Series: Outta My Mind
Topic: Part 4 – Inner Critic
Speaker: Steve Cuss, Guest Speaker
Date: October 2, 2022
1 John 3:19-20 (NIV)
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything
1 John 3:19-20 (MSG)
This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
- The Big 5 – There are five core false needs of every person; control, perfection, always knowing the answer, always being there for people and approval. Which one (or more) of these false needs do you most relate with and what is God inviting you into that is true? Stephen shared that he has a need for approval and gave an example from his own life. Is there a time or situation where this core false need shows up in your life?
- The Inner Critic – Oftentimes we give more weight to the ‘gospel’ of our inner critic than we do the gospel of God. What message does your inner critic send and how would you describe it to someone? During your group time or on your own, search out God’s truth against that inner critic and write out scripture that you can say against that lie.
- What if I were at least as ___ to myself as God is? How would you fill in the blank? Close with reading the verses above. What is one truth that will help you to stay ‘living in God’s reality’?