Identity - Matt Hauser - Steel Wool Men's Retreat - 1 of 4 (Luke 15:11-32, 19:1-10)

This is teaching 1 of 4 from the Steel Wool Men's retreat at Camp Pinnacle in Voorheesville, New York October 3-5, 2025.

Watch the other teachings:

1 - Identity w/ Matt Hauser

https://youtu.be/p6lQknrtyGY

2 - Rest in the Lord w/ Rick Cohen

https://youtu.be/RmgbEhLUaak

3 - Recon it Dead w/ Dave Bigler

https://youtu.be/ZdqFgKc72Cc

4 - What do we need w/ Jeff Stasko

https://youtu.be/ioQ5uInWq9s

Save the date for the 2026 retreat: October 3-5th 2026.For more information on the retreat visit:

https://ironsheep.org/steelwool

Teaching Notes:

Who are you?

Your false identity promises life but leads to death, your true identity promises death but leads to life.God wants us to know who he is and who we are (who he made us to be).Jesus walking people from their false identity into their true identity.

Luke 15.11-32

Jesus speaking to tax collectors and “sinners” – Pharisees muttering: reinforcing the false identity – you are not your vocation, you are not the sum of your decisionsSon is driven by belief that there is something better – would rather have his father dead. New identity – disrespect of the one who loves me. Leave for distant land – separation from the fatherLoses everything, tries to fix the situation in his false identity.Comes to senses, but still operating in his false identityWhile he was a long way off, his father saw him – Jesus is with you right now, ready for you to come back to who he made you to be at any moment. Robe: son’s restored dignity, honor, and family statusRing: restored authority, identity, and sonship (entrusted to act on his father’s behalf)

Luke 19.1-9

Zacchaeus means “pure” oneTax collector: Greedy or corruptSmall in statureZacchaeus responds in his true identityA true son of Abraham: just “a fine American”?

Genesis 15 – the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able… so shall your offspring be.John1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Discussion Questions:

The following are questions to contemplate while in conversation with Jesus. Listen to what Jesus reveals to you and note the answers

1. What do you believe about yourself or God that hurts you?

2. Negative emotions (e.g., fear, doubt, shame) can be an indication of false belief about yourself and/or God. What is the most common negative emotion you experience?

3. If you can, recall when you first remember feeling this way. What were the circumstances?

4. Confess your beliefs about yourself and/or God to Jesus. What does he say about them? Give you false beliefs to Jesus. What does He do with them?

5. Ask Jesus what He calls you (your true identity).

6. Based on what He reveals, what does he want you to know?

7. Based on what He reveals, what does he want you to do?