Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your skills at navigating funhouse mirror mazes?
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your skills at navigating funhouse mirror mazes?
Focus 5 | I Am Strong
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Now that you've answered the icebreaker, here's another question - this one about mirrors.
(And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)
(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 5" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 5" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
As you begin today, pray with King David (a man who knew his weaknesses well) through these words from Psalm 86.
Hear me, Lord,
and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
Amen.
Hear me, Lord,
and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
Amen.
Meditate using the audio clip below on the relationship between strength and weakness as shown in these three passages from the Bible:
- Psalm 73:21-28 | "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 | "But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
- Joel 3:9-11 | "Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’
Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!"
Reflect on this by singing this song about taking what God says at face value. (This is a modern translation and new melody for the hymn "I God Himself be for Me" by Lutheran hymnodist Paul Gerhardt.
This video was definitely designed for kids, but it works as an introduction to Samson. Give it a watch and open a Bible to Judges chapters 13-16. (You'll probably want to refer to Samson's story, which is found in those chapters.)
Discuss Samson:
- Where did his strength come from? Why? (Push further: Why? Even further: Why?)
- Samson is always talked about as the strongest man, but most of his story is about his weakness. Give a few examples of Samson's weakness - refer to Judges 13-16 if that helps.
- Read Samson’s final prayer and words:
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. | Judges 16:28–30
How do these words show Samson's embrace of his own weakness? - Going further, how do Samson's final words and moments show the impact of God’s strength on human weakness?
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 five of his journey. (We went through parts one through four 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 five of his journey. (We went through parts one through four in the last few Spotlights.)
Click the arrow in the frame below to begin navigating through the experience.
It was mentioned earlier, but the idea of the weak saying that they are strong comes from the Old Testament book of Joel, in chapter 3. Have a volunteer read verses 4-11.
4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!
Joel is a book about judgment and restoration. The people of Israel were facing threats from enemies and the devastation was all around them. It’s in this context that God commands them to prepare for battle, to turn their farming tools into weapons, and, though they are weak, to declare their strength.
But what does it mean to declare strength when you’re clearly not strong?
We can talk hypothetically about this strength/weakness idea all we want, but the truth is that you are, in many ways, weak. This call goes out to you. Hopefully, this series has given you a chance to think honestly and without shame about weakness and to find strength outside yourself.
4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!
Joel is a book about judgment and restoration. The people of Israel were facing threats from enemies and the devastation was all around them. It’s in this context that God commands them to prepare for battle, to turn their farming tools into weapons, and, though they are weak, to declare their strength.
But what does it mean to declare strength when you’re clearly not strong?
- How do you think Israel must have felt during this time of crisis and weakness?
- Have you ever experienced a circumstance where you were called to be strong in a time of weakness?
- Why do you think God would ask his people to declare themselves strong even when they felt powerless?
We can talk hypothetically about this strength/weakness idea all we want, but the truth is that you are, in many ways, weak. This call goes out to you. Hopefully, this series has given you a chance to think honestly and without shame about weakness and to find strength outside yourself.
Let’s send a prayer to a preemie parent.
Throughout this series, you've considered the plight of parents and babies through the lens of Seattle Parents of Preemies. As you consider “letting the weak say I am strong,” go beyond simply adding preemies and their parents to your own, private prayers—let’s send our prayers to them so they know they’re being prayed for.
Start by choosing one of the following Bible verses:
Next, take the following steps to send us an email so we can forward your message of encouragement on to those who need it.
Thank you for serving others in this important and life-giving way!
Throughout this series, you've considered the plight of parents and babies through the lens of Seattle Parents of Preemies. As you consider “letting the weak say I am strong,” go beyond simply adding preemies and their parents to your own, private prayers—let’s send our prayers to them so they know they’re being prayed for.
Start by choosing one of the following Bible verses:
- Psalm 23:4 | Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- Psalm 34:8 | Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
- Psalm 34:19 | The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
- Psalm 37:4 | Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
- Psalm 55:22 | Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
- Psalm 90:17 | May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
- Psalm 103:2-6 | Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
- Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
- Psalm 121:1-2 | I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 16:3 | Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
- Proverbs 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Isaiah 40:31 | …but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
- Jeremiah 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- Matthew 11:28 | Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Romans 8:28 | And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.
- Philippians 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 2:18 | Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
- 1 Peter 5:7 | Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- 1 John 4:4 | You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Next, take the following steps to send us an email so we can forward your message of encouragement on to those who need it.
- CLICK HERE to open an email to us.
- Write a 4–5 sentence message of encouragement in the body of the email.
- Copy and paste the Bible reference to the passage you selected above.
- Press send on the email so we can forward it on to those who need it!
Thank you for serving others in this important and life-giving way!
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.)
Serve Perspective
As you leave this series, use this poem as a chance to reflect. While the poem is a rallying cry, it is meant to speak to those who feel weak. How can the ideas and feelings in this poem be valuable in the context of all you've studied in this series?
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
From The Poems of Dylan Thomas, published by New Directions. Copyright © 1952, 1953 Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1937, 1945, 1955, 1962, 1966, 1967 the Trustees for the Copyrights of Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1938, 1939, 1943, 1946, 1971 New Directions Publishing Corp.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
From The Poems of Dylan Thomas, published by New Directions. Copyright © 1952, 1953 Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1937, 1945, 1955, 1962, 1966, 1967 the Trustees for the Copyrights of Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1938, 1939, 1943, 1946, 1971 New Directions Publishing Corp.
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.
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.
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