1. Throw away the old way of life.
Common Phrase: I don't know what works for sure, but I know that what I'm doing doesn't.
Beliefs (What I think is true)
Values (What I think is important)
Opinions (The way I think it should be)
Practices (The way I live my life)
2. Start all over, trusting Jesus as my leader and the Bible as my game plan.
Ecclesiastes 4:1-12
“Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Interview with Regina Hubbard
Ephesians 4:15-16
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Remember, we are not responsible for fixing one another.
Let’s love one another by getting to know each other.
Be careful not to suspend biblical principles for men’s wisdom.
Be careful not to become defensive or define yourself by anyone or anything other than Jesus.
Give each other the benefit of the doubt.
Let’s minister together in the tension of our weaknesses and failures.