What is SOAP?

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

Week of March 1st
Matters of the Heart

OVERVIEW

To help us navigate this life of living in true freedom with jesus, we have been exploring over the past weeks;
How our frame of view, our choices, our approaches, affect our daily lives, how walking with Christ (eating from the tree of life) helps us to walk in freedom rather than in shame, guilt, and with a victim mindset. We've also explored what it means to understand how God designed us (spirit, soul, body) and how this understanding helps us to live purposefully in spiritual order as He desires for us.

For our time today, let’s look at what prevents us from living in this overflowing and abundant life, to the fullest, in the tree of Life, in Christ Jesus. This is critical to our continued discovery of what it means to walk in Freedom! Scripture says, "What a man thinks in his heart so is he " (Proverbs 23:7) It’s truly powerful to be able to experience God designed freedom in our hearts as our frame of view, our perspectives, our mind sets, our paradigms, and our hearts are being transformed by the Holy Spirit in us. We can experience life to the fullest!

KEY POINTS

  • There are four major blockages of the heart, that are driving our symptoms and these four blockages are: selfishness, bitterness, rejection, and evil thoughts.
  • Heart blockages prevent us from living in the Tree of LIfe and freedom that we have been gifted in Christ Jesus.
  • Thankfully there is a remedy to our heart blockages. The remedy for the above heart blockages are; surrender, forgiveness, words of life, and cleansing by the Holy Spirit.
  • Selfishness - In order to remove the heart blockage of selfishness, we must actively surrender our lives to God to remove this blockage of selfishness - Self-indulgent living will always plug up your heart, preventing you from living in Freedom.
  • Bitterness occurs and blocks our hearts when we hold on to a hurt caused by another person. To live in freedom, we must live a life of forgiveness to remove this blockage.
  • Rejection - A seed of rejection planted in our lives can cause a heart blockage. We can reverse this curse of rejection by discovering and receiving God’s acceptance of us through the power of His Word.
  • Evil thoughts - Evil thoughts will result when we allow ourselves to be exposed to unholy things or believe lies that have been spoken over us. These evil thoughts need to be replaced with truths from God’s Word.

SCRIPTURE

As we read aloud through these verses, let's pause, reflect, and listen for what Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the Word of God.

Key scriptures from Sunday. 

  • John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
  • John 8:36 “if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!”

Additional Scriptures

  • Proverbs 23:7 What a man thinks in his heart so is he.
  • Ephesians 5:26 Paul talks about…. our minds being cleansed and washed by the Word of God, 
  • Proverbs 4:20–23 ESV “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21  Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV “...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
  • James 3:13-16 ESV  “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” 
  • Luke 17:1 ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come...’” 
  • Proverbs 18:19 NIV “A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.”
  • Proverbs 18:21 NIV “Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences. “
  • Mark 7:21–23 NIV “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
  • Ephesians 5:26-27 TPT  Paul is reminding us that Jesus died, sacrificed himself… 26 to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. 27  All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw. 

OBSERVATION

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

Q1. Which one of the four heart blockages (selfishness, bitterness, rejection, evil thoughts) did you relate to the most? How might it be holding you back from growth and freedom?

Q2. Are there areas of your life that you have not surrendered to the Lord? Why do you think you are holding on to them?

Q3. Where in your daily living are you be impacted by unforgiveness? How do you think you can give these ares of offense back to God to carry? What might it look like to take that step to forgive?

Q4. God alon is the heart surgeon. What practical steps can I take to intentionally surrender any of these heart blockages to God in order for them to be removed?

Personal Reflection Question:

We tend to be self-sufficient human beings. We wrestle and grapple within this tension of being in control and letting go of control. What is the area that God is highlighting to you personally 'let go and let God'?

APPLICATION

We've learned about the three steps that are to be taken in order to walk in freedom with Christ. Pray through the scriptures below this week as you engage in taking your 'next steps.'

These 3 steps are;

  • Invite Holy Spirit to
    • show me
    • change me
    • fill me
  • Ezekiel 36:26–27 NIV “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”.
  • Psalm 139:23–24 NIV “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
  • Psalm 51:10 NIV “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
  • Ephesians 5:18 NIV “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery (Senseless indulgence). Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
  • Consider how you could love others by serving on a team this Sunday at BeLoved.

PRAYER

Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross and making a way for me to be in relationship with you. Thank you for absorbing my sin and shame. I choose to receive this extravagant gift of life and ask You to come into my heart and be the Lord and leader of my entire life. I give You all of me and ask You to lead my life for your glory. Fill me with Your Spirit, and help me live the life You died to give me. Turn my eyes to you, face to face with you Jesus, I want to be in relationship with you, walk hand in hand with you. Holy Spirit reveal and reconcile these areas in my life where I have selfishness, bitterness, rejection, or evil thoughts that are blocking our hearts from all that you have for us. I surrender these to you, to change in me., fill me with your Spirit, and reveal to me your Truths. In Jesus name… Amen!

JOIN THE TEAM WHAT'S NEXT?
Next Steps

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

  • Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
  • Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
  • Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
  • Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
  • Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism