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MCCH �Biblical Rest Retreat�Session 5

Dick N.H. Andrews

April 6, 2024

Priory Spirituality Center

Lacey, Washington

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Inserting Margin

Biblical Rest Retreats: Session 5

“Margin can prevent crashes”

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Contents:

(1) The Need & Value of Margin
(2) The High Stakes of Margin
(3) Margin in Ministry
(4) Creating Margin
(5) Maintaining Margin

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Students of Words must DEFINE words!

“Margin is the extra space between the things we must do & our capacity. When we use up all that space, we are working at full capacity and there is no margin left.”

“Then, when extra demands come or something unexpected arises, we suffer overload.”

“We feel harassed, suffer stress, & experience all sorts of negative effects on our health and our emotions.”

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Creating Emotional, Physical, Financial, & Time reserves needed.��

“Margin is the space that once existed between ourselves & our limits.

“Marginless is being asked to carry a load five pounds heavier than you can lift.”

“Margin is a friend to carry half the burden.”

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The Need & Value of Margin (Ch.1)�

*Overloaded People in an Overloaded World

(1) Describe your pace & complexity of your daily life

(2) How does your description compare to your life 5 years ago?

(3) Are the factors you detail more external forces or internal? Why?

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Examining Five areas of life where Overload occurs:�

* Time
* Financial
* Emotional
* Physical
* Mental

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Where are my areas of stress?�

* Which of these represent the most of my stress, pressure, overload?

* Please describe what the pressure is on you.

* How does this make you feel?

* What progress-if any- are you making progress in

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Read Matthew 11:28-29 from several versions.�

* What types of people is Jesus calling to come to Him?

* Jesus will give rest for their souls; what does this imply about the physical, emotional or spiritual nature of their difficulties?

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Margin is a cushion allowing you to handle the expected.�

Where are the areas where margin is found in the verses?

2 Corinthians 8:2
Proverbs 22:7
Philippians 4:8
John 15:12-13
Luke 10:41-42
Ephesians 5:15-16

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Understanding who or what is at the ❤️ of margin�

From these verses, where does margin come from?

Source of Margin. Action Required

Philippians 4:13 _________________ ___________________

John 7:37-38. __________________ ___________________

2 Corinthians 8:9 __________________ ___________________

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�

Source of Margin Action Required

Philippians 4:6-7 ________________ ___________________

Matthew 11:28-30 ________________ ___________________

Hebrews 13:5 ________________ ___________________

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�

What value or result comes from margin?

* 2 Corinthians 12:15 ___________________________________

* Psalm 23:2-3 __________________________________________

* John 10:9-10 __________________________________________

* Romans 13:8 __________________________________________

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Practical Application

A. What three key principles emerged as you reflected on your life & examined God’s Word as it relates to margin?

B. Do you have a need for margin in your life? Why?

C. What value do you now place on having margin?

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The High Stakes of Margin (Ch.2)�

* “This problem of overload & lack of margin is a threat to more than our health.”

* “It threatens to frustrate the very purpose of our existence.”

(Jim Petersen)

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“My Utmost for His Highest”

* “Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade concentration of Him.”

* “ A great many Christians worship their work.” Agree or disagree?

* “The one concern of a worker should be concentration on God.”

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Concentrating on God

* “Means all the other margins of life-mental, moral, and spiritual- are free with the freedom of a child; a worshiping child, not a wayward child.”

* “A worker without this solemn dominant role of concentration on God is apt to get this work on his neck; there is no margin of body, mind or spirit consequently he becomes spent out and crushed.”

* “Once the concentration is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God alone.”

( Oswald Chambers)

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Overview

* Our Christian worldview clashes with the secular world view (Ephesians 5:11-12)

* Our capacity and feelings are interacting with:

Time
Money
Emotions
Physical
Mental

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Paths we travel in Life �

* We usually travel down at least two different paths.

* Can you identify the general results & outcomes of the paths you have taken in life?

* In Galatians 6:7-8, identify the Apostle Paul’s important principle & explain how this principle relates to the issue of margin.

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Applications to my life�

* From my life, describe a positive and a negative example of reaping what I sow and how it relates to my margins:

Positive Example: ___________________________

Negative Example: __________________________

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The High Stakes of Margins�

* “What is at stake if I do not have margin, or if I sow short-lived seeds or if I grow weary and inefficient?”

* “ What do I stand to lose if I do not deal efficiently by inserting margin wisely into my daily living?”

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Following Jesus & building with Him

*Examine John 10:9-10. “What did Jesus describe authentic Christians would have if they followed Him their whole lives?”

* “In 1 Corinthians 3:13-14, what two consequences does Paul describe as a result of the test of fire?”

* “Examine 1Corinthians 3:10-11. How would margin relate to this building process?”

* “What do I stand to lose if I don’t build wisely.”

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Margin affects at least four areas��

(1) The quality of my life today.

(2) The quality of my life eternally.

(3) The effect on people around me in my generation.

(4) The effect on people in many generations to come.

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Margin is a Significant Eternal value��

* Margins are costly so choices are usually difficult & sacrificial.

* What three conditions and what cost of discipleship are in these?

(1) Luke 14:25-26 ________________________________

(2) Luke 14:27 ___________________________________

(3) Luke 14:33 ___________________________________

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PRACTICAL APPLICATION

(1) What fresh insights or challenges have you been exposed to you?

(2) Are there any actions that you need to put into practice?

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Geese flying in V pattern

* Observe this flight pattern carefully.

* Then Discuss how we might learn from geese to move more efficiently.