By Jeff Brodie, Lead Pastor at Connexus Church
I had the privilege of playing soccer at a fairly high level into university. To endure the daily hours of training required to play at that level, and stay on top of my studies, I had to love competition. The desire to win is what pushed me.
Unfortunately, I took the desire to win into other areas of my life where it didn't belong, and I ended up hurting people…I started acting like relationships are about winning and losing. I convinced myself that was the right way to pursue relationships—until people that loved me told me I was hurting them.
Do you think you deceive yourself?
Plato famously said, “The worst of all deceptions is self-deception”.
I think that there’s something that rises up in each of us. It deceives us. It keeps us from apologizing, admitting we’re wrong, or showing weakness. It keeps us from forgiving. It causes us to lie about our pasts, to cheat instead of lose, and to feel happy when someone else fails. It stands in the way not only of our relationships with other people, but our relationship with God.
What is this thing and how do we kill it? What if we could have freedom from it?
That’s what Andy Stanley is going to be tackling for 3 weeks in a series called Killin’ It starting this Sunday at our Barrie location and next week in Orillia.
This is going to be such a helpful series to you as we look at what scripture has to say about the root of this deception, and how we can kill it. It’s also a fantastic series for you to invite a friend or family member to join you. Maybe you want to ask them to join you for the 3 weeks so you can journey together?
Looking forward to this Sunday with Killin' It in Barrie, and a great interview with Carey and Sarah Piercy in Orillia (all about saying “no” nicely) as we wrap up Get Your Life Back. We’re also giving out a great activity pack for Family Day, and the bands have some inspiring music for us.
Looking forward to Sunday with anticipation of what God wants to do in my life and in yours!
