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Series: The Stories that Read Us
Sermon Title: Leave It At The Door
Passage: Luke 13:22-30
SERMON POINTS:
1. We can’t have salvation without surrender
2. Proximity is not the same as intimacy
3. Everything you cling to will either weigh you down or be laid down
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
POINT 1: We can’t have salvation without surrender?
In what area of your life are you still trying to enter the Kingdom on your own terms instead of Jesus’?
- Follow-up: What’s one thing God may be asking you to lay down that you’ve been trying to negotiate around?
- Reflect on: Luke 9:23–24
What kind of surrender do you avoid the most: emotional, relational, or habitual?
- Follow-up: How might naming that resistance out loud bring healing or clarity to your next step with Jesus?
- Reflect on: Romans 12:1
POINT 2: Proximity is not the same as intimacy
Have there been times in your life when you felt close to church or spiritual activity—but distant from Jesus Himself?
- Follow-up: What’s the difference between knowing about Jesus and being known by Him in daily life?
- Reflect on: Matthew 7:21–23
What might be distracting you from truly being present with Jesus, rather than just showing up around Him?
- Follow-up: What would it look like to trade performance for presence in your spiritual walk this week?
- Reflect on: John 10:14
POINT 3: Everything you cling to will either weigh you down or be laid down
What are you still clinging to for identity, worth, or safety that may be weighing you down spiritually?
- Follow-up: How would it feel to bring that thing to Jesus—not to fix it, but to surrender it
- Reflect on: Hebrews 12:1
When have you sensed God asking you to let go of something that felt impossible at the time?
- Follow-up: Looking back—what did that release make space for?
- Reflect on: Philippians 3:7–8
Are you experiencing internal conflict between who God says you are and who you keep trying to be?
- Follow-up: What are some possible steps you take this week to surrender to God’s voice instead of your internal pressure or preferences ?
- Reflect on: Galatians 2:20
How might your spiritual life change if you stopped trying to prove something and started trusting Someone?
- Follow-up: What truth about Jesus do you need to rest in today instead of striving to be enough?
- Reflect on: James 4:7
PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Day 1: The Narrow Way of Surrender
- Question: What have I been holding onto that is too large to fit through the narrow door of surrender?
- Act on it: Ask Jesus, “What part of my will are You inviting me to lay down today?” Write it down. Name it clearly.
- Meditation Verse: Luke 9:23
Day 2: Resisting God or Responding to Him?
- Question: Where in my life am I resisting God’s invitation—while still asking Him for blessing or clarity?
- Act on it: Pause and pray: “God, give me the courage to surrender, even when I don’t understand the outcome.”
- Meditation Verse: James 4:7
Day 3: Near Jesus but Far From Intimacy
- Question: In what ways have I substituted being around Jesus for actually knowing Him and being known by Him?
- Act on it: Spend time with Jesus not to learn or produce, but simply to be. Ask Him, “How do You see me today?”
- Meditation Verse: Matthew 7:23
Day 4: False Closeness vs. True Connection
- Question: Do I talk more about Jesus than I talk to Him?
- Act on it: Today, set aside 10 minutes for undistracted conversation with Jesus. Speak honestly. Listen deeply.
- Meditation Verse: John 10:14
Day 5: Weights That Must Be Released
- Question: What am I clinging to that once gave me life, but now holds me back from following Jesus fully?
- Act on it: Ask: “Jesus, what have I outgrown—or what no longer belongs on this journey?” Then offer it to Him.
- Meditation Verse: Hebrews 12:1
Day 6: The Sorrow of Unreleased Treasure
- Question: What is one good thing in my life that has become a rival to God’s voice or reign in me?
- Act on it: Reflect on what’s hardest for you to imagine letting go of. Invite Jesus to be enough there.
- Meditation Verse: Mark 10:21–22
Day 7: Losing Your Life to Find It
- Question: What would my life look like if I truly believed that dying to self is the beginning of freedom?
- Act on it: Pray this slowly: “Jesus, I no longer live, but You live in me. Live Your life through me today.” – Repeat 3 times throughout the day
- Meditation Verse: Galatians 2:20
SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:
RESOURCES:
- BOOK | DALLAS WILLARD | THE SCANDAL OF THE KINGDOM
- BOOK | RICH VILLODAS | THE NARROW PATH
- PODCAST | NOTHING IS WASTED | THE NARROW PATH WITH RICH VILLODAS
MONTHLY SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE: MEDITATION
Slowing Down to See – A Christian Invitation to Meditation
By Rob Hans, Spiritual Formation Pastor, LifeChurch NV
Meditation, especially in Christian spaces, is often misunderstood or even viewed with suspicion. Some equate it with Eastern religious practices aimed at emptying the mind or detaching from the self. But biblical, Christ-centered meditation is not about becoming empty—it’s about becoming full. Full of the presence, peace, and truth of God.
In Romans 12:2–3, the apostle Paul exhorts us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That renewal doesn’t come by accident or in the noise of a hurried life. It happens as we intentionally let go of anxious, self-centered, or untrue thoughts—and fill our minds instead with the truth of God: His character, His Word, and His identity spoken over us.This is the heart of Christian meditation.
Psalm 139:7 asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” The answer, of course, is nowhere. God is always near. But our ability to notice His nearness—our capacity to live from that awareness—can easily be drowned out by the constant buzz of our phones, our calendars, and our inner distractions.
Christian meditation is the quiet, steady discipline of returning to awareness of His nearness. It is not passive or self-centered. It’s active. It’s relational. It’s rooted in Scripture and directed toward the presence of Jesus.
