Ep. 46 Mistakes People Make to Feel Better about Themselves

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Shows Main Idea – There are five universal responses to mistakes. Four of them are wrong and one is right. As you think about your life in relation to this list, what is your most common response after you make a mistake?

Show Notes

We all make mistakes. Maybe every day. By the end of our lives, we have made zillions of them. We make big mistakes and little ones. We are probably more aware of the big ones but it’s the little ones that can fly under the radar of our hearts and cause so much dysfunction in our lives.

Tweets Worth Re-tweeting:

• Christians are the only people in the world who can effectually repent.
• To know you’ve made a mistake is a mercy from the Lord.
• Self-awareness is an opportunity to rejoice because you can change, not be morbid.
• Letting your conscience be your guide could be dangerous.
• We need more than God’s Word because we can misinterpret it.
• An episodic mistake is not as bad as a pattern.
• Do you see your mistakes as opportunities to grow or be morbid?
• Do you see how it is God’s kindness to reveal what is wrong with you to you?
• The Christian life is repentance and ongoing repenting.
• Don’t blame, justify, rationalize, alleviate. Name it, claim it and repent.

The Biblical Record Is Clear

• Romans 3:23
• 1 John 1:7-10
• James 5:16
• Ephesians 4:22

The Effects of Wrong Responses

• Hebrews 3:7-8
• Hebrews 4:8
• Hebrews 5:12-14
• 1 Timothy 4:2
• Romans 1:20
• 1 Corinthians 2:14
• John 3:7
• James 4:6
• 1 Thessalonians 5:19
• Ephesians 4:30

The Altered Inner Voice

• Conscience
• Con – Science or Co – knowledge
• Inner voice
• Our barometer for morality

The Morality Adjusters

• Canon – God’s Word gives us clarity. (John 17:17)
• Comforter – The Spirit of God illuminates our minds. (John 16:13)
• Community – The people of God come alongside us. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Conscience – Our conscience should be in tune with God’s Word. (Romans 2:14-15)

The Four Mistakes

• Justify – To declare your actions as not guilty. (The danger of forgiving yourself)
• Rationalize – To downplay your actions by making them acceptable.
• Blame – To accuse someone or something else for what you did.
• Alleviate –To numb yourself by other bad habits, e.g., TV binge-watching.

The Right Response

• Repentance
• Doctrine of Repentance Article
• Doctrine of Repentance Webinar (supporting members only)
• Doctrine of Repentance Poster

Call to Action

1. How self-aware are you about your mistakes?
2. Do you see your mistakes as opportunities to grow or be inward and morbid?
3. Do you see how it is God’s kindness to reveal what is wrong with you to you?
4. Will you talk to God and a friend about this podcast?
5. Will you find a community for ongoing care?
6. Will you practice repentance daily? – The Christian life is repentance and ongoing repenting.

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).