Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island but allowed to get one food item from the grocery store before you went, what would you get?
If you were going to be stuck on a deserted island but allowed to get one food item from the grocery store before you went, what would you get?
Focus 4 | I Can Depend
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Now that you've answered the icebreaker question, here's another - this one about hearing aids. Get into it with the video below. (And welcome, by the way! It's great that you're here.)
See what this Spotlight and series is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Finish the Welcome section by praying these words together:
God,
be with each person that does this Spotlight,
that they would see you as trustworthy.
Help them to see that becoming more and more dependent
is not the same as becoming weaker,
but rather it's the opposite:
it's gaining strength.
Amen.
God,
be with each person that does this Spotlight,
that they would see you as trustworthy.
Help them to see that becoming more and more dependent
is not the same as becoming weaker,
but rather it's the opposite:
it's gaining strength.
Amen.
Welcome Perspective
Our inabilities
should lead us to conclude that we
are able to depend.
Our inabilities
should lead us to conclude that we
are able to depend.
Why is it so hard to trust?
(Spoiler: Humans are awful at being trustworthy.)
As you watch this Trust Fall Fails video, notice the variety of ways it goes wrong. Sometimes, it's the one falling. Sometimes, it's the ones catching. Sometimes, it's a wild combination of the two. This is true in all trust! For one reason or another, attempts to trust go wrong - and if it happens enough, you don't just stop trusting people.
You stop trusting trust.
(Spoiler: Humans are awful at being trustworthy.)
As you watch this Trust Fall Fails video, notice the variety of ways it goes wrong. Sometimes, it's the one falling. Sometimes, it's the ones catching. Sometimes, it's a wild combination of the two. This is true in all trust! For one reason or another, attempts to trust go wrong - and if it happens enough, you don't just stop trusting people.
You stop trusting trust.
If you're going to depend on God, though, you have to trust him.
How might you know God is trustworthy?
How might you know God is trustworthy?
Close this Worship section by singing and praying with the song "Faith to be Strong."
Worship Perspective
Thankfully for us,
the God on whom we depend
is dependable.
Thankfully for us,
the God on whom we depend
is dependable.
Consider the reason for trust in these historical, Biblical accounts. You don't have the power to overcome or accomplish all, but you do have the power to trust God no matter what.
Where does that power come from?
It is given to you by the promises of God.
Click the arrow in the frame below to begin navigating through the experience.
Where does that power come from?
It is given to you by the promises of God.
Click the arrow in the frame below to begin navigating through the experience.
Gaining power from trusting the promises God makes isn't always simple. Practice it by putting into your own words the power that trust provides. You can add your reflection by clicking the plus signs in the image below.
Continue your interactive experience about journeying into weakness.
The Apostle Peter had a unique perspective on weakness due to a series of significant events in his life. Let's get into part four of his journey. (We went through parts one through three in the last few Spotlights.)
Click the arrow in the frame below to begin navigating through the experience.
The Apostle Peter had a unique perspective on weakness due to a series of significant events in his life. Let's get into part four of his journey. (We went through parts one through three in the last few Spotlights.)
Click the arrow in the frame below to begin navigating through the experience.
Learn Perspective
There is a new strength
that comes when we forsake ours
and rely on God's.
There is a new strength
that comes when we forsake ours
and rely on God's.
Read this article to continue our Seattle Parents of Preemies partnership.
If you haven't caught the beginning parts of this Spotlight series yet, Illume is partnering with Seattle Parents of Preemies in this series. As you consider "letting the weak say I am strong" this month, please add preemies and their parents to your prayers.
This week, consider how parents of preemies can feel the affects of PTSD. Read the article, and reflect: How can you take into consideration the traumatic stress parents have been through when you're trying to serve them?
+ READ THE ARTICLE
If you haven't caught the beginning parts of this Spotlight series yet, Illume is partnering with Seattle Parents of Preemies in this series. As you consider "letting the weak say I am strong" this month, please add preemies and their parents to your prayers.
This week, consider how parents of preemies can feel the affects of PTSD. Read the article, and reflect: How can you take into consideration the traumatic stress parents have been through when you're trying to serve them?
+ READ THE ARTICLE
After you're done with the article, pray along with this prayer written by a mother whose premature baby was in the NICU. As you pray, listen also for insight into the experience of the parents of premature children.
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Serve Perspective
God's strength is hardly
a good luck charm because it
works even when we lose.
God's strength is hardly
a good luck charm because it
works even when we lose.
Read along with this audio clip.
(The words included here are compiled from throughout the Old Testament of the Bible - dozens of statements from people who had personally experienced the trustworthiness of God. Speak with them.)
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.
Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord.
The Lord is close to everyone who calls out to him,
to all who call out to him sincerely.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you,
I will give thanks to your name;
For you have worked wonders - plans formed long ago - with perfect faithfulness.
In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were delivered;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
They won't be frightened at bad news.
Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Know therefore that the Lord your God,
he is God, the faithful God,
who keeps his covenant and his lovingkindness to a thousandth generation
with those who love him and keep his commandments.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is my strength and my shield.
My heart trusts him.
I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song.
(The words included here are compiled from throughout the Old Testament of the Bible - dozens of statements from people who had personally experienced the trustworthiness of God. Speak with them.)
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him.
Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord.
The Lord is close to everyone who calls out to him,
to all who call out to him sincerely.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you,
I will give thanks to your name;
For you have worked wonders - plans formed long ago - with perfect faithfulness.
In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were delivered;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
They won't be frightened at bad news.
Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Know therefore that the Lord your God,
he is God, the faithful God,
who keeps his covenant and his lovingkindness to a thousandth generation
with those who love him and keep his commandments.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is my strength and my shield.
My heart trusts him.
I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song.
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Farewell Perspective
Become an expert
at saying and believing
that you can depend.
Become an expert
at saying and believing
that you can depend.
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what's currently happening at Illume - information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what's currently happening at Illume - information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Posted in On Letting the Weak Say I Am Strong
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