1. Sedaqah
RECIPE FOR RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS
EBCLA Fall Sermon Series - 2012

2. Good News for Recovering Pharisees!

3. Nothing of Substance

4. Matthew 23 27 How terrible for
you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees! You pretenders! You
are like tombs that are painted
white. They look beautiful on the
outside. But on the inside they are
PHARISEES
full of the bones of the dead. They
are also full of other things that
are not pure and clean. 28 It is the
same with you. On the outside
you seem to be doing what is
right. But on the inside you are
full of what is wrong. You
pretend to be what you are not.

5. We are addicted to looking like we are
already sinless saints when in reality we
will always be struggling sinners.

6. The Pharisees’
BLIND SPOT

7. The Pharisees’
BLIND SPOT
Convinced that their good behavior and
works were increasing their worth to Yahweh

8. The Pharisees’
BLIND SPOT
Convinced that their good behavior and
works were increasing their worth to Yahweh
Didn’t really know or trust God

9. The Pharisees’
BLIND SPOT
Convinced that their good behavior and
works were increasing their worth to Yahweh
Didn’t really know or trust God
Offended that Jesus was never impressed by
how much holier they were than other sinners

10. The Pharisees’
BLIND SPOT
Convinced that their good behavior and
works were increasing their worth to Yahweh
Didn’t really know or trust God
Offended that Jesus was never impressed by
how much holier they were than other sinners
Terribly addicted to HUBRIS

11. 1935
Bill W. and Dr. Bob started A.A.

12. Two Essential Tools of A.A.
The Big Book
Alcoholics need alcoholics
One day at a time

13. Two Essential Tools of A.A.
The Big Book
Alcoholics need alcoholics 12
One day at a time
Steps

14. 12
Steps

15. 12
A way of spiritual healing and growth that may well be
the most important spiritual model of any age for many
contemporary Christians.
Steps Author Keith Miller

16. 12
A way of spiritual healing and growth that may well be
the most important spiritual model of any age for many
contemporary Christians.
Steps Author Keith Miller

17. Admi!ing
12
Steps

18. Admi!ing
12 Submi!ing
Steps

19. Admi!ing
12 Submi!ing
Reconciling
Steps

20. Admi!ing
12 Submi!ing
Reconciling
Steps Infecting

21. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships

22. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1
We admitted we were powerless
over alcohol--that our lives had
become unmanageable.

23. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1
We admitted we were powerless
over alcohol--that our lives had
become unmanageable.
• “We felt we were doomed to die and
saw how POWERLESS we were to
help ourselves; but that was good, for
then we put everything into the hands
of God, who alone could save us.”
2Cor 1:9

24. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1 •
We admitted we were powerless We admit we are
over alcohol--that our lives had powerless...
become unmanageable.
• “We felt we were doomed to die and
saw how POWERLESS we were to
help ourselves; but that was good, for
then we put everything into the hands
of God, who alone could save us.”
2Cor 1:9

25. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1 •
We admitted we were powerless We admit we are
over alcohol--that our lives had powerless...
become unmanageable.
• ...to stop being such self-
congratulating hypocrites
• “We felt we were doomed to die and
saw how POWERLESS we were to
help ourselves; but that was good, for
then we put everything into the hands
of God, who alone could save us.”
2Cor 1:9

26. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1 •
We admitted we were powerless We admit we are
over alcohol--that our lives had powerless...
become unmanageable.
• ...to stop being such self-
congratulating hypocrites
• “We felt we were doomed to die and
saw how POWERLESS we were to
help ourselves; but that was good, for
• ...to stop trusting ourselves
more than we trust God
then we put everything into the hands
of God, who alone could save us.”
2Cor 1:9

27. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
1 •
We admitted we were powerless We admit we are
over alcohol--that our lives had powerless...
become unmanageable.
• ...to stop being such self-
congratulating hypocrites
• “We felt we were doomed to die and
saw how POWERLESS we were to
help ourselves; but that was good, for
• ...to stop trusting ourselves
more than we trust God
then we put everything into the hands
of God, who alone could save us.” • ...to transform ourselves into
2Cor 1:9 the people God wants us to be

28. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships

29. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2
Came to believe that a power
greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity.

30. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2
Came to believe that a power
greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity.
• “A man is a fool to trust himself! But
those who use God’s wisdom are
safe.” Prov 28:26

31. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2
Came to believe that a power
greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity.
• “A man is a fool to trust himself! But
those who use God’s wisdom are
safe.” Prov 28:26
• “But here is how God has shown his
love for us. While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

32. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2 •
Came to believe that a power We believe that only God
greater than ourselves could can save us--and the
restore us to sanity. world--from us.
• “A man is a fool to trust himself! But
those who use God’s wisdom are
safe.” Prov 28:26
• “But here is how God has shown his
love for us. While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

33. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2 •
Came to believe that a power We believe that only God
greater than ourselves could can save us--and the
restore us to sanity. world--from us.
• “A man is a fool to trust himself! But • We think and act like we don’t
those who use God’s wisdom are desperately need God
safe.” Prov 28:26
• “But here is how God has shown his
love for us. While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

34. Sedaqah
Recipe for Right Relationships
•
2 •
Came to believe that a power We believe that only God
greater than ourselves could can save us--and the
restore us to sanity. world--from us.
• “A man is a fool to trust himself! But • We think and act like we don’t
those who use God’s wisdom are desperately need God
safe.” Prov 28:26
• We are literally, utterly and
• “But here is how God has shown his totally lost without God’s truth,
love for us. While we were still sinners, God’s grace, God’s mercy
Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

35. Julie Sweeney, “On Being a Ch"#ian”

36. “I've spent many years pondering what it means to live a Christian commitment.
Does it mean that Christians will be better, happier, stronger, purer, healthier,
wealthier, less sinful and wiser than everyone else? (I used to think so; I was
taught so.) "Should" Christians be happier, wiser, more joyful, more peaceful,
more successful in their relationships than other people? (In other words, are
these the marks of true faith and practice?)”
Julie Sweeney, “On Being a Ch"#ian”

37. “I've spent many years pondering what it means to live a Christian commitment.
Does it mean that Christians will be better, happier, stronger, purer, healthier,
wealthier, less sinful and wiser than everyone else? (I used to think so; I was
taught so.) "Should" Christians be happier, wiser, more joyful, more peaceful,
more successful in their relationships than other people? (In other words, are
these the marks of true faith and practice?)”
Julie Sweeney, “On Being a Ch"#ian”
“My honest answer for today is: NO. In fact, in order to seem as though a
relationship with Jesus Christ creates those superior qualities, many of us have
had to cultivate a shadow self: protecting secrets, massaging the truth,
pretending an appearance into being, minimizing real tragedy, hiding painful
truths. Moreover, non-Christians aren't fooled. They don't trust the shiny image.”

38. We Must Constantly
ADMIT That We Are
NOT GOD

39. We Must Constantly
ADMIT That We Are
NOT GOD
Need to keep believing that we are
the messy, hypocritical people
whom Jesus loves enough to keep
saving from ourselves. Non-stop.

40. Sedaqah
RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS