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Exposure :: Kurt VanderWeil
May 18 – CF Community Center
June 1 – Grundy Center
June 7 – CF Sanctuary
Message Summary
Kurt taught that there is a river that flows throughout the entire Bible – from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22! There are trees that live by the side of the river; extra-healthy trees with leaves that can be used for the healing of other people. He talked of the connection between the river, roots, trees and fruit. God is trying to teach us something about reality and life through this connection; something about how human beings are made. There is also another river- a river of thoughts and consciousness that flows through our minds every waking moment. The flow of thoughts in our minds is directly related to what our "roots" are planted in. Kurt talked about the default system of our thought life in this culture - He called it the "river of culture," (media, tv, sarcasm, shopping, online stuff, negative people) and encouraged us to wisely limit exposure to this, because it will form our thought life and our spirits. At the same time, he encouraged us to increase our exposure to the "river of life" through activities like joyful people, worship, prayer, Scripture, and community. Doing so will allow us to gradually become "good trees, bearing good fruit." River, Roots, Trees, Fruit - Don’t forget the connection!
Scripture Focus
Luke 6:43-45
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart the mouth speaks.
Romans 8:5-6
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace ...
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Questions for small group discussion or personal reflection & journaling…
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When you are alone, or bored, or have a minute to process life... where do you find your thoughts going? Are your thoughts more negative than positive? Do you often resort to beating yourself up mentally? Do you find yourself constantly judging others? Or, are your thoughts more of grace, and goodness and God’s love for you and others? Share a bit (or journal) about what you’ve noticed.
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Where do you most struggle with the default mode of the "river of this culture?"
- Are you struggling with greed and ingratitude?
- Lustful thoughts?
- Envy, jealousy and comparison?
- Bitterness?
- TV or media addiction?
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Dallas Willard wrote, "Our thoughts are one of the most basic sources of our life. They determine the orientation of everything we do and evoke the feelings that frame our world and motivate our actions. The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell on."
- What do you think about that statement? What does that statement mean for your daily life?
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Kurt read this quote from a commencement speech given by David Foster Wallace -
"There is no such thing as not worshipping. The only choice we get is what to worship. And the compelling reason for choosing [God] ... is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things ... then you will never feel you have enough. Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly. And when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve you. On one level we all know this stuff ... the whole trick is keeping the truth up front in daily consciousness."
- Have their been times in your life story when you found yourself worshipping something other than God? What were those things, and what impact did that kind of "worship" have on your life?
- How can you keep "worshipping God" up front in your daily consciousness?
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Talk/think a bit about Kurt’s couch cushion story. What are some things in your life that seem insignificant now, but may turn out to create a "ruined couch" in your life if you engage in them over time?
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Do you feed yourself spiritually more like a lion (one huge meal a week), or more like a hummingbird (up to 50 sips of nectar a day)?
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What might it look like to "limit exposure to the river of culture" in your life?
What might it look like to "increase exposure to the river of life?"
In your small groups, agree to pray for each other regarding these things over the coming week.
Try this…
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Pay attention this week to the times when your thoughts become negative, unhealthy and displeasing to God. See if you can notice any connection to what you were recently exposed to. Was it a negative person? A television show that wasn’t uplifting? Media overload? Don’t judge yourself; just notice a connection.
In the same way, pay attention to the times when your thoughts are positive, healthy and honoring to God. See if you can notice any connection to what you were recently exposed to. Was is a person filled with joy and grace? Was it a passage of Scripture you were thinking about? Did you simply get a good night’s sleep? Don’t judge yourself, just notice a connection.
Once you see a pattern of connection between exposure and thoughts, make necessary adjustments in your life to decrease exposure to the river of culture and increase exposure to the river of life.
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Take the Philippians 4:8-9 verses into your life this week, and use them as a lens through which you see all the activities and people to which you are exposed.
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Make a short list (3-4 things) of people, activities, experiences that help you plant your roots in the "river of life" and intentionally plan to engage with them.
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Take the simple mantra, "River - Roots - Trees - Fruit" into your days by reciting it in your mind. Let it remind you of the principle Kurt taught. Allow God to use it to direct your choices.
Prayer for the week…
God, we want to be good trees, bearing good fruit for you in this world. But, we too often forget that our fruit is determined by the river into which we place our roots. We forget that what we sink our roots down into will determine our fruit. Please help us to have Your eyes as we go about our week. Help us to limit our exposure to the "river of this culture" that too often distracts us from you, and leads our thoughts and lives astray. Help us to intentionally increase our exposure to Your "river of life." Give us creative, new ideas about how to focus our minds on You. Make us good trees, Father...
Additional Links & Resources
Website :: Grab a Brew - Share Your View
Article :: WCF Courier article about Grab a Brew
Commencement Address :: David Foster Wallace
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