SOZO Living With Joy   
 
Session 1 – Welcome To SOZO
Anxiety, depression, workaholism, anger, sadness, addiction, ADD, perfectionism, lack of focus, people-pleasing or abusing, procrastination, grief, trauma, marital dysfunction, eating disorder, motivational concerns, relational issues, spiritual apathy, chronic pain, parental/parenting difficulties, OCD, psychological disorders, sexual issues, financial worries, shame, fears:  No matter what your relational, emotional, or spiritual concerns, SOZO can help.  

Why SOZO?
The Bible teaches that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” In the last 20 years neuroscience has learned how the brain and memory work hand-in-hand in shaping behavior.  SOZO uses Biblical principles and applied neuroscience to help us learn to regulate our emotions. Science teaches that the majority of people do not have the resilience needed to return to peace and joy from painful emotions. They struggle with the ability to regulate their negative emotions. When that happens, we turn to substitutes for joy, such as negative behaviors, events, experiences, relationships or substance; anything to give us instant or short-term relief.  With SOZO we can live the way God intended for us.

SOZO meaning
SOZO is the Greek word translated “salvation, healing, wholeness, restore, deliver, recover.”
Salvation
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (SOZO).” Romans 10:9
Healing
“But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter take courage; your faith has made you well.’ (SOZO)  At once the woman was made well (SOZO).” Matthew 9:22
Wholeness
“Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well (SOZO).” Luke 8:36
“For she said within herself, ‘If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole (SOZO).’ Matthew 9:21

Goals of SOZO
What are the goals of SOZO? What do we hope to accomplish in this class? Rate the different reasons for being here on a scale 1-5. (1 = not even close, 5 = right on target)
___ To know God and myself better
___ To come into full maturity
___ To build deep and satisfying relationships with God and others
___ To change some of my negative beliefs
___ To regulate my emotions
___ To overcome negative and critical thinking
___ To seek help for emotional struggles
___ To stop addictions and other negative behaviors that I escape into

Eight Pillars of SOZO
I. Christian spirituality
II. Neuroscience  – how the brain works
III. Relationships with God, self & others
IV. Resilience through learning how to return to peace and joy
V. Renewing your mind
VI. Changing your interpretation of memories
VII. Maturing the child-like parts of ourselves
VIII. Reparenting

Elements of SOZO
Brain exercises
Telling our stories (verbally and through journaling)
Video and teaching
Weekly meeting with partner, sponsor or group
Participate in discussions
Guided visualization/meditation
Devotions
Prayer
Scriptural meditation

JOIN US IN THE LESSONS OVER THE NEXT MONTHS

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