Discussion Starters for Chapters, 4, 5, and 6

Comments on Chapters 4, 5, and 6


from John Ortberg's The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You

*Keep up the good comments.  Each of you is bringing out some great points along the way.

1. I really liked chapter 4. It began with the story of how King Saul tried to give the Shepherd, David, his armor. It absolutely was not the right fit. "The bible does not say you are God's appliance; it says you are his masterpiece. Appliances get mass-produced. Masterpieces get handcrafted." How often do you celebrate your uniqueness?

2. Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, not mass-produced. god does not do "one-size-fits-all". Comment on that statement.

Pastor Dave comments---This is a key reality that churches need to accept, embrace, honor, and lift up. what is also means is more work as we can't simply provide programs, preach sermons, teach in such a way that assumes all are the same. If anything, accepting this reality will be a major blessing and spark for the church's ministry.



3. Here is Ortberg's "alternate question" that he feels we should be asking more often----"What do you do that makes you feel fully alive?" (remember his comments that sustainable spiritual growth can't lat if it is built purely on 'should')



4. In the section starting on page 53 (called "What is My Pathway?), Gary Thomas lifts up several sacred pathways. He says that we will "often recognize our preferred pathways because we find ourselves being changed or making key decisions when we are doing a particcular activity." He lists these on page 55:

Naturalist

Ascetic

Traditionalist

Actvivist

Caregiver

Sensate

Enthusiast

Contemplative

Intellectual



Share with the group what you identify as your top 2. The follow up is simple-- are we spending enough time exploring these pathways?



5. Chapter 5 speaks about the importance of learning to surrender- not just once but as a continual experience. "Surrender means that I will seek to handle the problem facing me in a way that honors God. the options that look attractive to me-avoiding, evading, gossiping, blasting- I relinquish to God?"



Is that a helpful statement for you? In the complexities of life and the many situations we encounter would the simple question- "am I honoring God in this situation?" help you.



6. One who listens to music can't help but recall Carrie Underwood's song- "Jesus take the wheel". Although some Christians may not like the simple metaphor of Jesus in driver's seat, Underwood has captured the concept of "surrender" as has Ortberg. If not familiar, google the song. What do you think of the metaphor of "letting Jesus take the wheel"?



7. Chapter 6 is a brief chapter. It challenges us who believe that the harder you try at anything, the more success you will have. Ortberg title this chapter, "try softer". Share the aspects of this chapter that stood out for you.

(for me, I highlighted and underlined the following quote- 'rarely does anyone seek help for their pride problem. There are no Betty Ford Treatment Centers for the Insufferably Arrogant, but not because we don't need them'.)





8.Final Note--- Please share any insights/ comments from any of these chapters that you would like to mention. (There is a great supply of quotes and insights that any of us could spend time thinking about but I have not commented on)





Looking ahead-- next 10 days (7/4- 7/14), comments will be based on Part 3 (chapters 7-10)

Discussion Starters for Chapter 3- "Discover the Flow"

Comments on Chapter 3-- "Discover the Flow"

from John Ortberg's The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You

Note---***Week of June 27, I will post comments on Part 2 of the book which is chapters 3-6 (pages 35--78)-- I will post separate comments for each chapter throughout the week. ***

I hope things are going well and you are enjoying the book. The cool thing about a book is that you need not agree with every comment. Often the comments that you find challenging present the best discussion starters.



Here are some comments that will hopefully spark some conversation today.







1) Ortberg writes- "My main job is to remain connected to God. When my primary focus is being present with him, everything else has a way of falling into place."- page 35

*I would like to get your reactions to this statement. Do you agree or disagree? I intellectually agree with that but I wonder if that is received as far too simplistic, idealistic, and perhaps even unhelpful for some? Does it produce a sense of guilt that if things are not going well, it's all our fault?







2) Ortberg speaks of a "bridge of grace" that helps close the gap between the current "me" and the sanctified me (the me we are meant to be) . H



3) Foundational Idea of Book--"The only way to become the person God made you to be is to live with the Spirit of God flowing through you like living water." -- page 39. Perhaps its because I'm gardening a lot and using a watering can, I often think of myself as that watering can. A watering can by itself is mere decoration. It has little value as decoration but takes on great potential when a supply of water fills its interior. It moves beyond potential when the filled can is tipped and what is inside is poured out. Life is about returning to God often to be filled up. I think of the images Ortberg points out and many others in scripture which speak of the unlimited wells, life giving water that continually flows, the roaring rivers, etc that come from God to fill up his people. How do you turn to God to be filled up? Are in the flow right now is your watering can a bit dry?



4) Two great soul searching quotes from Ortberg-- page 40

"When someone bumps into me, what spills out of me reveals what's inside of me."



"When we are in the flow of the Spirit, we become increasingly full of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnes, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."



Answer for yourself how full of the spirit you are at the moment? What fruits of the spirit appear to be underdeveloped in your life at the moment?





5) React to the following on page 42- " a trees job is not to try and bear fruit. The trees job is to abide near the river. . . .the fruit does not ripen overnite."



As we compare this quote to #4 it appears to remind us once more that our focus needs to be on putting ourselves in places to be nourished and fed by God. As one who has planted a garden this year for the first time, I see that watering is a daily discipline. I water over and over and over again and it takes a long time for the vegetables to reach maturity. . . .but, I keep at it just as God keeps working in our lives, trying to get through.



6) What are ways in which you "open yourself" to the spirits influence in your life?

What are ways in which you "close yourself off to the spirit's influence in your life?" (a.k.a "quenching the spirit"-- see page 44)





7) GPS image closes the chapter. Do you believe that God is ready to guide you home? Is the GPS in your life unplugged, plugged in and listening, in need of "u-turn", or plugged in once more and ready for new directions?