Elements City Church
Against the Grain - week 2: The Myth of Fragility
Do you ever feel like it’s becoming increasingly difficult to follow Jesus in our current culture? That’s because it is. Over the past ten years, three untruths have been embraced by Western society that have defined an emerging generation. If we are to follow Jesus well, we will increasingly find ourselves going against the grain of culture — rejecting these untruths along the way. In this series we look at the timeless truth of Scripture to see how these myths not only prevent us from maturing as disciples of Jesus, but go against God’s design for His people.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to church!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card as we seek to help you connect in our church family.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbThis three-week series, Against the Grain, is based on The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt.
“We have reduced our church experience to emotional rather than intellectual stimulation. The modern trendy church is trying to be transformed by the renewing of its emotions, rather than the renewing of its mind.”
Gabriel Finochio
Gabriel Finochio
We’ve emphasized giving good advice over speaking the Gospel
into situations.
into situations.
From Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book, Antifragile:
Three Categories that Define Stregnth
1. Fragile:
something that needs protecting or else it will break
Example: a glass
2. Resilient:
something capable of withstanding difficulty
Example: a plastic cup
3. Antifragile:
something intended to go through difficulty in order to develop properly
Example: immune system
Three Categories that Define Stregnth
1. Fragile:
something that needs protecting or else it will break
Example: a glass
2. Resilient:
something capable of withstanding difficulty
Example: a plastic cup
3. Antifragile:
something intended to go through difficulty in order to develop properly
Example: immune system
We are capable of far more than we realize — especially when our identity is firmly rooted in Christ.
Our confidence must always be in the Lord — never in our own strength.
Trials and tribulations are part of the process of making us holy — if we allow them to be.
A great prayer for all of us to pray:
“God, if this is part of your process for making me holy, then I submit to it.”
A great prayer for all of us to pray:
“God, if this is part of your process for making me holy, then I submit to it.”
Perfect / Complete = Teleios
Teleios:
living whole-heartedly according to God’s purpose for you, with a singular focus on Christ
Teleios:
living whole-heartedly according to God’s purpose for you, with a singular focus on Christ
So how do we become antifragile?
While these ideas are geared toward parents -- and I pray they're useful to parents! -- they apply well to all of us.
While these ideas are geared toward parents -- and I pray they're useful to parents! -- they apply well to all of us.
“Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.”
- Assume your kids are more capable this month than they were last month.
- Ask what they think they can do now, and discuss what opportunities might be available to show off that growth;
- Let your kids begin to take more small risks
- Encourage your children to engage in “productive disagreement”
- Frame it as a debate instead of a conflict
- Argue as if you’re right, but listen as if you’re wrong
- Make the most respectful interpretation of the other’s perspective
- Acknowledge where you agree with your critics and tell them what you’ve learned from them
- Assume your kids are more capable this month than they were last month.
- Ask what they think they can do now, and discuss what opportunities might be available to show off that growth;
- Let your kids begin to take more small risks
- Encourage your children to engage in “productive disagreement”
- Frame it as a debate instead of a conflict
- Argue as if you’re right, but listen as if you’re wrong
- Make the most respectful interpretation of the other’s perspective
- Acknowledge where you agree with your critics and tell them what you’ve learned from them
Take more risks in your walk with Christ.
Start with smaller risks that will build your faith as you see the Spirit come through for you.
- Join an EGroup and let the church be the bedrock of the community in your life.
- Go to dinner after church, and converse with three people.
- Pray out loud in front of others.
- Offer to pray with someone who shares something difficult with you.
- Start a conversation with a stranger and talk about the difference Jesus has made in your life.
- Tithe an amount that makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable.
- Go on a missions trip.
And if you try, and it’s awkward, or uncomfortable, or a failure, try again.
Start with smaller risks that will build your faith as you see the Spirit come through for you.
- Join an EGroup and let the church be the bedrock of the community in your life.
- Go to dinner after church, and converse with three people.
- Pray out loud in front of others.
- Offer to pray with someone who shares something difficult with you.
- Start a conversation with a stranger and talk about the difference Jesus has made in your life.
- Tithe an amount that makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable.
- Go on a missions trip.
And if you try, and it’s awkward, or uncomfortable, or a failure, try again.
Thank you to all who give!
Thank you for your tithes and offerings! They enable us to be the church in our city, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so thankful for it!
You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveWe hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we especially hope you are glad you came to church tonight!
Join us next week as we look at the final myth in our series, Against the Grain.
Don't forget the Elements City Church app is the best place to stay connected: stay up-to-date with current events, submit prayer requests, and access playlists of the songs we sing in church. Download it in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Join us next week as we look at the final myth in our series, Against the Grain.
Don't forget the Elements City Church app is the best place to stay connected: stay up-to-date with current events, submit prayer requests, and access playlists of the songs we sing in church. Download it in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.