Welcome to the Mariners Church Life Group leader podcast. This weekly conversation is designed to equip and resource youth to build a healthy life group community that studies God's word, practices spiritual rhythms, and changes the world together. Hello, and welcome to the Life Group leader podcast. My name is Kirby Wood.
I am the group's pastor here at Mariners, and I'm so happy to be with you guys again today to talk with you about this incredible Galician series. We're coming close at the end. We have a couple of weeks left, but I have my dear friend here with me today who is also our women's pastor, Esther Chung. Hey, Esther.
Hey, thanks for having me. Oh, of course. Of course, we're so glad to hear from you. I know that this new role is just that new to you, but I know you have such an incredible voice and heart for the women of our church.
So women, whether you're in a married group or a singles group or what have you, know that Esther has got your back. Yeah, that's right. I'm here to serve, and I'm excited. I'm just so grateful to be able to be a part of what God's doing here.
Well, I'm so glad to have you. So let's jump in. I know that this is our kind of first time together. We're going through this, but there are some incredible questions for this week and some incredible prep.
So let's see. This week is a crazy title, but I absolutely love it because it's so compelling. But how not to be miserable? Wow.
What is your first reaction when you hear that? I want to know the secret to not being miserable, you know, and I think it's funny because I've been talking a lot of people about how they feel sort of lost and unsure of who they are and where they are. So I think this message and this passage is so timely. Absolutely.
And I feel like so much as I think about wanting to be someone who really makes the most of this life and also is resting in God's promises, it's like, wow, I see a lot of people in my life that are pretty miserable and have everything or people that just are coasting through life. And I've always felt like the desire to not want to be like that. So this comes across me where I'm like, OK, Lord, how do I not do rail and how do I stay rested and also perfectly in your well? So I hope and I'm so excited for what Eric has to share with us this weekend.
Jumping in that main point is so great and we're excited to learn just how we can really embody a life that is not miserable. But of course, we always start our conversations off with the lean in. And this is the lean in question that talks about joy, which I love a good question about joy. And while it says the greatest joy, that might be a little bit of a big question.
What do you think? Kind of. That was the greatest joy in your life. I like that he kind of breaks it or this question here.
We break it down into this past year. So I can help people kind of think, OK, what's been a really moment, a really great moment that you've had a happy moment, a joyful moment, or maybe a moment that you didn't expect there to be joy, but because of God's favor and hand in your life that you saw it as joy. So hopefully many people will be able to open up and be able to share of where they've experienced some joy in their lives. That can really ask that we hope that that might juxtaposition against a time of misery or time or people that they might see as miserable.
But they're pointing on their own stories. Yeah, I think this is a great way to start because it'll kind of bring momentum and faith into the room and the group as we talk about the things that were grateful for and to be able to celebrate with each other. Like I've seen you go through that or I've seen that promotion or I've seen that transition and it not only brought you joy, but also brought me joy in seeing that in your life. So I think that's awesome.
Oh my, it was so funny about that. Sir is I actually I wrote our life group leader email this week and if you guys got our email, you saw that I was on writing it and I was really helping people see the hope and intention behind communion because everybody will be hopefully participating in that this weekend in different services and also communion is such a great opportunity to reflect. That's true. All the things that God has done in our lives and in rooted.
We do communion at the end as a part of worship and as a part of our time where we affirm one another. So I hope that maybe in this time you'll be able to find a way to affirm and encourage one another in your group. And as you think, wow, look how far God has done as we've been together as a group and as we've really walked with Jesus in our lives. So I love it.
You call that out. So, but of course we always want to start out right after a good lean in question. We always want to really look at God's word. Yeah, and I think what in thinking about rhythms and the different things that we know really embody a bit of a community.
I love thinking about the rhythm of centering ourselves and our groups around God's word. So good. That's actually one of my favorite things I love about you Esther is you know how to bring God's word into conversations and into the way that you passed your people. So, yeah, how has God's word kind of impacted your own life or maybe your own small groups in different spaces?
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I'm not going to lie, being a woman and many women in general, we love to chat. And we do a really good job in talking about one thing and it turning into talking about something else. And I think in a life group or just in life in general, the word of God really centers us and reminds us as a life group too.
And as life group leaders, sometimes that happens. I'm sure you guys experience that a ton of like someone else, all of a sudden, you know, shifting off. But I think God's word, you know, really reminds us what we're here to talk about and reminds us of Jesus and at the center of our conversations and the reason why we're gathering together. So I think that's powerful.
So true and so good. And I think that's one of the things if you ever feel like your group is becoming too social or to support group or just are really going off on a lot of different tandens. God's word will also remind us, despite our differences, despite the challenges that we might face, despite the where our conversations have been, it'll remind us why we're here and what we're doing what we're doing. So I love it.
That's actually how we start this conversation. This is how we start to hear from the Lord. It's not a spiritual meditation, but it's actually a psychedelic meditation. But it is a spiritual moment of really meditating on God's word.
Who is promised? So what are some of the questions that you kind of liked here in this section? Yeah, for me, I loved some words that were really highlighted to me was, you know, now brothers and sisters, it was brought up twice. And the word free was brought up twice as well.
