Step 1: Admit It

Written By Mark Avery

Selected Scripture

Connect:

  • Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.

Prayer:

Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.

Review:

We are in a series looking at the 12 steps from AA through a Biblical lens as we look at the pathway of freedom in Christ and following Him whole heartedly. A phrase we are going to hear over and over is, “If you want to change your life, take it one step at a time (in other words, foundations matter!). This week we looked at the first step: Admit there is something wrong!

The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…

o What did you learn about God?

o What did you learn about people?

o What did you learn about yourself?

o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?

Reflection:

Personal Experience:

  • In America, “How are you?” essentially means, “I acknowledge you exist and am performing the customary greeting as an act of courtesy” :). The customary response is “Fine; and you?” to which we reply “Fine, thanks.” What prevents us from taking the time to share/listen?

    • Group Discussion:

      1. Read Matt 11:28-30. What is the connection between “take [Jesus’] yoke” and “you will find rest”?

      2. Read Romans 7:15, 18-19. This is a familiar feeling for all of us. In this passage, what are the elements that resonate most with you, and why?

      3. How does denial (“I’m fine”) and self-reliance keep us stuck there? (Mark 2:15-17, Luke 18:9-14, Is 53:6, Rev 3:17-18, 1 John 1:8-9)

      4. Admitting weakness involves vulnerability, fear and humility; these are NOT what most of us are interested in! Read the following passages and discuss the connection between personal humility and Spiritual power— how does that work, and why do we resist it? (Prov 14:8, Rom 12:3, Phil 2:3-4, 1 Pet 5:6, Heb 12:11, Gal 5: 22-23)

      5. Read 2 Cor 12:6-10. Paul was given great revelations from God, and a great “thorn in His flesh” to keep him humble.

        1. How does the humility that comes from our weaknesses enable God’s strength to be “made perfect”?

        2. How is this “grace” if Paul’s problem (this “thorn in his flesh”) was not solved?

Application: 

What would change this week if we were to be real with God about our weaknesses, allowing His power to be “made perfect” in our daily lives?

Prayer:

Spend some time in prayer acknowledging that the Christian life is supernatural from start to finish. Admit that we need the Lord to transform us, and thank Him that this is exactly what He is at work doing!

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Mark Avery
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