business owner. He is also the Founder & Executive Director of the American Center for Entrepreneurial Development, an organization dedicated to the success and advancement of small businesses.”

    The Post-Christian Podcast and Giveaways:

    Our goal with The Post-Christian Podcast is to reframe, simplify, and focus on our mission to make disciples in a post Christian culture. We discuss reaching new people and raising up leaders while removing the barriers of churchianity.

    Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter at www.ericbryant.org for a chance to win future book giveaways and assessments!

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Post-Christian Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube.com/@ericbryant777, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

    Listen or Watch Here:

    Apple Podcasts – An Interview with Darrell Thomas

    Fresh – The Prayer For Living Not Dying

    Our new series at Gateway Church in Austin focuses on prayer as we kick off the year with our Pray First Initiative.

    Step into a brand-new year with our upcoming series, “Fresh”. Just as many of us aim for healthier choices in January, we’re exploring various prayers from the Bible as revitalizing “recipes” for a transformed life.

    Each prayer serves as a distinct ingredient in our spiritual journey, offering the reality of forgiveness, renewal, strength, and guidance. Embracing the desire for a fresh start, we’ll unpack these prayers, each one a potent tool for igniting change within.

    Join us in January for an exploration of these spiritual “meals” that go beyond mere words, shaping and infusing our lives with purpose and vitality. Together, let’s discover the transformative power of prayer and embark on a journey towards an enriched life.

    Prayer is understanding God cares deeply about you and your needs.

    Discussion Questions:

    Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

    DIGGING DEEPER

    Message Video:

    Message Notes by Kenny Green:

    Big Idea: Prayer is understanding God cares deeply about you and your needs.

    One of the greatest obstacles of trusting God is our misperception of who He is.

    I didn’t grow up reading the Bible… Like many of you, my perception of God was mostly formed by other influences. (Some positive… and others, not so much). I grew up going to church with my family so I was certainly hearing about God… at home, Sunday School, VBS, middle and high school youth groups… you name it.

    If the doors were open at church, we were there… and I can look back on those times and see how certain people were intentionally shaping my view of God.

    What I didn’t realize was just how much my relationship with my dad… and how I saw him, shaped my view of God when I was younger… which is so interesting to me! 

    It’s interesting because, of all the great memories I have of my dad, none of them are really all-that spiritual… and yet, again… as a young man, my view of God and how I related to my Heavenly Father was greatly formed by how I saw my dad.

    For example…

    • My dad loved my mom and my brothers like crazy and worked super hard to provide for us… I’ve always seen God the same.
    • When we were on vacation, my dad had an incredible sense of humor… I’ve always assumed God does too.
    • My dad was strong and brave, we never had a doubt that he would throw himself in harm’s-way for his family… Not coincidentally, I’ve always seen God as powerful and as a protector, as someone who would even lay down his own life for those he loves.

    At the same time… 

    • My dad was very anxious and stressed-out… I figured God was too.
    • My dad had a short temper and was always working… I always believed God loved me and would be there in the “big stuff”, but I always assumed God was more angry than loving and had bigger problems to handle than my feelings or the details of life.

    See, without even realizing it was happening I was viewing my Heavenly Father through the lens of my earthly father. 

    Now, over the last couple decades I’ve learned so much about how common this is for most people. In John Bishop’s book, God Distorted, the author says…

    The ways your father behaved toward you—what he said to you, how he treated you, everything he did and didn’t do—had an impact on you in some way. Depending on how you were treated, mistreated, or just plain ignored, you have come up with your own ideas of what a father is like. Because of this, I am quite certain that how you see and perceive your heavenly Father, God, has also been impacted—distorted even—by your relationship with your earthly dad.

    – John Bishop in God Distorted

    Now… I have some great news… We’re NOT going to spend the next 30 minutes talking about our dads… that’s not what this message is really about… 

    so let’s all take a big deep breath together.   

    My heart for today is that we would all be better equipped to know God intimately and trust Him completely. 

    That’s gonna begin with an understanding that there are a number of things that can…  and probably have distorted our view of God, over the course of our lives.

    So, today we’re going to engage with prayer and with Scripture to get a really clear view of God because…  

    One of the greatest obstacles to knowing God intimately and trusting Him completely is our misperception of who He is.  

    We’re going to take a FRESH look at what are arguably the most recognizable words in all of scripture. Psalm 23 

    • Some of you may have memorized these words as a kid.
    • If you’ve attended many funerals… or seen portrayals of funerals on TV or in movies… you’ve probably heard a pastor or priest read from Psalm 23.
    • It’s popularity over time is no surprise because the words are beautiful.

    The only problem with the 23rd Psalm… it’s probably too familiar to many of us.

    The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,
    He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
    Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.

    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
    You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
    Surely your goodness and love will follow me  all the days of my life,
    and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

    Psalm 23 NIV

    So how does praying David’s words in Psalm 23 help us know & trust God more?

