Deflation at Depth

In one paragraph

This message was the latest installment in Pastor Brian's series walking through the twelve steps as a framework for spiritual growth and recovery. He focused on steps four and five: making an honest moral inventory of yourself, and then admitting what you found to God, to yourself, and to another person. The through-line of the whole message was that God's grace is sufficient to cover whatever...

Read together

1. Ephesians 2:4-5 opening encouragement about God's mercy and grace saving us even when dead in sins
2. Galatians 5:19-21 the works of the flesh listed as step one examples of what we need to admit powerlessness over
3. Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit presented as what sanity and health look like in step two
4. Psalm 55:1-5 David's cry of distress used as an Old Testament example of deflation at depth
5. Romans 7:24-25 Paul's cry of wretchedness used as a New Testament example of moving from step one to step two
6. Psalm 42:1 the deer panting for water used to illustrate recognizing one's lack and thirsting for God
7. 1 Peter 5:6-11 humbling under God's hand and casting cares on Him connected to step three's decision to turn will and life over to God
8. James 5:16 confessing sins to one another cited as the biblical basis for admitting wrongs to another human being in step five
9. 1 John 1:9 God's faithfulness to forgive and cleanse when we confess, connected to the Greek word homologeo

Talk about it

1. Pastor Carl described 'deflation at depth' as recognizing your own lack and powerlessness. When have you experienced that kind of moment, and what did it feel like?
2. Step two says we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity, and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians five is offered as a picture of what that sanity looks like. Which of those qualities, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, feels most out of reach for you right now, and why?
3. Pastor Carl talked about 'the rattle,' that period when you know something is wrong and know you should do something about it but haven't yet. Have you ever been stuck in the rattle? What kept you there?
4. James five sixteen says to confess your sins to one another and pray for each other. Pastor Carl said we have largely thrown that out because of shame. What would it take for this group to be a safe enough place for that kind of honesty?
5. The poem by Michel Quoist ends with God saying, 'It is not falling that is the worst, but staying on the ground.' What does it practically look like, in your own life, to get up rather than stay down after you have failed?