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Christlife Posture: Submitting to God's Love and Leading

Topic: Social Acceptance Grips Me (and I don't want it to)

 

Suggested Approach: Choose 1 thing from each of the three boxes

OR Choose 1 from Media or Reflection + 1 from Scripture 

Media Excursions   

Images with Music

  •  Desert Voice (CCCA-Biola) Which part of Jesus temptation was related to gaining social acceptance? Which lyric or image stands out to you in this video?  How does it speak to your temptation to seek social acceptance over God’s way?

Video Clip

  • Lecrae  (I Am Second) What does he say about wanting to find acceptance? What was that rooted in for him? What might it be rooted in for you? How does he relate to God differently after the conference? To others? Is that compelling to you?

Song

  • Beautiful (Mercy Me) How does this song speak to you amidst a struggle for social acceptance (if it does). How can knowing these truths help you weather times when you feel unloved or unacceptable? 

Articles

  • Does It Matter What Others Think? (John Piper) The author explores the yes and no answers to the question in the title.  What distinctions does he make for when a yes or a no are appropriate? What do you think of his answers?

  • Blog: Do you worry about what others think? (Fiona B) What did you find helpful in this article? The author comes to a very specific conclusion for overcoming this kind of worry.  What did you think of her conclusion? 

Online Teaching (video and article)  

  • Are you a Social Media Voyeur? (CCT-Evan C. Rosa) What is the difference between intimacy and voyeurism? Have you ever had a period of a few days when you were disconnected from Social Media? How did you feel? Which parts of the experience of the people in the video can you relate to?

Reflection Options  

Journal (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

  • When you think of other people not liking you or not approving of you, what do you experience in your mind or in your body (i.e. does your breathing get shallow or your chest tighten up, etc.)?  Are the thoughts you have based on truths, half truths or lies?

  • Take a few minutes and journal about how life would be/feel if you didn’t feel compelled to gain the approval of others.  Ask God to show you how to move toward that vision.

  • Desiring approval is not bad in and of itself.  Take some time to consider both the positives and negatives of this desire.

Quote Interaction  (Agree, disagree or otherwise engage with the quote/quotes)

  • “Christ continually shouts through the universe, "You have a love that is already yours. You have nothing to prove to anyone. You have nothing to prove to Me. You are significant and preapproved and utterly cherished. Not because you are 'good,' but because you are Mine.”  Jennifer Dukes Lee, Love Idol: Letting Go of Your Need for Approval - and Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes

  • “You will never gain anyone's approval by begging for it. When you stand confident in your own worth, respect follows.”  Mandy Hale

  • “Hardly anything else reveals so well the fear and uncertainty among men as the length to which they will go to hide their true selves from each other and even from their own eyes.”  A. W. Tozer 

Reading & Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults:

  • Read the section on “Paul and Timothy, A Closer Look: Learning Submission as a response of humility toward the Father’s heart” (pp. 69-72).  How might a heart of humility impact your desire for social acceptance?

  • In the same section, note especially p. 71.  Spiritual heritage and having a spiritual father in Paul affected Timothy’s sense of himself as “respect worthy.”  Where have you been helped or hindered in your sense of self-respect?

  • Mentor: See the “discern the level of contentment” bullet point on page 155.  Think about your own contentment level. Prepare to ask some questions about the young adult and their sense of contentment relationally.

Explore Scripture

Meditate on one or more of the following passages. Always look them up in context.  Take some time to really explore the verse in relation to this topic.  What do these verses help you understand about acceptance by others or by God?  Make a note of what you discover to share later.  See "Learn More About Ways to Study Scripture" below for help in getting the most out of the verse.

  • I Samuel 16:1-7

  • Psalm 118:6-9

  • Proverbs 29:25

  • John 12:42,43

  • Galatians 1:10

  • Colossians 3:23

  • I Peter 2:21-23

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