    1. Contentment is found in the Shepherd.

    The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. – Psalm 23:1 NIV

    What an incredible opening line! David rightly declares the reign and LORDship of God before making it very personal… THE LORD is MY shepherd. Interestingly, this is the 1st time the word shepherd is used in the Psalms.

    It makes sense that David would be the one to introduce “shepherd” into the Psalms. David was a shepherd and he smelled like sheep. In the 23rd Psalm, David is using the most intimate metaphor for Yahweh, up to this point. The LORD is usually referred to as a more distant king, deliverer, shield… etc. Whereas the shepherd lives with his flock and is everything to them as a guide, physician, protector, etc..

    We can come to the Shepherd in times of…

    • refreshment & a need for rest 
    • confusion & fear
    • attack

    The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing… or, I love The Passion Translation…

    Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough

    This is not prayer complacency… but instead it declares contentment. It’s not saying, “I’m never going to want anything” …but that I know that my needs and the longings of my soul are met in communion with God. He’s not some distant rock or shield… he’s living with me as my guide, physician & protector… He’s intimately connected to my well-being… why?

    He’s my Shepherd

    It’s so important for us to understand that we can come to our Shepherd in times when we need rest & refreshment because… 

    2. The Shepherd’s leadership brings peace.

    The Lord is my shepherd… He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. – Psalm 23:1-2 NIV

    This prayer reminds us that sometimes God will institute rest for us… that He’ll draw us into rest that we wouldn’t necessarily choose on our own.

    • In the midst of self-imposed busyness and anxious striving… 

    When I pause to pray and submit myself to the Spirit of God, He reminds me that I am not in control.  He makes me lie down.

    • In the dryness that often comes from my lack of spiritual discipline or in the chaos and the noise that I so often choose for myself…

    Pausing to pray engages me with the Prince of Peace. 

    He leads me beside quiet waters.

    He’s my shepherd… He’s my best friend… and He knows what I need and what actually fills my soul & refreshes my spirit. So I can trust Him.

    He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:3 NIV

    If we ask… God will give us moment-by-moment direction in our lives because we are intimately connected to His Name & His Character. It’s amazing… God doesn’t owe us anything and yet He loves to prove His Integrity & Faithfulness in our lives.

    He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. – Psalm 23:3 TPT

    That doesn’t mean that we won’t walk through dark or trying times… but His promise is to be with us and to guide us.

    If you’re in need of rest… or guidance… or soul refreshment… put Psalm 23 into your mouth and pray with confidence because He can be trusted!

    It’s also important for us to come to our Shepherd in times of confusion & fear because…  

    3. Prayer is where God’s omnipotence meets my incompetence.

    Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

    Some translations refer to the darkness as the shadow of death because the darkness feels all-consuming. Crazy thing about darkness… is just how disorienting it can be.

    When you turn-off the lights in your room, you find yourself groping around and having to move differently. All-of-a-sudden, something that seemed familiar, feels totally foreign.

    • Darkness distorts our vision and how we see things… but prayer is a place where we can vent our souls to a God who sees everything.
    • After a while darkness can bring discouragement & even despair… but in prayer I engage with MY Shepherd… and in His Presence my heart is filled with courage because I’m reminded that when I trust my Shepherd with LORDship over my life, nothing else can rule over me!

    Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! – Psalm 23:4 TPT 

    Perhaps my favorite reminder from Psalm 23 is that we can come to our Shepherd in times of attack… and our Shepherd is also The King.  

    4. In His Presence I’m reminded of who I really am.

    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. – Psalm 23:5 NIV

    The Table

    It seems to me that David is shifting from one familiar metaphor (a shepherd) to another personification that would also be familiar… a king. David says, the King prepares a banqueting table for us to eat and fellowship together… but He does so in the presence of my enemies. Anointing was a distinction for guests of honor in a feast… yet He anoints my head with oil right in front of my enemies.

    I love the imagery God shows me every time I read this verse in Psalm 23. I picture a banqueting table set in the King’s dining room… a feast where it’s just me and my King eating and drinking together. The dining room walls have many window openings that remind me that we are not alone. The place is actually surrounded by my enemies, lurking out in the darkness and peering through the windows… why? Because they’re still looking for a fight.

    Question: At what point in the battle does the King typically prepare a feast around His banqueting table?

    Answer: In victory… of course.

    Even in the times of deepest darkness, surrounded by my enemies who wish to destroy me. God sets a table fellowship for himself and for me … to celebrate the victory He has already had in my life… and that banqueting table does 2 very important things…

    1. It draws my attention away from always focusing too much on my enemies… and brings me back into the contentment, the rest, the peace and the security I find only in fellowship with Jesus, my King. 
    2. It’s not that it makes darkness disappear or eliminates opposition or battles from my life. It’s that it draws the attention of evil and enemies to my fellowship with Jesus. It reminds them of what they already know… 

    I am His, and He is mine.

    As followers of Jesus, we have the benefit of knowing the full story.

