Big Perspective
Past
It’s not so much what happens to us that makes the difference – it’s how we choose to look at it. If we really believe God is working in our lives and that we’re living for eternity, it changes how we see all things. In this series, we’ll look at how to frame our past, present, and future up in light of God’s big plan.
Links
Series
Speakers
Marcus Avalos
Lead Pastor
KEEPING PRESENT IN PERSPECTIVE
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Cor. 4:17-18
YOU KNOW • “You’ll never be good enough.” • “You don’t know how to love. You are unlovable. she’s leaving.”“There’s something wrong in your family. I see it in you.” • “You are a fraud. What would people think if you told them?” • “You have no right to help others when you are so messed up.”
THE VOICE OF SHAME VS. THE VOICE OF GRACE
Shame:
"You are not enough. You are broken and unlovable.
Grace:
"You are loved, just as you are. Your imperfections don’t define your worth.”
Shame:
"You messed up, and now you’ll never recover."
Grace:
"You made a mistake, but it doesn’t define you. There’s always room for growth and healing."
Shame:
"Hide your flaws. If people knew, they’d reject you."
Grace:
"You are safe to be authentic. Vulnerability leads to connection and freedom."
Shame:
"You’re a failure."
Grace:
"You are human. Your worth isn’t tied to your successes or failures."
Shame:
"You’ll never be good enough for God or anyone."
Grace:
"God’s love for you is unconditional. Nothing can separate you from His love."
PASTOR JOEL “Fully You”
IDENTIFY YOUR PAIN
THE HURT TRIANGLE:
WHAT DOES GODS WORD HAVE TO SAY ABOUT KEEPING PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE PAST?
“Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation. – John Bunyan”
- YOUR PAST DOES NOT DEFINE YOU.
2 Corinthians 5:17:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
- YOUR PAST MISTAKES HAVE BEEN ERASED
Isaiah 43:25:
"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
- YOUR PAST IS A TEACHER
Romans 15:4:
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."
Romans 8:28:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
PAULS PRESCRIPTION REGARDING THE PAST
Philippians 3:13-14
“No, dear brothers, I am still not all that I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling me upward.”
GO INWARD:
“No, dear brothers, I am still not all that I should be…
“The unexamined life is not worth living”
- Socrates
GO ONWARD:
No, dear brothers, I am still not all that I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing:
GO FORWARD:
“…forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
Watchman Nee
“Being a Christian is like having two dogs fighting inside you.” When asked which one wins, he replied, “The one I feed the most.”
LAND UPWARD:
I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling me upward.”
NEVER QUIT! KEEP GETTING UP!
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of faith.”
Mathew 6:19
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Romans 8:5-6
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
“BUBBA” the DONKEY
KEEPING PERSPECTIVE REGARDING YOUR PAST:
“The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence.” – Roy T. Bennett
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” – Michael McMillan
Don’t be a PRISONER of your PAST; SHAKE IT OFF, TAKE A STEP UP
TITLE:
PAST
Week of 11-17-24
TEXT:
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
CHECKING IN
- If this is your first-time meeting as a group, or a new group member, introduce yourselves.
- Share with the group what you hope to get out of this GROW Group series.
MEMORY VERSE
Hebrews 12:1-2
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.”
MAIN POINT
Don’t be a PRISONER of your PAST; SHAKE IT OFF, TAKE A STEP UP.
INTRODUCTION
As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion. Last week the focus was about the art of reframing. We will look at how to frame our past, present, and future up in light of God’s big plan. This week, we will discuss the past, and how we deal with the shame and everything that can come from our past.
QUESTION:
Is there something from your past that occupies your mind constantly?
UNDERSTANDING/DIGGING DEEPER
Your past does NOT DEFINE YOU. Your past mistakes have been ERASED, your past is a TEACHER.
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ 2 Corinthians 5:17 Unpack 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Would you say that you have let your past affect you in a negative or positive way? Why would you say that is?
Regarding the past no matter what happened, the reality of it, we can’t go back in time to change it. BUt what we can do is MOVE from it. We can move INWARD, we can move ONWARD, and FORWARD to LAND UPWARD. We must never quit and always keep getting up with God’s strength and grace, even when we are knocked down.
APPLICATION
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ Philippians 3:13-14 Explain what The Apostle Paul is trying to communicate in this verse?
THINK ABOUT IT:
His grace is sufficient for us. There is the voice of shame, it tells you harsh things about you, but then there is a voice of grace. The voice of the Holy Spirit, it tells you what is actually the truth, and it lifts you up. God’s grace is beautiful, He does not hold things from your past against you. His love for you is unconditional and nothing can separate that from you, not even shame.
COMMENTARY
Eleanor Roosevelt said “Yesterday is HISTORY, tomorrow is a MYSTERY and today is a GIFT, that is why it’s called the present.” This quote can be used as we walk the journey of moving from our past. We must not be bound down by the past, and instead we must GET UP and GIVE it all to God.
FOLLOW UP
Throughout this week, consider sending a follow-up email to your group. Some suggestions: ❏ Questions to consider as you continue to reflect on what you learned this week:
How can our group pray for you this week about the challenges you are facing, so that you can have victory?
When are you most prone to Satan’s attacks? List a couple of them, then prepare ahead of time for the potential attacks.
❏ A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering.
❏ Remember to memorize Hebrews 12:1-2 and seek ways to apply it this week