The Way of Vulnerabilty - Pt 1

The Way

Recap - The Way of Devotion

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42

• There was a devotion to 4 main things

  • The Apostles Teaching

  • The Fellowship

  • The Breaking of Bread

  • The Prayers

• Devotion was marked by a persistence of unwavering, Spirit-empowered commitment to Christ and His purposes.

The Way of Vulnerability

• Why is vulnerability important?

• It hinders or heals our relationships horizontally 

• It hinders or heals our relationships vertically

What do you need to be more vulnerable in so God can bring healing?

Recap - The Way of Devotion

• Ways that vulnerability was expressed early on in The Way:

  • Confession of sin

  • Forgiveness towards each other

  • Bearing one another’s burdens

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. - II Corinthians 6:11-13

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. - James 5:16

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. - Acts 19:18

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. - Matthew 18:21-22

To follow Jesus in the Way of Vulnerability is to exchange self-protection for Spirit-led healing through honest confession, radical forgiveness, and the shared strength of bearing each other’s burdens.

Jesus Offers Vulnerability with God

• Many of us need to be healed so we can be vulnerable with each other

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” - John 8:1-11

Reflection Questions

• Will you walk away changed?

• Will you be willing to be vulnerable with God so you can be vulnerable with others?

For all of Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes, click here.