"Who Are We?" - Preaching at Harderwyk - Ephesians 2:1-10 - October 10, 2021

Resources For "Who Are We? - The Vision Series" From Each Harderwyk Preacher

I. New For This Week

3 Part Blog Series entitled “Reclaiming Identity” written by Pastor Aaron for LARK

• Part 1 - https://larksite.com/blog/reclaiming/identity/1
• Part 2 - https://larksite.com/blog/reclaiming/identity/2
• Part 3 - https://larksite.com/blog/reclaiming/identity/3

To Whom Do You Belong? - CLICK HERE for a book review of Alan Noble's You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World.

Celebration Sermon Outline - CLICK HERE for this Sunday's Sermon Outline.

II. From The Commentaries On This Passage

Reflections from chapter 2 in Union with Christ by Rankin Wilbourne 

“Paul actually invented new words to describe this new reality. The phrases “crucified with,” “raised with,” “buried with,” and “seated with” are each a single word in Greek beginning with the prefix syn, meaning “with.” Those words didn’t exist before Paul coined them. But something so unique had happened that there were no words for it! A new vocabulary was necessary. It was the only way he could describe who he had become because of Jesus.”

“Faith is how union with Christ becomes operative and powerful in your life. Faith is a God-given gift that allows you to take hold of God’s having taken hold of you. If you are in Christ, this is now the defining truth of who you are. Your life, your story, becomes enfolded by another story—Another’s story. That’s one way to define faith: faith means finding your identity in Christ.”

“Christ in you makes you more like Spider-Man than Batman. Something alien to you, from outside of you, has entered into you and changed your nature. You now have power that you did not have before. The trouble with this analogy is that Spider-Man became something more than human, while we instead are being restored to our full humanity. We are becoming more like Christ.”

“You are more and most yourself when united to Christ. He covers you, he shields you, he represents you before the Father. He also fills you, illuminates you, and animates you, making you more yourself and more human than you could ever be on your own.”

 From "Wholeheartedness" by Chuck DeGroat.

"Every night you're trying to prove your self-worth.  It's like meeting your girlfriend's family for the first time.  You want to be the absolute best, wittiest, smartest, most charming, best-smelling version of yourself.  If I can make people enjoy the experience and have a higher regard for me when I'm finished, it makes me feel like an entire person.  IF I've come short of that, I'm not happy.  How things go for me every night is how I feel about myself for the next 24 hours."  - David Letterman

"Because we're fueled by the belief that we're not enough, parts of us go into overdrive,, frantically seeking the satisfaction we crave in more success, a better body, or the approval of others.  But like the fast-food customer, in the end we're left lethargic, tired, and hungry for something more." (p. 19)

"Importantly, Neff and others argue that self-compassion is far more crucial to our well-being than self-esteem.  Self-compassion is the practice of an imperfect person,, someone who is merely human in an age when we're all trying to be superhuman.  Self-compassion allows us to give ourselves the gift of being adequate at many things instead of exceptional at everything.  Self-compassion frees us from the slavery of narcissistic self-promotion and self-perfection.  Self-compassion frees us to pay attention to the inner conversations we're always having, as we debate which voice will decide the moment, the day, the future.  Self-compassion allows us, in the end, to be imperfect." (p. 46)

I would suggest the best and truest source of self-compassion comes from the compassionate love of our heavenly Father extended to his beloved children.  Remember who you are friends.  Rest in the love of the Father. 

III. Ongoing Resources

1) Spiritual Formation Resources Page - CLICK HERE - This is still a work in progress, but be a part as we look to build

2) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE - to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith.  You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.  

3) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE - for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.