Sermon Notes:

· Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice! - Philippians 4:4

· Admit we are powerless.

· God is greater than us and he can restore us to sanity.

· We make a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God.

· The fourth step: We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

· Your soul cannot be healed until you face the reality of your soul.

· Psalm 139:23 – Examine me God and know my heart; test me and know my secrets.

· If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

· 24 See if there is any painful way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.

· Let pain be a path to your Heavenly Father.

· I am the way, the truth, and the life…

· Stop being a victim.

· Stop hiding from God.

· Do the work.

· John Ortberg – You can’t tame what you can’t name.

· Am I self-centered?

· When do I try to control other people?

· When have I let my own desires take charge?

· Am I oversensitive?

· Am I overly dependent on others?

· When have I held a grudge?

· Am I harsh, self-righteous, or unforgiving?

· When do I lose my temper?

· Am I anxious?

· Am I in a relationship that harms me?

· Have I been disengaged?

· Have I hurt others, either intentionally or unintentionally?

· How have I let others down?

· Am I bigoted?

· Am I a people-pleaser?

· Am I a status seeker?

· When do I condemn others for things I have also done?

· Do I acknowledge my mistakes?

· Have I acknowledged an addiction?

· When have I been dishonest?

· How have I lied to myself?

· When do I dwell on dark thoughts?

· When have I failed to give thanks?

· When has shame been a factor in my life?

· How do I compare myself to others?

· Do I have unconfessed sin?

· What secrets do I need to share that keep me from moving forward?

· Have I ever acted inappropriately in a sexual way?

· When have I treated any person as a sexual object?

· How is greed present in my life?

· When has fear stopped me from doing the right thing?

· When have I been appropriately humble?

· Am I a generous person?

· Can people count on me?

· Do I keep my promises?

· Can people count on me to finish the job?

· Are my sexual desires under control?

· Am I kind?

· Have I helped a neighbor recently?

· Do I build people up?

· Am I patient?

· Do I love people who are difficult to love?

· Do I speak words of affirmation?

· Do I forgive others even as I am forgiven?

· What temptations do I resist?

· Do I live by faith in Jesus?

· Do I follow the example of Jesus?

· Do I see people as Jesus sees them?

· Do I rest?

· Do I take care of my body?

· Do I help others win?

· Do I have a sense of humor?

· Take a searching and fearless moral inventory of your soul. Invite God to join you on the journey.

· Examine me God, and know my heart. Test me and know my secrets. See if a painful way is in me. Lead me in the way everlasting.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: When you face a defect in your character, how do you feel?

1. Read Psalm 139:23

2. Picture God examining your soul. What image comes to mind?

3. What decision have you made that pleases God?

4. What decision have you made that displeased God?

5. In your experience, what kind of secrets do people like to keep?

6. Read Psalm 139:24

7. How do you deal with pain? Does it lead you toward God or away from God?

8. If you were to explain the way of everlasting to someone, how would you describe it?

9. What would a searching and fearless moral inventory reveal about you?