Deeper

I have frequently had to work out when Deeper happened and have to dig through various sources to find out.  So the definitive answer is here:

First there was ‘The River’ which was a monthly Friday night worship event from 2001-2003.  Then Deeper started as a monthly Sunday evening service running 10 months of the year (taking summer off) which ran from 2003-2012.

Opening with a video taking people from the business of everyday life through scripture to rest and calm.  Then JJ led people through a meditation on a bible passage (Luke 8:40-53).

After some worship, some pre-recorded testimonies were shown of people sharing stories of how God had spoken to them or led them in certain situations.

“God doesn’t reveal his will to us for our consideration but for our participation.” Andy Stanley

listen to the talk here

The premise for tonight’s theme of Ungodly Beliefs was that “Things appear to be true based on the facts of our experience but are false based on the word of God”, for example

• there is something wrong with me
• god doesn’t love me
• knowing likes me
• I’m a failure
• I can’t trust anyone

Listen to the full podcast for why these are false beliefs and how to tackle these things!

The format of the meeting was to give people plenty of time to think about these things, write some thoughts and feelings and then try to address these through prayer, meditative worship and receiving prayer ministry from others.

download this month’s handout

As you reflect on this months deeper service, what do you notice rising up in your own heart?  Spend some time with the following questions…ask them as a prayer to God and see if anything stands out to you.  Spend some time resting in the grace of God, which is greater than all of our running, all of our sin, all of our confession.

Where do you find control in your own life? In what ways have you thought, “I would rather be an orphan?”

How have you found yourself at the end of your rope?  In what ways are you afraid to go back to your Father?

What do you know about the character of God that might give you courage to turn back to him?

When in your life have you experienced the Father running to you?  What does this say about who you are in him?

You were given some questions to take away and think about from the last Deeper. Here are a few more to continue your thought process.

1. Read Ezekiel 36
2. What is God saying to the Israelites in this passage? What is the main point of his message?
3. What might God say to the Church (the body of Christ around the world) today, in light of this passage?
4. What might he want to say to St. Silas?
5. How can we be more open to his softening of our hearts together?

1. Do I feel as though I’ve been dwelling in a foreign land? Exiled?
What are the circumstances that have caused this feeling? What does this feel like?
Take some time to talk with God about these circumstances, to tell him how you feel.

2. In what ways is my heart currently hardened to the love of God?

3. Is there some way that God is using my circumstances to soften my heart?
Take some time to ask this question of God, stop and listen to God’s answer to you.

This may be a frustrating time. You may feel resistance to what he speaks, or you may not hear anything at all just now. Keep your eyes and ears open throughout the next week for God to answer these questions in his time.