So I love that in scripture whenever there's a repetition of something, I really want to see what and this is also the last chapter of Galatians. So Paul's kind of like wrapping up the book and he's wrapping up his points. And so this passage I love because he's really emphasizing like adoption and the fact that we're siblings and the result of that sibling relationship and the freedom we have in Christ. We're able to love our neighbors as ourselves as a result, you know, and so I love seeing that in God's word.
Absolutely. And hopefully I hope that the people in your group and in our groups will be able to see that clearly as well, then we are truly family. And that's kind of going back to why we meet together. It's not because we're all best friends all the time, right?
Like if you think about your own siblings. Oh, Lord. I know, right? I love my brother to death.
We are so different. Yeah, we are so different. But we love each other no matter what regardless of our differences because we're family. And that's what we hope for your life groups.
Yeah. You will love each other because you guys are all centered around one thing. And that thing is Jesus. Yeah.
Right? That thing is Jesus. That thing is the word. And that's what we can all agree on.
And that's what makes us family too. So I love that. And of course, I love this last question to what else does this passage reveal about God humanity? You know, if some of these questions you get to yes or no or in the verse, what is this illustrate?
I think those are great questions to help people dissect the text. But also I just love saying, OK, what's popping off the page at you? What do you see about grace? What do you see about humanity?
Yeah. I love Dear Point. He repeated stuff about freedom here. So there's a point to be made.
So we have to step into or we have freedom beyond or we have freedom available to us and se them into that. So I love that. Looking in, I love look and of course, but I like this for I was saying this as for prepping. It's cool when we look in, but we also first observe what's out there.
That first question, what are some examples of false teachings that creep in? What do you kind of think of when you think of that question there? Yeah, I know I'm thinking about myself in the sense that, you know, what are some lies and strongholds that I believe that Jesus plus something will make me either right with God or, you know, sometimes I'm, you know, if I feel like if I did something, God will be more proud of me or I make him more happy and I don't think that that's how God operates. But because I've operated in the flesh for so long that my mentality, my default is to go back, right?
And Paul is kind of reminding us not to go back. And so yeah, for me, I think like kind of clean up my act and kind of repenting not as a means of communion with God, but almost as like trying to fix it up so that I could take the next steps with the Lord. If that makes sense. Totally.
And it makes me feel like I'm in more control, but it really minimizes and kind of ignores the power of the gospel, you know, that he meets us exactly where we are. Yeah. So yeah, I know I'm definitely tempted to prone to believe in legalism because it almost gives you a sense of control. Totally.
Yeah. Yeah. Do you feel like the group could get into a conversation about that? Yeah.
And the time today? Yeah. I think we can ask like, Hey, you know, where are you out with God? And do you feel like there are some lies that you believe that if I did this link, God, we more proud of me.
Yeah. If I read every day or if I serve, if I, I think all those things are an overflow of our approval that we already have, but I think just going around and maybe even openly confessing, like if I stopped doing this or if I was less prone to this, then I think God would be more happy with me. I think maybe just like saying those lies that we believe out loud and because I think the enemy always wants us to keep a secret, but kind of having that safe life group space as a sillings and Christ, I think it'd be a powerful time. Absolutely.
I love in creating a safe enough space today for people to be able to open up to that because how many times right when people finally say those things out loud, do they realize how foolish it is? Yeah. You know, when you hear your friends say it, when you hear your friends say, Oh, I wish I, if I read my Bible more than Jesus would love you more, you'd be like, what are you talking about that? Yeah.
You know, that's not how Jesus works, but then you don't realize in your own life how you are like, well, if I miss church, then I'm a bad Christian. You know, and it's like, wait, hold on. Yeah. That's, that's not right.
But when I love that you said, when we say it out loud, you realize, Oh my gosh, is this really true? Is this really like this is surely not? Yeah. And I'm sure like a lot of people who've gone through rooted or life groups will realize it only takes one person.
It really only takes one person to go to that kind of that dark cave. It's cold and it's scary, but we'll be amazed by what God does in the room when people are willing to go to that space and let the gospel touch our hearts from the deepest place. Yeah. And a lot of times leaders, we have asked you to meet that person to go there, to be vulnerable, but even as I've kind of helped instruct you guys to be that person, I also want to help you understand if someone else sounds like that they're going to that place, don't be afraid to ask the follow up question.
Oh, I love it. Yeah. I mean, they're like, yeah, like I was just kind of feeling a little, you know, like maybe I do actually struggle with this. Well, say more.
Yeah. That one time sometimes we'll just say, say more about that. When people give you an opportunity to expand, yeah, rather than say, OK, thank you for saying your piece and let's move on. Yeah, yeah.
Well, actually, let's hear more about that. And that could really be a great invitation. So even as leaders, of course, we want you to lead in your own vulnerability, but continue to create space for people to really open up. A lot about how much maybe learn more about others, but also learn how opening up and others opening up can really create this place.
So good. I love that. OK, moving on, we're now looking in. And now, OK, so let's put this into practice.
I love that we're possibly bringing up a conversation about repentance and strongholds. I mean, if you haven't in a while, this is a really good opportunity. I mean, repentance was that, I mean, that incredible point in your root of group where everything really changed. I mean, prayer was incredible.
I know over so many like, oh my gosh, I'm hearing from God, you know, but now, now that I'm a believer, how do I step into my true identity? And that's through repentance. That's through saying, I need this. And also, Jesus gives me the full power and authority to break free from this.
So good. So good. So good. And I absolutely love it.
So that's that third bullet there is kind of saying, OK, guys, what are these things? Let's go around and try and actually confess. Which I go give you a little awkward sometimes, don't you think? Yeah.
It takes a lot of courage, right? Because you're exposing yourself. But that's why we're siblings. It's trusting that you'll be loved and seen all the more as you open up.
Absolutely. So true. So maybe if you think you've got some maybe some timid friends in your group, it might be helpful to kind of to let people know ahead of time or just at the top of the group that, hey, this might be a little bit more of a heavy group today. But I want to say, let's present.
So good. Let's present and let's just set the expectation. Like, we don't do this all the time. Last week, we all kind of go around.
We haven't that in a couple weeks. But let's really present tonight because I really think that God has something special for us. Really special for us. What are some of the other questions here?
What is this lookout park that stuck out to you, Ambassador? Yeah, I think Kirby, I know we were talking about the first one. What other insights from the weekend message? I love that I don't know if you want to share about it more.
But you were talking about as a group's pastor the importance of us reflecting back on the weekend and reflecting on those moments where you felt conviction from Holy Spirit and not to just leave that on the weekend, but to bring it back and to ask God again, Holy Spirit, what was it that you did in my heart last weekend that I need to bring back to today that I need to stay out loud. And do you want to share a little bit about that? You're nailing it. You're totally nailing it.
I stole it from you. No, I'm sorry. We were both jiging it up. And I feel that way where it's like, okay, our group is an extension or honestly, sometimes actually church can be an extension of our group.
But we really are bringing church to our daily lives with our small groups. And so as we think, okay, this is what God did on Sunday and what he reminded me on Sunday, something we hope that you're carrying through the whole week. And this is a way to remind the people in your group, okay, what was God saying? What did he poke at you?
And you actually brought up the timely thing, right? But you were like, what did you say about timely? That it was, yeah, I love that it says the word timely for you because you can hear the same, either biblical principles or verses, but or hear a certain song, but there's a time where it'll just strike your spirit. You'll strike you in your heart.
And that's something that God does. It reminds me that the Bible says that God's word is living and active. And so there is, you know, I love that God word is his written word, but it's also his speaking voice. And whenever we feel kind of in our spirit, like in our soul, that means God is giving us a timely, like a present word.
He's wanting to communicate to us something new today. And so I think leaning into that is really what combating legalism and religion is all about. It's about walking in relationship. That's so good.
I love it. I think especially for those of you who have great members, we're like, oh, we're all strong believers. Like this is what Esther was just saying is so timely. Like ironically, it's really timely in the sense of, hey guys, that, like there's something new that God wants to do.
You know, there's like what that sin was maybe like 10 years ago, we believe that you actually are already in freedom in that. But there might be something new that God wants to set you free from. So I think as so many of you, I know friends that listen to this podcast and I think that's because you guys are like our veterans. Like you are our, really our teammates, our co-laborers.
And I want you to know that we believe that God is still working and moving in your lives and that he is not done with you. And he has his promises are still true and his grace is new for you guys each and every day. So we hope that in this conversation, of course, excuse me. Of course, after a time of repentance, you always want to remind people of truth.
So even if you pull back to your rooted book or you know a specific promise, but if people are confessing things, you want to remind them of God's promises and truth. So feel free to bring up certain scriptures. Be like, hey, Esther, I know you said something about legalism, but let's go back. There's therefore there's no condemnation in Christ's.
You know, like bringing up different verses that come to mind that remind us, okay, yes, this is what I'm struggling with, but this is what who God says I am. Yeah, so good. Anything else you might want to add is we close up here Esther? Yeah.
If your group does go heavy and go deeper, which is great. I mean, I think that deep down inside, that's what people really create in this time. They want to be seen for who they are, not just the presentation version of them. But I remember someone saying that true accountability isn't just telling people what they're doing wrong, which sometimes we think accountability is that.
But true accountability is reminding them who they are. And I think that as people who are doing life group together, being able to just look at each other and say, hey, I know you struggle with this, but I see God working in you and just being able to declare life and hope is truly what Paul's talking about and loving one another. And I think that someone once said, I think this week, like, you know, people are so deprived of being encouraged. And I think it doesn't really happen on the weekends, right?
But in life groups, it's such an intimate setting where you're in a circle facing each other. And so I think it's just a great opportunity to speak life. Absolutely. Yeah, so powerful.
Amen. Okay, you guys. So this week in this discussion, yes, if the opportunity presents itself, practice the rhythm of repentance. But I love that end your time with encouragement, affirmation and worship God for really being who he is to us and calling us, his sons, daughters and brothers and sisters to one another.
We love you guys so much. Praying for you in your discussions. I hope you have a great week.