Koinonia @ Davis Special Talk “True Love?”
February 9, 2007
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Our search for love
“Someday My Prince Will Come” [Snow White and the Seven Dwarves] Some day my prince will come Some day we’ll meet again And away to his castle we'll go To be happy forever I know Some day when spring is here We'll find our love anew And the birds will sing And wedding bells will ring Some day when my dreams come true
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Something we long for…
Longing for something is evidence…
Hunger exists because there is food Thirst exists because there is water
We long for love,…
but is there love in this world?
and where can we find it?
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I. THIS LOVELESS WORLD
Big indicator: Loneliness
“Loneliness is now a national epidemic according to many sociologists and psychologists…” [Jane Brady, NY Times] Loneliness is the #1 problem for young people in this country [Associated Press]
In a large crowd & in your room At best of times & worst of times
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From a national survey:
“so many people admit to lacking relational connections… The common solution is to keep busy and to stimulate ourselves with a variety of new experiences - that way we are not so likely to feel the pain of those fundamental holes in our life. People have discovered that if they fill the gaps with commitments and excitement, then they're less prone to feel the emptiness of loneliness…
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(it continues…)
“…Of course, that just prolongs the inner despair that eventually cannot be suppressed any longer..." [George Barna, 8/1/00]
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Songs of the heart
Listen to what we are saying…
Evanescence, “Bring Me to Life”
#1 for 20 weeks in 2004
Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
Record of the year in 2006
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Bring Me to Life
now that I know what I’m without you can't just leave me breathe into me and make me real bring me to life
call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) …
before I come undone (Save me) save me from the nothing I’ve become Bring me to life (I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside) Bring me to life
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Boulevard of Broken Dreams
I walk a lonely road The only one that I have ever known Don't know where it goes But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street On the Boulevard of broken dreams Where the city sleeps And I'm the only one and I walk alone My shadows the only one that walks beside me My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me Til then I'll walk alone
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II. HOW DID IT GET THIS BAD?
As a child, thought everyone loved you But slowly realized that there is limited amount of love
You must fight for it
Kindergarten teacher telling you, “You are all special” is just phony !
You need to be even more special
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Resulting consequences
We are fearful of those who are in the same “specialty” We quickly size each other up
We live fake lives to maintain our “special-ness” via…
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All of us put on masks
“It’s a terrible thing to be alone…but don’t lower your mask until you have another mask prepared beneath…”
[Katherine Mansfield, British author]
The many masks we put on:
“The good son” “The cool stud”
“The caring listener” “The funny dormmate”
But putting on these masks leads to…
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“Imposter Phenomena”
We know…the truth about ourselves & the image we project don’t match
So, we live in fear…
that one day the truth will come out
We want people to know us, but…
we don’t want people to really know us
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Doubly Disconnected
We are disconnected with others… AND with ourselves.
Intense longing to trust someone,
to feel safe & secure with someone..
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Lyrics of the heart
Evanescence, “Bring Me to Life”
“Save me from the nothing I’ve become”
“Breathe into me and make me real”
Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
“My shallow hearts the only thing that’s beating”
“Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me”
What’s the solution?
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III. God Truly Knows Us
Psalm 139 says, “You have searched me and you know me… You perceive my thoughts from afar… You created my inmost being…”
God sees through my mask & knows all about me (even the darkest secrets & sins)
And yet, God still loves me!
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He would die for us
Romans 5:7-8 “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is True Love.
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So different than human love
We love conditionally
Based on performance & appearance
resulting in insecurities
Easy to love when things are good
e.g. good grades
Hard to love when someone gives you a hard time
e.g. parents and bad grades, roommates and chores
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God’s love is so different
Not based on appearance & performance
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
But based on fact that we are His
e.g. my testimony
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Conclusion:
Only a relationship with God provides…
Security that you are seeking for The proper connection with others
Able to see others as non-competitors Can be free to take off your masks
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Personal Invitation
Weekly Bible Studies
College: Fridays @ 66 Roessler, 7pm
Sunday Worship Service
Waypoint Community Church 1:30pm, 1801 Oak Ave., rides available
Got Questions? See me after the talk
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