Adele Calhoun puts it this way: “Clues to His presence can be found in creation, in history, in human beings, in worship, and in Scripture. But we must stop and pay attention. Meditation runs counter to our busy culture, where speed reading, first impressions, and skimming are as deep as we go.”
So let me ask:
- What fills your thoughts on a daily basis?
- Where does your mind go when you aren’t paying attention?
- Do you make intentional time to slow down, breathe, and open yourself to God’s voice and presence?
This practice is not about performance. It’s about presence. You are learning how to be with God, not just do for Him. Meditation is a form of communion—letting the love, truth, and peace of Jesus sink deeper into your soul.
If you begin to experience restlessness, resistance, or distraction—don’t quit. That is actually part of the process. Growth happens not by avoiding the noise but by noticing it, naming it, and choosing again to return to Jesus.
You don’t have to master it. You just need to show up.
Let your soul catch its breath.
If you want to begin practicing the discipline of meditation, here’s a 5-day pathway to begin. Don’t rush it. This is less about doing it “right” and more about creating space to be formed by the Spirit of Christ.
5-Day Intro to Christian Meditation
Daily time suggested: 10–15 minutes
Day 1: Slowing Down – Breathe in His Presence
Scripture: Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Practice:
- Sit comfortably. Close your eyes.
- Inhale deeply and slowly say: “Be still…”
- Exhale and finish: “…and know that You are God.”
- Repeat this breath prayer for 3–5 minutes, then sit in silence for a few minutes.
- Reflection Prompt: What feels hard about stillness? What emotions come to the surface?
Day 2: Anchoring in Scripture – Meditate on a Phrase
Scripture: Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Practice:
- Read the verse slowly three times.
- Let one word or phrase (like “no condemnation” or “in Christ Jesus”) rise in your heart.
- Sit with that phrase. Whisper it slowly. Let it soak in.
- Reflection Prompt: What does this verse invite you to believe about how God sees you?
Day 3: Listening – Inviting God to Speak
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:10 – “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
Practice:
- Begin with this prayer: “Jesus, I’m here. I’m listening.”
- Sit quietly and simply listen. If your mind wanders, gently return to the phrase: “Speak, Lord…”
- Don’t force it. You may not “hear” something right away. Presence is the point.
- Reflection Prompt: Did you sense a word, image, or awareness rising during the silence?
Day 4: Remembering His Nearness
Scripture: Psalm 139:7–10 – “If I rise on the wings of the dawn… your hand will guide me.”
Practice:
- Read the passage slowly.
- Imagine the imagery—rising with the dawn, dwelling far away—yet God is still near.
- Picture God’s hand gently resting on your shoulder.
- Reflection Prompt: What part of your life feels far from God right now? How does it change knowing He’s already there?
Day 5: Centering on Identity in Christ
Scripture: Colossians 3:3 – “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Practice:
- Quietly repeat the phrase: “My life is hidden in Christ.”
- Let your breathing settle as you dwell on this truth.
- Ask: “What does it mean that my truest self is secure in Him?”
- Reflection Prompt: Where are you tempted to find identity apart from Christ?
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “Through the Narrow Gate”
By Rob Hans Spiritual Formation Pastor, LifeChurch NV
As I sit quietly with the words of Jesus about the narrow gate, I find myself drawn to another scene—this one from Matthew 11. Jesus has just rebuked the unrepentant cities like Chorazin, people who had seen His power on full display and yet refused to turn toward Him. And then, without skipping a beat, He shifts His tone and says these astonishing words:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
The contrast is striking. Jesus calls us through a narrow door, yet His voice is gentle. His invitation is rest but not the kind that lets us hold on to everything we’ve been carrying.
To walk through this narrow gate, we have to loosen our grip. We must believe that what He offers is better than what we’ve been clinging to.
That’s the real challenge, isn’t it?
Most of us are far more comfortable with the known—even if that “known” is painful, exhausting, or quietly killing us—than we are with the unknown grace of surrender. We’d rather carry the familiar weight of our wounds, habits, or fears than risk laying them down in trust. We’d rather stand just outside the door, talking about it, than step through and let Him remake us.
But the narrow gate is not a punishment. It’s a pathway. It’s the space that brings us into life to the full (John 10:10)—but only when we stop dragging everything with us.
Our desert fathers and mothers, the contemplative ones who went into the wilderness to learn how to walk with Jesus deeply understood this. They asked the question we often avoid: “What do I need to let go of to walk through the smaller gate?” They practiced a kind of spiritual stripping away. Not to become less human, but to become fully alive in Christ. They trusted that the narrower the way, the more open their hearts would become.
One of my favorite sayings concerning moving through the narrow gate comes from Moses the Black, a 4th-century monk who knew the narrow way well. When asked for a word of wisdom, he simply said: “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.”
There is something deeply prophetic about that. In a culture of hurry, noise, and avoidance, the invitation to sit—still, quiet, unfiltered—is radical. But it’s there, in the stillness, that God often shows us what we’ve been carrying… and how to lay it down.
This week, I invite you to a different kind of striving. Not a striving to impress, perform, or earn, but a striving to let go.To sit.To notice.To begin releasing what keeps you standing outside the narrow gate. Ask yourself: What am I holding that won’t fit through this door? What weight have I grown too comfortable with? What is Jesus offering me that I haven’t believed is better than what I carry?
Let this be the week you stop trying to push through the gate with everything in hand and start walking through with nothing but Jesus. Because on the other side is rest, wholeness, and life.