Too Much to Carry | Learning Guide

March 12th, 2023

10:15am I Facebook Live & Zoom

Watch last week's message here

Title

Too Much to Carry​

Text

Lamentations 3 (NET)

Introduction:

“God will never give you more than you can carry” is a cliched response that needs to be blown up, burned down and buried at the bottom of the ocean. It’s not just a misinterpretation, or piece of bad theology, but it’s toxic and dangerous. The things that are dropped on us that we are forced to carry, whether through our own actions and choices, the actions and choice of others, or just the cumulative careening of culture from one misguided mania to another makes it so we are all overburdened at times.

So what is the answer to such a crushing weight? There are plenty of offers to assuage the pressure through addiction, distraction, fleeing, transferring or giving up all together. However, these things only add to the cumulative crushing. Is there an answer? I think there is, but it might not be what we think.

Jump in this week as we see what Lamentations has to teach us.

Grace and peace y’all,

John Ray and the teaching team

Big Idea:

The poetry and confession of Lamentation is an example and invitation to practice our own lament.

Take Away:

Richard Rohr wrote there are “two universal paths of transformation have been available to every human being God has created: great love and great suffering.” Practicing lament can be where the two meet, the lament for what we personally may have suffering or the suffering we have caused, but also lament for the suffering of others.

How this fits into "Become, Belong, Believe":

When we honestly acknowledge both our belovedness and brokenness, we are compelled to find room at the table for others. We welcome without condition and with warm hospitality a chance to belong. This practice is essential in our formation and is reflected and refined in what we proclaim to believe

Questions for Table Groups and personal devotions:

• When you read or hear that the path to transformation is great suffering or great love, what do you feel? Have you found this to be true in your own life? If so, how?

• How does this understanding change the way you might think about how to change? How does this influence the way you think about others and their process of becoming?

Resources

• Richard Rohr or Love and Suffering

• Interview with Soong Chan Rah on Prophetic Lament

• The Perch Building Plan

What's Next?

A neighborhood walk around the Perch at 716 Sycamore.​

Contact Grace Church NWA here