Desperation

2. Desperation Desperate to be Heard or Noticed

3. Introduction • Welcome • Definition of desperate: having an urgent need or desire; leaving little or no hope

4. Introduction (Cont) • Definition of desperate: having an urgent need or desire; leaving little or no hope • Many of us have struggled with wanting to be seen or heard at some point in our lives.

5. Introduction (Cont) • Many of us have struggled with wanting to be seen or heard at some point in our lives. • Maybe you were in a situation where no one valued your opinion or ideas

6. Introduction (Cont) • Maybe you were in a situation where no one valued your opinion or ideas • We all have a voice and desire to be heard

7. Introduction (Cont) • We all have a voice and desire to be heard • Maybe you have been in a situation where you felt like you blended in with the crowd but longed to stand out.

8. Introduction (Cont) • Maybe you have been in a situation where you felt like you blended in with the crowd but longed to stand out. • We all desire to be recognized

9. Introduction (Cont) • We all desire to be recognized • God created you for this very moment in time and gave you gifts to be used.

10. Introduction (Cont) • God created you for this very moment in time and gave you gifts to be used. • Today, we are going to listen to Brian’s struggle with being seen and heard.

11. Introduction (Cont) • Today, we are going to listen to Brian’s struggle with being seen and heard. • Pray • Discussion

12. Discussion Question Think of a time in your life when you felt like you were not being heard or noticed. Share this with your group.

13. Testimony (Cont) • Natural ability/God given talents • Technology • Public speaking/Preaching • It’s great using your talents to serve

14. Testimony (Cont) • It’s great using your talents to serve • Running sound board/lighting board • You can quickly fall into the background and feel taken advantage of

15. Testimony (Cont) • You can quickly fall into the background and feel like you’re not heard or taken advantage of • Couldn’t work with teens on Wednesday nights because had to run sound • Couldn’t be a voice in drama or emcee because had to run sound • You start to feel desperate to be noticed for something more than what you’ve been doing, or noticed at all

16. Testimony (Cont) • You start to feel desperate to be noticed for something more than what you’ve been doing, or noticed at all • Late night conversations with a trusted friend (Our famous 1:00am solve the world’s problems conversations) • Despondency and depression

17. Testimony (Cont) • Despondency and depression • Changed churches • Did not want to be involved at all • Walked away from God’s calling Discussion Question:

18. Discussion Question Discuss in your group how you relate to Brian’s story.

19. Biblical Example 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. • We are the body of Christ and we have a part and a purpose in Christ.

20. Biblical Example (cont) • We are the body of Christ and we have a part and a purpose in Christ. • Everyone has a place where they fit, a place where they can be heard. For us it's just finding where it is.

21. Biblical Example (Cont) • Everyone has a place where they fit, a place where they can be heard. For us it's just finding where it is. • 1Timothy 4:12-15

22. 1Timothy 4:12-15 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

23. Biblical Example (cont) • Stereotypes can sometimes be totally inaccurate and sometimes they can just be an oversimplified view of a person; just seeing one aspect of what a person is and not looking deeper to what else there is. • Stereotypes- For Timothy it was being young, for Brian it was being good with technology

24. Biblical Example (Cont) • Stereotypes- For Timothy it was being young, for Brian it was being good with technology • In 1 Timothy Paul is encouraging Timothy not to let other people's views discourage or prevent him from fulling God's call on his life

25. Biblical Example (Cont) • In 1 Timothy Paul is encouraging Timothy not to let other people's views discourage or prevent him from fulling God's call on his life. • Timothy had a desperate desire to spread the Gospel; to be heard despite his youth.

26. Biblical Example (Cont) • Timothy had a desperate desire to spread the Gospel; to be heard despite his youth. • Question

27. Discussion Question How do these biblical truths relate to your own personal story of being heard or noticed?

28. Fulfillment • I didn’t learn right away • 2 more churches, I did the same thing • Started ministerial credentialing process without the aid of my local church • It was only in assisting Kelly with things she was doing did people realize and recognize this other talent and calling God had for me

29. Fulfillment (Cont) • It was only in assisting Kelly with things she was doing did people realize and recognize this other talent and calling God had for me • Big Splash • Youth group • This lead to pastoring a church

30. Fulfillment (Cont) • This lead to pastoring a church • Still called on for technical things, but that was okay • Mark Gungor shared part of his story

31. Fulfillment (Cont) • Mark Gungor shared part of his story • Pidgeon holed • No joy • That’s me!!! • 1 Timothy 4:12

32. 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

33. Fulfillment (Cont) • I wasn’t young, per se, but I needed to not let anyone look down on me or pidgein hole me preventing me from being who God created me to be. • This brought me, and still brings me, joy!

34. Fulfillment (Cont) • This brought me, and still brings me, joy! • Quote from Holly Dreger

35. Conclusion (Cont) There is a heavy grief associated with the disappointment that someone important to you cannot or will not empathize or understand you. It is like they have died to you, in a way, because the connection with the person you thought was there seems to have been broken or dissolved. It is such a deep need as a human to be heard--to be understood-- that when we interact with someone who does not hear and understand us, the ability to fully describe this loss in words is impossible: it must be felt.

36. Conclusion • God created us for a reason with a purpose • I found I needed to share with people how I was feeling and continue to move in the direction God was leading • Keep our focus on Jesus and not on man’s expectations or assumptions • Pray

37. Teaser Next time join us as we discuss being desperate for acceptance