How to Stop Letting Your Experience Define Who You Are

Are you defined by God or your experience? Also, if you’re defined by your experience, is your experience your God?This episode dives into the roots of shame and its lingering presence even after becoming a Christian. Bill, Scott, and Waldemar discuss how sin management, comparison, and fear are often signs of unresolved shame. Through biblical truth and personal stories, they explore how the redemptive work of Jesus offers a new identity free from condemnation.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode: (00:00) What Is Shame?* Bill contrasts guilt and shame and explains how shame rewrites identity.* How shame distorts the way Christians see themselves despite God's truth.(04:12) Sin Management Theology* “Sin management” keeps Christians in shame.* Churches may preach grace but still convey a message of needing to “measure up.”(07:49) Adam and Eve* Genesis 3 and sin management.* How fear and hiding reveal shame hasn’t been healed.(10:00) Shame, Blame, and Comparison* How shame leads to blame and relational distance.* Shame often causes us to see others and ourselves through the wrong lens.(15:20) Wearing the Coat of Righteousness* The symbolism of God clothing Adam and Eve with animal skins.* Personal stories of when shame distorted how Scott and Bill saw themselves.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Om Podcasten

Discovering who God says you are may be your most important life pursuit. Imagine what our world might be like if we believed we were designed and gifted by God for each other. Living Influence is co-hosted by Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd. Bill Thrall is an author, mentor, public speaker, and co-founder of Trueface. He is married to Grace, who loves to mentor women and to come alongside leadership couples with Bill. They have three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They live in Phoenix. Scott Boyd founded QuesTec Companies, a mechanical contracting and HVAC service business. He is married to Aileen. Scott and Aileen both lost their first spouses to cancer. They together have five children and seven grandchildren. No matter who you are, your influence matters. We believe your view of you may be the most critical factor in your influence. Whatever your role, professional, pastor, parent or student, the most significant expression of your influence will be from your person.