Series: ID
Message: “ID – Making a Name for Myself”
By John Burke – April 1, 2007
NOTE: because there was a lot of context to this message – we’re adding an extra ”blog entry” (above) of possible “names” We’ll refer to these in question 4 – so if you are using these in a group – be sure to copy off this list too.
In concluding this series on our Identity, John gets to the heart of our ID: what we call ourselves. Let’s try to play this out and see how you feel about the names you’ve been aiming to live up to, and the one you think God knows you by.
1. John talked about how Matt Emmons was on target to win the Gold Medal in 50m rifle shooting at the Olympics when he scored, but on the wrong target. What an analogy for us. The very natural question to start with is: What have you been aiming at? Pick as many as apply – and put a * by the one that you think is most important to you. (2 – 3 minutes)
____Acceptance from family
____Material security/comfort
____Respect from others for your accomplishments
____Physical attractiveness
____Physical health/wellness/well-being
____Liked by people around you
____Pure enjoyment of things I like to do
____I don’t aim for things – I just let life happen
2. So now let’s bring in Dr. Phil again: “So, how’s that working for you?” Try to give yourself an honest assessment of whether your targets are the right ones.
Have you scored on the target(s) you checked? If so, do they feel right/good? If not, do you think it will feel good/right if you are able to get a bulls-eye there? Do try to be “real” here. If something is working for you, say so. You might be aiming at the right target. But if not, it could be a good time to see if you need to adjust your sights. Take 2-3 minutes to think about this, and then pair off and discuss your answers with a partner. (And if you’re getting Second Helpings on your own.. just write down what you think.) (10 – 15 minutes)
3. Now that you have your target(s) clearly fixed, lets turn to John’s other theme: your “name”. Take some time to think about what you call yourself, then write down all the “names” that you or other important people in your life have for you. Put a “*” next to the name(s) that best describe how you see yourself. This next part may be hard to do in a group… but do try to do it: Be still and quite for about 5 minutes and talk to God. Ask Him what He thinks about the names you starred – or the other names on the list. Do you get any sense of whether these are the name(s) He would choose for you? If so, underline the ones that you think could be His choice(s). Are the names underlined different from the ones that are not? If so, why do you think you’ve taken those names that are not underlined – the ones that are definitely not God’s names for you. Take some time to share about why we answer to names that are not our “real” God-given names and, if possible, share some ideas about how to stop responding to the wrong names. (15 – 20 minutes)
4. John gave us a list of possible “God-given” names and asked us to fill out our ID tag with that new name. There is a long list of names – and related scripture in the blog above. IF you wrote out an ID tag, what name did you use? If you did not get a chance to select an ID name, take a look at the list above and pick the name that you WANT to be called – at least at this point in your spiritual journey. Then write down that name on a sheet of paper to take with you… all by itself, so you can look at it every day. Is your new name(s) different than the ones in the question above? Pair up again, and help each other come up with some practical ways that you can start listening to your new name, AND push back against the lie of other names that the "world" (in or out of your head) could be calling you. (One of John’s messages was that some folks might have been ready for a brand new identity “In Christ” – for the first time. If you decided to choose that identity – please do share that with your group – or someone. That is REALLY an identity worth acknowledging!) Take 5 minutes or so to go around and list all the practical steps you’ve all developed. (15 minutes)
5. Let’s wind up by making sure you have a chance to nail down your name after you leave. First, make sure you have an ID tag or a piece of paper with you name on it. Think about where you will put that to see your name regularly. If you haven’t written out the practical steps you worked out with your discussion partner take time to do that – and if useful, pick another that others suggested. Finally commit to those actions AND make sure you look up the scripture verse attached to your name in the list below – and maybe even memorize the verse – then get ready to think about yourself in a new way – in Christ.
Scripture verses from the message:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
Romans 5:1-2
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39
“Jesus’ brothers said to him… ‘You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!’ 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus replied, ‘Now is not the right time for me…the world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.’”
John 7:3-7
“Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt…On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. 17 How wonderful and beautiful they will be!”
Zechariah 9:9, 16-17
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord.”
Malachi 3:1
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"…Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:38-40
“Then Jesus cried out, "Those who believe in me do not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When they look at me, they see the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.””
John 12:44-46
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you…they will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."”
Luke 19:41-44
“In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God…God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith… For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
Galatians 3:6-9, 26-27
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
Revelation 1:17-18, 2:13, 17 Related Next-Step Resources:
Want to see who you really are in Christ? Check out http://www.ficm.org/whoami.htm Books on the topic: - To Be Told - Know Your Story Shape Your Future by Dan Allender
(all available at Gateway's Bookstore)
Sunday messages available at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive (Sunday messages usually available by the following Tuesday)
Don't forget to work on/finish the ID Timeline (PDF format) from last week
Labels: Identity, names
