In a world obsessed with independence, self-reliance, and appearing to “have it all together,” the Christian exhortation to rely on Jesus Christ is not only countercultural, but radical. This lecture, based on Lisa Harper’s stunning talk at Elevation Church, addresses the lie of spiritual self-sufficiency head on. Harper’s passionate, candid, and often funny writing style mixes together personal anecdotes, scriptural exposition, and honest confessions to demonstrate one fundamental truth: the deepest, most transforming connection with Jesus necessitates an ever-increasing sense of need. Intimacy with Christ grows not from our accomplishments, but from our admission of weakness and dependence.
This sermon’s central message is an open invitation—not just to ponder, but also to belong. Anyone, regardless of their history or story, can join the Church of Sermons. This is a family united not by perfection, but by their shared experience of need and faith.
Family, nostalgia, and the lessons of adoption
Lisa Harper begins her lesson with a deeply personal anecdote, inviting her audience into her own family history. She discusses her experience as a single adoptive mother, including how she became “Mama Blanc” (White Mama) to her Haitian daughter, Missy, and later, unintentionally, “Pablo,” due to a misunderstanding of Spanish Sunday school curricula. Harper uses the humor and affection that characterize her stories to remind us that God’s family is full of idiosyncrasies, perplexity, and, most importantly, love.
The transition from adopting a four-year-old to raising a nearly sixteen-year-old has changed both the mother and daughter. Harper focused all of her work in those early years on helping Missy build strong roots—a sense of stability and connection following the anguish of loss. As Missy matures, the emphasis moves from roots to wings. Now it is about preparing her to soar, to become the person God created her to be, inside the protection of boundaries but with the freedom to explore.
This family narrative is more than just a welcoming introduction. It creates the framework for the larger spiritual metaphor: as children mature physically, they gain independence. True spiritual growth, however, is defined as a growing, conscious dependent on our Heavenly Father.
Counterintuitive Maturity: Dependency and Growth
The world teaches us that self-sufficiency is a measure of maturity. To “grow up” means to be self-sufficient and no longer rely on others. But Harper turns this premise on its head. For Jesus followers, maturity is not growing out of need, but rather deeper into it. The more closely we walk with Christ, the more we realize our complete reliance on Him.
This concept is nicely depicted by the sight of apron strings being turned into steel wires rather than cut. As we develop in faith, our connection to Jesus should strengthen rather than weaken. In the context of community, including the Church of Sermons, this is a call to interdependence based only on Christ.
The Gospel of John: A Healing Like None Other
To anchor her message in scripture, Harper draws on one of the most profound healing stories in the Bible: the account of the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5. Unlike the other Gospels, which are full of parables and miracles, John chooses only a few healings, each with significant theological implications. The man in Bethesda has been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. His illness defines his entire identity, and the culture around him—shame-based and honor-focused—values his begging as a sign of righteousness.
Jesus’ inquiry to the man is startling: “Do you want to be healed?” On the surface, it seems indifferent. Of course, he wants to be healed, correct? But, as Harper explains, the question goes much deeper. After thirty-eight years, mending would imply a total transformation of identity, livelihood, and comfort. Being healed would not only cure his illness, but it would also change his entire life.
Harper uses the experiences of her friend Eva, a lady who has been paralyzed for over forty years, to highlight the complexities of this subject. Eva has prayed for physical recovery numerous times, but in God’s incomprehensible sovereignty, she remains in her wheelchair. Eva’s narrative, however, is one of incredible faith rather than defeat. She describes the chair as a canvas for God’s goodness. Sometimes the healing God provides is not what we expect, but rather allows His might to shine clearest in our weakness.
Healing or Comfort: The Cost of Significant Change
Many people have a strong desire to heal but also a strong want to be comfortable. Harper provides a striking analogy from “The Shawshank Redemption” to demonstrate how easy it is to feel comfortable, even in our jail cells. The walls feel imposing at first, but we gradually begin to adorn them, making them feel more like home. True healing, particularly at the soul level, entails pulling down those walls. It involves bravery, vulnerability, and a willingness to change.
This is why Jesus’ inquiry, “Do you want to get well?” is so powerful. Real healing will cause disruption in our life. It may include abandoning the things on which we have come to rely, the identities we have created, and the comforts we have grown accustomed to. For many, the prospect is more terrifying than the illness itself.
Recognize Our Sickness: The Gateway to Grace Harper is transparent about her own story. Growing up, she was abandoned, traumatized, and abused, which left her feeling “dirty” and essentially undeserving of love. Like many others, she attempted to mask her anguish with accomplishment: church attendance, Bible studies, and youth group volunteering. Outwardly, she appeared to be entire. Internally, she was fighting a lost struggle against humiliation and tiredness.
The breakthrough occurred not in her strength, but in her vulnerability. True healing occurred only once she admitted her illness—her deep need for Jesus. Recognizing need isn’t a one-time event. It is a constant position of the heart that says, “I need you, Jesus, every hour.”
