You Are Not In Control

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​Bible Passages - Genesis 18; Hebrews 13:1-3; Colossians 1:15-20; Matthew 6:27 
What stuck with you from Sunday’s teaching? Why?
What questions came to mind as you considered the Bible passage and message?
What are your thoughts on the following ideas?

• The porous self vs the buffered self. How would describe each? Where are you porous and/or buffered?
• What are some areas we like to have control in life? Where is this a good thing? Where is it limiting? 
• The weather, our children, our own bodies are some ways we learn we are not in control. How else do we learn the experience of surrendering control?

“The buffered self sees others as a threat. The porous self is present and open to others in ways that are transforming and healing. The porous self sees others as potential messengers of God who have come to teach us something we must learn in order to become what God made us to be.”  How do you see this play out in your life?
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“So what’s at stake? Well, your relationship with God and your relationship with others. A buffered self or a porous self. A self addicted to control who cannot connect to a greater life than your own, or a self that is open to experience reality as it comes to you, ready to learn, ready to accept and embrace the truth as it comes to you.”  Have you seen the results of these two kinds of lives in people you know? What can we learn?
Joyfully tithing, fasting, not getting your way, and worshiping God are four practices that teach us to surrender control to God. Talk about experiences you have with these things and what you have learned.