How to Hang Your Hat

In one paragraph

Jay brought a message on what it actually means to hang your hat on God's truth, working from the series title that Brian has been building week by week. Using Numbers 14 as a starting point, he walked through why the Israelites struggled to trust God even after seeing him work, and traced that same struggle into everyday life. The whole thing came back to a simple question: where are you actually...

Read together

1. Revelation 22 (water of life passage) Brian read it as the basis for a personal word given to Julie about a gift of healing in the leaves of the tree of life
2. Numbers 14:1-12 Carla read it aloud as the main passage; Jay used it to set up the three hooks of circumstances, man, and God
3. Romans 8:31 Jay quoted it to support trusting God as the best hook
4. Colossians 3:2 Jay quoted it to call the congregation to set their minds on things above rather than chasing their circumstances
5. Matthew 6:33 Jay quoted it to encourage surrendering to God rather than chasing after the hat
6. John 14:6 Jay quoted it to identify Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life
7. John 8:31-32 Jay quoted it to show that abiding in Jesus's word brings freedom
8. Proverbs 3:5-6 Jay quoted it to encourage trusting God rather than being paralyzed by uncertainty
9. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Jay quoted it to call the congregation to examine whether they are actually living in faith
10. Matthew 7:24-25 Jay quoted the wise man building on the rock to show that only the Jesus hook will not fail
11. Psalm 34:8-10 Jay quoted it to invite the congregation to trust fully in the Lord who lacks nothing
12. Ephesians 2:8-10 Jay quoted it to say salvation is by grace through faith, not by holding perfect theological beliefs
13. Joshua 24:15 A congregation member quoted it in the open discussion to close with the call to choose whom you will serve

What was said

• Set aside time this week to honestly ask yourself where your hat actually is right now, meaning which hook, your circumstances, another person, or God, are you really trusting with the thing that is weighing on you most.
• Pick one area of your life where you have been playing monkey in the middle with your own beliefs, and instead of chasing the hat, stop and ask God what he wants you to do about it.
• When you catch yourself scrolling or staring at the news, pause and ask whether what you are taking in is forming your own beliefs or just telling you what to think.
• Write down one belief or worry you have been holding onto and pray Proverbs 3:5-6 over it, trusting that if you acknowledge God in that area he will make your path straight.
• Examine one decision in front of you right now and ask honestly whether you are following God or following the money, the convenience, or the popular opinion.

Talk about it

1. The Israelites had seen God's miracles firsthand and still struggled to trust him when they faced the giants in the land. When have you found it hardest to trust God even after you had already seen him come through for you?
2. Jay described three main hooks where people tend to hang their trust: circumstances, other people, and God. Which of those hooks do you find yourself returning to most often, and what does that look like in your day-to-day life?
3. Jay said the bullies were never really after his hat, they were after his heart, and he drew a parallel to how the enemy works with our beliefs. Can you think of a time when something that seemed like a small external battle was actually pulling at something deeper in you?
4. Jay warned that putting your trust in other people, even good people like a pastor or a mentor, can leave you in a place where you discover your faith was never really in Jesus. Has anything like that ever happened to you, or have you seen it happen to someone close to you?
5. Jay said the Pharisees were so focused on having the correct theological position that they missed Jesus standing right in front of them, and he connected that to arguments in the modern church. Where do you think the line is between holding firm beliefs and becoming so focused on the hat that you lose sight of the heart?