​Sermon Summary:
In our "Unstuck" series, we explored Step 3 of the 12-Step Recovery Program: "We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God." This step moves beyond recognition of powerlessness and belief in a higher power to the action of surrender.

The wisdom of recovery isn't just for those with severe addictions—it applies to anyone feeling stuck in perfectionism, people-pleasing, fear, or control issues. These principles address our universal tendency to be our own god and find identity in things that ultimately leave us empty.

We examined the paradox that direct approaches often fail when addressing our struggles. Just as AA discovered that focusing solely on "not drinking" keeps people stuck, we often can't overcome our issues through sheer willpower. The apostle Paul himself struggled with this reality, ultimately realizing his need for rescue through Jesus Christ.

Henri Nouwen's story about trapeze artists provides a powerful metaphor for this surrender. The flyer must resist the instinct to grab the catcher, instead stretching out their arms in complete trust. "The flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything." Similarly, we must resist the urge to control outcomes and instead trust God completely.
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True surrender involves both our life and our will—not as a negotiation where we set the terms, but as a complete letting go. We surrender to the care of God, knowing Jesus has walked this path before us. When we do this, we find not a smaller life, but a fuller one. We discover that freedom comes not through trying harder, but through letting go and trusting the One who promises to catch us.


Discussion Questions:

1. The sermon mentions we all have something we're "in recovery" from. What area of your life do you feel most stuck in right now, and why might surrender be difficult in that specific situation?
2. Henri Nouwen's trapeze metaphor suggests "the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything." How does this challenge your understanding of faith and surrender? In what ways might you be trying to "catch the catcher"?
3. The sermon points out that we often try to negotiate our surrender with God rather than fully letting go. Can you identify an area where you've been trying to set the terms of your surrender rather than truly letting go?
4. Paul's struggle in Romans 7 reveals that even the most religious and disciplined person found willpower insufficient. How does this challenge or comfort you in your own spiritual journey?
5. The sermon suggests that "indirect paths" often lead to greater freedom than direct confrontation of our issues. How have you experienced this paradox in your own life?
6. What practical step can you take this week to practice surrender in your daily life? How might you remind yourself to "stretch out your arms" in trust rather than grabbing for control?

Sermon Summary:
In this exploration of Step Two of the 12 Steps, we journey through the remarkable transformation of King Nebuchadnezzar. His story reveals how even the most powerful among us can be trapped in the insanity of self-sufficiency. Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of ancient Babylon and builder of legendary wonders, believed himself to be the source of his own greatness until a divine intervention stripped him of everything. Through his dramatic fall from power to eating grass like cattle, we discover the paradox of finding sanity through surrender. The sermon weaves together the ancient biblical narrative with modern research about wealth and compassion, showing how success often breeds self-centered thinking rather than gratitude. We learn that believing in a higher power isn't about achieving perfect faith, but about taking the first humble step of acknowledging we're not God. The message culminates in the practical application of simple, daily prayers of surrender: "God, would you be God in my life today?" This ancient story becomes a mirror for our own struggles with control, pride, and the exhausting effort of trying to be our own gods.

Discussion Questions:

1. When have you experienced a "wake-up call" that showed you weren't as in control as you thought? How did it change your perspective?
2. Why do you think increased success and resources often lead to decreased compassion and awareness of others?
3. What areas of your life do you find most difficult to surrender control over? What makes these areas particularly challenging?
4. How does the idea that "believing is a journey, not an achievement" change your approach to faith and surrender?
5. In what ways have you experienced the "odd sense of relief" that comes from letting go of something you've been desperately trying to control?
6. How might your daily life change if you started each morning with the simple prayer "God, would you be God in my life today?"

Sermon Summary:
We explored the universal experience of feeling stuck - not just in snow, but in relationships, habits, addictions, and behavioral patterns. Drawing parallels between AA's first step and spiritual transformation, we examined how true freedom begins with admitting our powerlessness. The sermon connected the founding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to the transformative power of Jesus Christ, revealing how Bill W.'s encounter with Christian fellowship led to the development of the 12 steps.
We discovered that the root of our struggle lies in our attempt to play God in our own lives - managing circumstances, controlling others, and medicating pain. The first step toward freedom isn't trying harder but admitting our powerlessness over our attraction to do wrong and the unmanageability of our lives. This admission isn't a one-time event but an ongoing posture of humility.
The message emphasized how real community forms not through sharing our strengths but through acknowledging our shared brokenness. Just as AA brings together people who "would not normally mix," the church is called to be a place where people unite in their need for God rather than their accomplishments or resources. This surrender to powerlessness opens the door to experiencing God's transformative power, making possible what we cannot accomplish on our own.

Discussion Questions:

1. What areas of your life do you find yourself trying to control or manage? How has that worked out for you?
2. Why do you think it's so difficult for us to admit we're powerless?
3. How does our culture's emphasis on self-reliance conflict with the message of surrender?
4. What's the difference between giving up and surrendering to God?
5. How might admitting powerlessness actually lead to greater freedom?
6. In what ways have you experienced community through shared vulnerability?