We are Connected for Community
We were never intended to do life all alone, but rather in the love and company of God and each other.
Here is a link to “The Greatest Temptation of All” – Part 1 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Twos” – Part 2 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Threes” – Part 3 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
2. While the superpower of a Three is this drive to succeed, this super power comes with a “kryptonite” that can cripple them. The Kryptonite is the “deadly sin” of deceit. Not that Threes are necessarily liars…but rather, they are so good at “shape-shifting” and positioning themselves in order to win, they often deceive themselves about who they really are and what they really feel. Question: If gone unchecked, what impact would this pattern have on a Three?
3. The Biblical character we studied on Sunday was the “Rich, Young, Ruler.” He runs up to Jesus and asks the ultimate Three-question: “What must I do…” In the sermon, I said, “Threes may have the hardest time of all remembering that we were created to be human BEINGS, and not just human DOINGS.” Why is this a struggle for Threes?
4. We usually relate this Biblical story to wealth or materialism. But what if it’s not? Jesus told him the one thing he lacks is to sell it all…to rid himself of all trophies and evidences of his success. We are told he then walks away sad. Looking at this story through the lens of the Enneagram, how do you read this part of the story?
5. The wounding message that Threes carry within is ” It’s not okay to have your own feelings and your own identity.” The healing message Threes need to hear is “You are loved for yourself (for who you are and not for what you do).” Do you have any Threes in your life? How might you offer them the gift of hearing the healing message that they are loved for WHO they are, and not what they do?
Here is a link to “Fours” – Part 4 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Fives” – Part 5 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Sixes” – Part 6 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Sevens” – Part 7 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Eights” – Part 8 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Nines” – Part 9 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
Here is a link to “Ones” – Part 10 of Me, Myself and Why. If you are gathering with friends or family, share this link, and toss out one or two of these questions for discussion…
You were born because God thought you were a good idea.
You–with all your strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and idiosyncrasies.
You were fearfully and wonderfully made—in the holy image of God.
(And, for what it’s worth–you still are.)
Live long enough, however, and you begin to wonder.
If I am so fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s own image, then why do I do the things I do?
Why do I keep falling into the same traps, repeating the same self-defeating patterns of behavior?
When asked what was the greatest of all commandments, Jesus said “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
But what do you do when engrained patterns of behavior get in the way of even your best efforts to love God, love others, or even love yourself?
For millions of Christians throughout the ages, one powerful tool in understanding our own behaviors and hidden motivations is the study of the Enneagram.
The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system–but it is far more than that.
It is a lens through which to observe your own life, and in the light of nonjudgmental self-observation, recognize the engrained patterns that keep us from living freely and loving fully, as God intended.
For this pastor, I can say with confidence that no other resource outside sacred scripture has been as fruitful in my own spiritual journey with Christ and in my personal relationships with family and friends as the Enneagram.
That is why, beginning Sunday, February 2nd, I will begin a new sermon series entitled “Me, Myself, and Why?” Each week we will look at individuals within the Bible who seem to embody the strengths and weaknesses of each particular Enneagram number. We will consider the particular wounding messages that we carry around with us, and proclaim the healing message each number needs to hear in order to live freely and love fully, as God intended.