I have never really talked about my faith on this platform before. There are several reasons, none of which are overly complex but this never seemed like the venue for that type of outlet. I always intended for this platform to be picked up as a government type contract and I feared that talking about my faith in this manner would give people a reason not to use or read this blog. I was trying to stay in this secular middle ground that simply didn’t go there. Another reason is because I ‘feel’ like I do not have the well developed confidence or depth of knowledge required to stand up to scrutiny. Yes, I was raised in church and I even facilitate a small group discussion but the truth is, I am just a dude on a journey trying to understand one of the greatest mysteries of the world. If you are looking for deep insights on belief, history or scripture, this series of posts will probably not rise to your expectations. The final and most important reason is rather simple really, I don’t want to be viewed as a hypocrite. I know my sins. I know where I have fallen short and forgiving yourself for those failures is sometimes, harder than forgiving others. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression. I am a work in progress. I am on a journey. I don’t have all of the answers. I want to be better. However, I do think discussions of faith fit within this space. I mean, how can I even call this “The Cognitive Warrior Project” and ignore such a profound aspect of critical thinking. I have thought about adding this dimension to the blog for quite sometime but have used a myriad of excuses not to. But the events of this last week have moved me in this direction. Honestly, I have no idea how often I will post these, I barely write anymore anyway. For today, this is what you will get. We went to a pretty incredible service this weekend and every Sunday evening we host a small group discussion about the service. The following is that discussion guide with some notes that I took. Mostly, I will just ask the questions, you will have to fill in your own answers. I don’t really have a plan going forward, just going to see where this goes. Service linked at the bottom.
Discussion outline for Breath Sunday- God Breaths Life
When someone is dying or leaving us, their last words are very important. Jesus left his disciples with these last words as his instruction….the disciples were under his authority, we are to go, and Jesus is with us.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
How is Jesus with us? – With every breath we take.
Job 33:4 (NLT)
4 For the Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 34:14-15 (NLT)
14 If God were to take back his spirit
and withdraw his breath,
15 all life would cease,
and humanity would turn again to dust.
With that in mind what should we do?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT)
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This Prayer was repeated every morning and every night. It reminded families that the love for God should be at the center for everything – home, work and life together. It’s not just a prayer but a way of living and passing faith to the next generation.
What does this passage show us about God’s desire for families and future generations?
What does this passage show us about God’s desire for my family and future generations?
Application: How do we live this out as families today? – We love God, not just with our words, but with our whole lives. We teach our kids through everyday moments- at the table, in the car, before bed- that God is with us, and His love leads us.
Where can I talk about God’s love in my family’s daily rhythm?
What small practice can we start together as a family this week?
God’s name is like a breath Ya – an inhale; weh – an exhale. God’s spirit renews us and heals what is broken in our lives.
Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NLT)
9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”
10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
What family wound am I holding tightly, instead of trusting God to heal? Or in my family what do I need to release so God can lead? – Search my heart oh God!
Acts 17:25 (NLT)
25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
(Side note. Luke wrote Acts of the Apostles. Here is a note from my bible. One of the essential qualities of a good doctor is compassion. People need to know that the doctor cares. Even if he or she doesn’t know what is wrong or isn’t sure what to do, real concern is always a doctor’s good medicine.)
John 20:22 (NLT)
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
To do God’s work, we need the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must avoid trying to do this work in our own strength. Through God’s first breath he made man different, now through Jesus, God imparted eternal, spiritual life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Every breath is a reminder that God sustains us. Every breath is an invitation to pray for our children and the generations to come. And every prayer we breathe becomes a part of a faith legacy that we pass on.
The whole Bible is inspired God’s word, we should read it, we should apply it. The truth of scripture is to equip us to do good.
Galatians 5:25 (NLT)
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
God is interested in every part of our life, not just the spiritual part. As we live by the holy spirits power, we must submit every aspect of our life to God, emotional, physical, social, intellectual, vocational. Because we are saved, we should live like it.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
God did not save us because of, but in spite of what he saw in us. God loves us anyway. We are no longer dead with sin but alive with Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may the breath you have given us become prayers that bless our children. May our homes be filled with your Spirit, may our children be planted in Your word, and may our families leave a legacy of faith for generations to come. Amen.