Bears Repeating. "You'll always wrestle with that..."

It's something we say a lot.
Not to make someone feel defeated, but to make clear the nature of their journey and to alleviate any unhelpful expectations;

You'll always wrestle with anxiety

You'll always wrestle with judgment

You'll always wrestle with insecurity

You'll always wrestle with anger

You'll always wrestle with depression

You'll always wrestle with greed

You'll always wrestle with hate

It doesn't "go away." 

You'll die with it in you.

For some people this is not true. Or at least it's less true. They come to faith and because of their preexistent disposition or an extra bucket of God's grace, they just aren't the way they were. But for many of us, our growth as followers of Christ doesn't cancel out our junk. For us, we have to allow the Spirit to teach us what Paul was learning, "Self-control".

Use your group time to take some steps in trust. That's what it will take to allow others, especially Christ-following others, to see the junk we've not been successful in eliminating. But knowing each other on this deeper level is key to our ability to keep the dog on a leash.

Thaw

• What stuck with you most from Sunday?
• What specific thing did you feel like was being personally addressed for you?
• What steps have you taken or planned to take?

Read

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." 

-Paul, 1 Timothy 1:12-16 

• Thoughts?
• Why would St. Paul say, "I am foremost of all" rather than "I was foremost of all," and how might what he was formerly (blasphemer, persecutor, violent aggressor) still influence him at the time of this writing?
• What does Christ having perfect patience tell us about the expectations on us?

Discuss

• As you have become a person of faith it undoubtedly brings about positive changes and enhancements to who you are. Have you noticed however that some of the old patterns of thinking, views, perspectives and attitudes have held on? To whatever degree you're comfortable doing so, share this.

Read

• Galatians 5:22-23
• Why would Paul start this list with Love and end it with Self-Control?
• What's the difference between suppressing desire or ugly thoughts from others and bringing these seeming indelible facets of who you are under self-mastery?

Leader note: A key difference to look for is that suppression and hiding are often about doing what is assumed necessary to stay "in the group." As discussed several weeks ago, the hope for being counted among the "holy" can cause all kinds of pretending and duplicity. Just shove the liabilities down in a dark hole in your head and pretend they aren't there! However, Self-mastery is the acceptance of self- warts and all. Self-mastery denies nothing, but instead acknowledges the weaknesses and is humble towards self and others for seeing it. Suppression makes us insensitive, willfully unaware hypocrites. Self-mastery makes us empathic, honest lovers of self and others.

Apply

• In what ways can this group help you get the dogs that won't go away on a leash?

Leader note: Consider constant awareness techniques such as short prayers about the situation you're in or will be, meditating on how you're own mind is doing and how it will be as an interaction draws near, naming un-judgmentally the junk you carry as a way of recognizing it's part of you and God already knows it (and has perfect patience for), questioning the validity of your conclusions and feelings even as they feel so real and justified, pausing before speaking or reacting, etc. Your specific group can adopt some strategies depending on themes you discover as you come to know each others' "dogs."

• For the next week, what specific ways would you like to be prayed for as you implement self-mastery over a particular issue?
• Update each other on your progress next week.