    We can flash-forward from David writing Psalm 23 to Jesus meeting with His disciples on the night He was betrayed… knowing that even someone who was going to betray him is sitting in that room. 

    What an incredible thing that Jesus is modeling for us… that communion (The LORD’s Supper) is something we can take in the presence of our enemies.

    In fact, it has the power to turn enemies into neighbors and even friends.

    This is all because the sacrificial love of Jesus did that for us.

    Romans 5 tells us, When we were enemies Christ died for us. He reconciled us to God and made us family!

    We began by saying that this is the first time God is called Shepherd in the Psalms.

    I just want to remind you who this Shepherd is.

    This Shepherd is Yahweh… He’s our Heavenly Father… but He comes to us in the person of Jesus.

    The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

    Nothing that I need will be withheld from me… even when I die… all because of the life, death, and resurrection of the Good Shepherd.

    I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

    14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

    John 10:9-10, 14-15 NIV

    You can know in any and every circumstance… that this Shepherd has become our friend.

    Greater love has no one than this, that they lay down their life for their friends. 

    Jesus has embodied that fully! 

    Think about it… Christ, on the cross, laying His life down for the sheep has taken judgment on Himself for us so. He has moved our judgment day, from something that was going to happen, to something that has been settled.

    The Good Shepherd has come and made us FREE, so that we may have LIFE & have it to the full! 

    Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6 NIV

    I really want you to hold-on to those 2 promises in v6… because they’re not at all vulnerable to election years… to social change… to cultural chaos or anything else.

    So often we pass through the worst times in our lives… then we look back and we see powerful examples of how God’s goodness, mercy and love were there with us, every step of the way… because nothing can separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus our LORD!

    Jesus said to His disciples, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

    Jesus has already victoriously overcome the world… and has victoriously defeated sin & death. 

    And Jesus Is LORD!

    So, if the LORD is MY shepherd and has first place in my life… I have everything I will ever need.

    The Post-Christian Podcast – Stephanie O’Brien (Author of Make a Move)

    In this episode I interview Stephanie O’Brien, author of Make a Move: How to Stop Wavering and Make Decisions in a Disorienting World.

    Stephanie is an activist, professor at Bethel Seminary, and the founding pastor at Mill City Church in Minneapolis, MN. She is the co-host of @leadstoriespodcast with @josaxton.

    Our interview about her previous book Stay Curious: How Questions and Doubts Can Save Your Faith can be found here: An Interview with Stephanie O’Brien (2020).

    The Post-Christian Podcast and Giveaways:

    Our goal with The Post-Christian Podcast is to reframe, simplify, and focus on our mission to make disciples in a post Christian culture. We discuss reaching new people and raising up leaders while removing the barriers of churchianity.

    Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter at www.ericbryant.org for a chance to win future book giveaways and assessments!

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Post-Christian Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube.com/@ericbryant777, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

    Listen or Watch Here:

    APPLE PODCASTS – An Interview with Stephanie O’Brien

    Fresh – The Prayer When You Don’t Have Words

    Our new series at Gateway Church in Austin focuses on prayer as we kick off the year with our Pray First Initiative.

    Step into a brand-new year with our upcoming series, “Fresh”. Just as many of us aim for healthier choices in January, we’re exploring various prayers from the Bible as revitalizing “recipes” for a transformed life.

    Each prayer serves as a distinct ingredient in our spiritual journey, offering the reality of forgiveness, renewal, strength, and guidance. Embracing the desire for a fresh start, we’ll unpack these prayers, each one a potent tool for igniting change within.

    Join us in January for an exploration of these spiritual “meals” that go beyond mere words, shaping and infusing our lives with purpose and vitality. Together, let’s discover the transformative power of prayer and embark on a journey towards an enriched life.

    The greatest ability we have in prayer is simply availability.

    Discussion Questions:

    Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

    DIGGING DEEPER

    Message Video with Ricky Echeona:

    Message Notes by Ricky Echeona

    CLICK HERE

    The Post-Christian Podcast – David Bennett (Author of A War of Loves)

    In this episode I interview David Bennett, the author of A War of Loves: The Unexpected Story of a Gay Activist Discovering Jesus.

    David recently completed his doctorate (DPhil) in theology at Oxford University where he now works as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Theology and Religion Faculty. He specialises in the relationship between the Trinity, Christian ethics, patristics, queer theology, discipleship and contemporary Anglican theology, especially the role of desire in knowing God.

    The Post-Christian Podcast and Giveaways:

    Our goal with The Post-Christian Podcast is to reframe, simplify, and focus on our mission to make disciples in a post Christian culture. We discuss reaching new people and raising up leaders while removing the barriers of churchianity.

    Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter at www.ericbryant.org for a chance to win future book giveaways and assessments!

    Subscribe, Rate, and Review The Post-Christian Podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube.com/@ericbryant777, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

    Listen or Watch Here:

    APPLE PODCASTS – An Interview with David Bennett