Religion | Renewed: Healing from Toxic Religion - Part 5

Springcreek Church - Garland, TX Podcast

Send us a text

RENEWED
Healing from Toxic Religion – Part 5
Pastor Keith Stewart
August 11, 2024

We’ve been on a journey over the last several weeks where we’ve been examining the toxic effect churches and leaders can sometimes leave in our life. But more importantly, we’ve been learning how to counter the lies and distortions we’ve faced, seen ourselves and God more clearly, and are beginning to experience the healing that accompanies a healthy faith. As we wrap up the series this Sunday, we’re going to learn about the atmosphere where our faith can truly thrive – and that’s grace. Grace is not just something we need to begin the spiritual life. Grace is soil in which our life, faith and maturity come into their fullness. This is one message you don’t want to miss!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The feeling of being unwanted or having a name put on you is one of the worst feelings in the world. In what ways have you seen or experienced this type of shaming? Pastor Keith mentioned, “When someone’s calling you names, or demeaning you, the greatest challenge is not to stop the person, but the greater challenge is to stop yourself from mutilating your own identity.” The younger we are, the more difficult it is to not let a name put on us by others become the way we see ourselves. What do you think can be done to curb name-calling? What would you say to someone who had been deeply hurt by an offensive, unfair nickname?
2. So much of today’s lesson involves moving from a place of shame to a place of acceptance. How did we see this truth in the life of Mephibosheth? What practical application can you make from his story to your own life?
3. What has been your experience with grace? Have you heard it explained before today? How has it impacted your life? Why do people fear grace? Why is the teaching of grace something in short supply in toxic churches? How is Rahab an example of grace? Can you think of any other biblical characters that help us in our understanding of grace?
4. What have been your biggest takeaways from this series? Where is God working in you right now to continue the process of healing anything and everything that was added to your spiritual life but did not belong? How can we better model a healthy, well-balanced, biblical faith?