SERMON NOTES

MATTHEW 9:10-13 (NLT)
(10) Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (11) But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” (12) When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” (13) Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

JESUS CAME FOR THE SICK…

• As a church, we need to be a hospital.
• I am so thankful that Jesus came for the sick because addictions come in all shapes & sizes.

JESUS CAME FOR THE SICK, HE CAME TO SHOW MERCY…

• Matthew 9:13 (NLT)
• It’s pretty likely that some of us in this room have open or hidden addictions…and it’s just as likely that some of us in this room struggle with judgment against those who are addicted.
• He came for the sick and He came with mercy in His heart.
• Celebrate Recovery at the Vineyard
• The LoveFoco Show

JESUS CAME FOR THE SICK, HE CAME TO SHOW MERCY, AND HE CAME TO SET YOU FREE

• Luke 4:18-19 (NLT)
  (18) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, (19) and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. ”
• Jesus loves addicts, He desires to show you mercy, and He came to set you free.
• Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ you can experience freedom starting today.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1.  How did addiction impact your childhood?
2. How does addiction impact you today?
3. How can you experience mercy (for yourself or for others) surrounding addiction?

SERMON NOTES:

ROMANS 10:11 (NIV)
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

PSALM 31:1-2 (NIV)
(1) In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. (2) Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

DEFINING SHAME

• “Shame: an intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love, belonging, and connection.” -  Brene Brown
• TedTalk on Shame and Vulnerability
• Your Shame Voice: The little voice in your head that won’t go away.

SHAME IN SCRIPTURE

• Genesis 3:6b-13 (NLT)
• Shame makes you cover, hide, and blame.
• Shame always grows in isolation and it gets more powerful when we keep secrets.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF SHAME

• If you struggle with hiding, you need to throw yourself into community.
• If you struggle with covering, practice the spiritual discipline of confession.
• If you struggle with blaming, you have to do the very courageous thing of taking ownership.

PSALM 34:4-5 (NIV)
(4) I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (5) Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. How did you experience shame as a child and how might that impact you today?
2. Can you identify & share part of your ‘shame voice’ with others?
3. What is one way you can actively work against shame in your life today?

SERMON AUDIO:

SERMON NOTES:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLt)
• The God of peace wants to make you holy in every way…He wants to bless & heal your entire being.
• 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
• God cares for you, and any anxiety you have doesn’t disqualify you from a rich & abundant life with God.

• Increase self-awareness
• You need to become aware of your own anxieties.
• Psalm 139
• For the Christian, self-awareness leads us to the cross.
• We don’t need to ‘let it go,’ we need to transfer it to the cross.

• Healing doesn’t happen alone.
• Emotionally Focused Intensive
• John 14:27 (NLT)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. How did anxiety impact your family growing up?
2. How does anxiety impact your daily life today?
3. How are you partnering with God to experience freedom from anxiety?

SERMON AUDIO: