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WHDL - 00013484

Shallow

Resource Types

Unpublished Text

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Pastoral Ministry Resource Center

Description / Abstract

We can choose to swim in the shallow end of relationships or go to the deep end where relationships take on a whole new meaning! Spiritual growth happens when we take the risk to form deep spiritual friendship that sharpen us and help us achieve our true purpose in life. We go further faster when we realize no one climbs alone.

Week 1 – Relationships – Going deep

Shallow relationships leave us unfulfilled, once we understand our tendency to play it safe by keeping our relationships shallow, we can then learn how to venture into the deep end and find the fulfillment we were created for in relationships, let’s go deep!

2 Timothy 1:3-7 2 Timothy 1:3-7 (NIV) ³ I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. ⁴ Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

These verses give evidence of what a deep relationship looks like. There is an emotional connection and a vested interest in one another supported by prayer, longing to spend time together, connections and insight into extended family, encouraging their calling and advice for difficulties they are facing.

Do you have deep relationships like this in your life?

Ideas for sermon: create survey to help people identify what a shallow relationship is

Take away: What’s a relationship in your life that needs to go from shallow to deep?

Week 2 – Commitment – Stick With it

It’s easy to bail on a shallow relationship but deep relationships are worth fighting for. Let’s learn how to stick with it in the midst of friction.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Humility – valuing the opinions of others even when they don’t agree
Gentleness/Meekness – the middle ground between being angry about everything and being angry about nothing to keep the relationship balanced
Patient – suffering long and deep, delaying your own desires for the good of the whole
Tolerant/Bearing with one another in love
Unity

Sermon Idea – have a 5 star relationship. Which one of the 5 points above do you need to focus on to get to a 5 star relationship? What needs to change in your behavior to invite deep instead of shallow.

Take away: What step do I need to take to have a committed 5 star relationship?

Week 3 – Conversations – Build them up – possible bumper https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/illustration/98448

Once we learn the value of deep relationships and how to maintain them, we can begin to help others do the same. Deep conversations are motivated by the desire to build others up and extend grace so they can reach their potential in Christ.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) ²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Take away: How can I build others up in my conversations?

Series tie to Southside Vision - No one climbs alone – We need relationships with others to grow spiritually!