This recognition is not limited to individuals who have experienced significant trauma. Harper characterizes stage four emotional cancer as a condition that can affect anyone. We can go to church, sing the songs, and raise our hands while still dying inside. The gospel’s good news is that Jesus came to heal the sick, not those who pretend to be healthy.
The chainsaw of self-reliance: false independence
Harper’s amusing admission that she owns four chainsaws because she is stubbornly independent serves as a metaphor for the larger issue. Many of us have constructed our lives around the belief that we must care for ourselves since no one else will. This “chainsaw spirituality” is celebrated in culture but deadly in the kingdom of God.
God’s love is more powerfully experienced when we admit our need, rather than when we attain it. When self-reliance fails—when relationships break down, illness strikes, or the weight of life becomes too heavy—God is not repulsed by our weakness. In reality, He approaches. As Harper attests, He even allows our legs to be “kicked out from under us” so that we can ultimately experience the comfort that comes from complete reliance on Himself.
The Dark Night of the Soul: How Weakness Becomes Strength
Spiritual development is rarely a linear path. There are times—what St. John of the Cross famously referred to as “the dark night of the soul”—when God appears distant, self-sufficiency is lost, and our only chance is to cling to Jesus’ name. Harper remembers her own valley: months when she was too weak to get out of bed without saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Seminary degrees, biblical understanding, and public ministry all meant little in comparison to the naked, aching desire for the Savior’s presence.
The deepest faith is built on the foundation of greatest weakness. The walls of self-reliance crumble, and the true foundation—dependence on Christ—is exposed. It is here, in the depths of our souls, that we find a God who is not disappointed by our neediness, but rejoices to meet us there.
Interdependence in Community: the Family of God
Dependence on Jesus does not imply living in isolation. The Christian lifestyle is intrinsically communal. Harper brilliantly expresses how realizing our need for Christ frees us from imposing toxic expectations on others. When Jesus is the sole author of our story, we can relate to others as brothers and sisters, rather than as saviors or people to impress.
The Church of Sermons exemplifies this interconnectedness by welcoming anybody to join. Here, perfection is not required. In truth, the sole need is a willingness to recognize need and pursue Jesus together. Healing takes precedence above comfort in this community, as does honesty over artifice.
Toward the end of her sermon, Harper encourages those who have been “too strong” for too long to sit down and receive prayer. It’s a precious moment—a family assembled out of compassion rather than condemnation. The lesson is clear: you do not have to be powerful before God. In fact, your weakness is the location where His strength is perfected.
Intentional Dependence: A Lifelong Posture
So, what does intentional dependency look like in everyday life? It starts with a confession: “I can’t heal myself.” “I need you, Jesus.” It is nourished by prayer, scriptural immersion, and active participation in true community. It grows through practices that remind us of our need, such as worship, confession, lament, and thanksgiving.
Harper warns against mistaking dependency and victimhood. The Christian life is not about wallowing in weakness, but about presenting our brokenness to the One who can turn it into strength. Perfection is overrated. God expects honesty, humility, and the willingness to reform.
Dependency is not a choice for mature believers; it is a must. Deep relationship with Jesus necessitates conscious neediness—a daily, deliberate decision to entrust Him with our wounds, failures, dreams, and concerns.
Becoming a Member: Open Doors to the Church of Sermons
One of the most appealing characteristics of its message is its inclusiveness. The Church of Sermons extends an open invitation to anyone who are weary, burdened, and seeking a deeper connection with God. There is no test to pass, no background check to clear, and no need for perfection. Membership in this family is open to anyone who says, “I need you, Jesus.”
Joining this church does not mean adding another chore to your to-do list. It is about accepting a new way of being—one characterized by honesty, vulnerability, and grace. It’s about joining a community that prioritizes healing over comfort, genuineness over appearance, and dependency over pride.
If you have ever felt alone on your journey, or if you have labored under the weight of self-reliance, know that you are welcome here. The Church of Sermons is more than just a name; it is a live, breathing community of individuals learning together what it means to rely on Jesus.
Conclusion: The Courage to be Needy
Finally, Lisa Harper’s message encourages us to exhibit a rare type of courage: the fortitude to admit our need. In a world that honors the strong, capable, and self-sufficient, Jesus invites us into a kingdom that lifts up the weak, heals the broken, and celebrates the needy rather than shames them.
Dependence on Christ is not indicative of failure. It is the foundation of real strength. It opens the door to intimacy, healing, and the type of community that transforms lives.
So, whether you’re at the top of your game or in the deepest valley, whether your faith is strong or wobbly, the invitation is the same: come as you are. Bring your scars, questions, concerns, and dreams. There is space for you in the Church of Sermons. You can join now with no prerequisites or pretenses, just a desire to say, “Jesus, I need you. “Every hour, I need you.”
In that confession and community, you will discover a power greater than anything this world can provide: the power of dependency, grace, and Christ’s transforming love.
