The War Within

Sermon Summary

This weekend, we gathered in anticipation to see our hearts fully set free and living in breakthrough. Jesus came to set our hearts free, and we tend to take Him at His Word. We made space to grieve, let our hurting hearts have space to mourn, and most importantly, connect them to a God who will restore us. As we looked through the book of Lamentations, it paralleled much of what we are seeing today: a city that is in ruins. As Jerusalem was in physical ruins, the spiritual condition of our cities is being destroyed by the slow erosion of sin. There is order to Lamentations’ structure, just as there is in our lives, but in the middle of our routines, we are interrupted with pain and disorder that sin brings. Yet in the middle of this poetic and well-ordered book, there is a heart cry of Truth. In 3:22-24, we are reminded that in the middle of the pain, God’s steadfast love never ceases. It’s truths like this that our hearts need to wait on, to listen intently to, so that in chapter 5, we can live out verse 21. Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored. That’s what we are going after: restoration for all that the enemy has stolen.

Scripture References from the Sermon

James 1:19   |   Hebrews 13:17a   |   Matthew 24:13   |   Lamentations 2:14   |   Lamentations 5:21   |   Lamentations 3:22-25   |   2 Corinthians 1:1-11   |   2 Corinthians 7:10   |   Acts 3:19-20   |   Isaiah 61:3

Discussion Questions

• Pastor ryan addressed a few points from the most recent events: the role of the church to lead society, being quick to listen and slow to speak, being more sensitive to God’s voice than the world’s, and the need for discernment for unity and restoration. Discuss this among your group with love and respect.
• There are two possible camps when coming to church: the need to be built up, or the need to tear sin down. Discuss what you experienced.
• What did the book of Lamentations reveal to you in the middle of your hurt?
• The unceasing love of God was in the middle of the chiasm, what would be in the middle of your book of suffering?
• How did 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 bring you comfort?
• What did you experience freedom from in service?

Event Highlights: Fasting   |   24 Hours of Prayer

• For fasting resources, check out gracechurchsp.org/fasting

• Sign up for a 30 minute or 1 hour time slot for the 24 Hours of Prayer event–go to the events page for specific times available on our campuses
• We want all slots to be filled to have a complete 24 hours of prayer! If a time slot is unavailable, come pray whenever you want!