Podcast Summary: Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages

Episode: Week 1 of Free Me From Me

Date: April 11, 2026

Speaker: Pastor Ryan Weckenman

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the “Free Me From Me” series at Red Rocks Church, introducing the theme of moving from self-centered living to a life filled with freedom through Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Ryan Weckenman bases the message on his new book, “Free Me From Me,” and delivers a blend of personal stories, biblical teaching, and practical steps for overcoming the "me maze"—the pervasive cycle of self-focus, striving, and comparison. The message emphasizes vulnerability, the danger of self-help when taken to extremes, and the transformative vitality of Holy Spirit “help” over self-reliance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating New Life in Christ

• Highlight: On Easter weekend, 668 people committed their lives to Jesus, celebrated by the church.
• Quote: “We exist to make heaven more crowded. And that is happening.” (B, 05:00)
• Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ...the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.”

2. Core Question: ‘Now What?’ After Faith

• Addressing the question many new believers face: “What do I do now that I’ve put my faith in Jesus?”
• Wrestling with why old patterns persist even after salvation.

3. The ‘Free Me From Me’ Prayer

• Central Prayer: “Lord, free me from me.” (B, 07:08)
• Purpose: Acknowledges continual struggle with our old selves and asks for Holy Spirit empowerment to truly live free.

4. Personal Vulnerability and the Danger of Extreme Self-Help

• Memorable Story: Pastor Ryan shares about nearly passing out from excessive breath work and self-help rituals at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown (B, 08:25).
• Quote: “Just because a little self help is good doesn’t mean that a lot of self help is going to help more.” (B, 09:50)
• Revelation: When self is at the center, we ultimately bear pressures we’re not meant to hold.

5. The ‘Me Maze’ and the Spotlight Effect

• Concept: The “me maze”—the endless self-centered cycle of performance, comparison, avoidance, and control. (B, 13:50)
• Psychology Connection: The “spotlight effect”—our tendency to think everyone is watching and judging us.
• Quote: “When you put yourself at the center, it’s like you’re constantly trying to escape this maze that you just can’t get out of.” (B, 14:55)
• Recognizing our need to be freed from self-focus.

6. Biblical Response: Re-Centering on God

• The Bible consistently urges us to place God, not self, at the center.
• Story Example: Peter’s transformation from denying Jesus to leading the early church (B, 16:40).
• “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” (B, 19:43)

7. True Change: Help Beyond Ourselves

• Holy Spirit as the answer, not just self-effort.
• Quote: “You know what’s a lot better than self help? God’s help.” (B, 21:24)
• Illustration: Holy Spirit is like a new roommate—when He moves in, He brings awareness to our blind spots (B, 23:40).

8. The Tension: Walking by the Spirit vs. the Flesh

• The Christian life involves a continual “wrestling match” between following the Spirit and giving in to our flesh (naturally self-centered desires).
• Key verse: Galatians 5—“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...” (B, 26:50)
• Practical advice: Lean into spiritual disciplines, community (#GetToChurch), confession, and service as ways to walk in step with the Spirit.

9. Serving Others as True Freedom

• True freedom is expressed not in indulging ourselves, but in serving others humbly and in love (Galatians 5:13).
• Quote: “You only think you want to be at the center of the story, but you don’t. It’s too much pressure.” (B, 32:27)
• Illustration of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and the 59 “one another” commands in the New Testament.

10. Humility and Community

• The remedy for comparison, performance, and isolation is humble service and embracing community.
• Pastor Ryan’s confession: Comparing himself to his brother Doug just weeks prior, battling “the me maze,” and finding freedom through vulnerability and prayer (B, 34:45).
• Quote: “The amount of pressure that falls off your shoulders, church, when you realize it’s not about you...” (B, 36:24)

11. Living the Free Me From Me Life

• Real change is a process (“sanctification”) that requires repeated surrender.
• Final encouragement: Keep praying “Lord, free me from me,” knowing God’s grace covers our ongoing journey.
• “We were created to go, ‘Lord, free me from me, because you are at the center of all of this. I just want to be freed up to love and serve and help.’” (B, 33:52)

Notable Quotes & Powerful Moments

• On Self-Help:
  “Just because a little self help is good doesn’t mean that a lot of self help is going to help more.” (B, 09:50)

• On Self at the Center:
  “When you try to start with self, you end up inheriting all of the pressure that comes with life. You end up having to try to save the world on your own. The really good news is, church, you don’t have to save this world on your own. Because we have a savior.” (B, 12:17)

• On Community:
  “I’m the world’s biggest introvert, but I don’t get to punt on community just because of my personality type. Jesus calls us to love and to serve one another, which means we have to be in this thing together.” (B, 32:57)

• On Comparison:
  “There’s a reason comparison is called the thief of joy. That’s exactly what it does.” (B, 36:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Celebration of Easter Decisions – 00:30–02:30
• Introduction of ‘Free Me From Me’ Theme & Speaker – 02:50–04:20
• Ryan’s Opening: The Honest Truth About the Book – 04:30
• Defining New Life in Christ / ‘Now What?’ – 05:20
• Introducing “Lord, Free Me from Me” Prayer – 07:08
• Personal Story: Self-Help Overdose During COVID – 08:40–12:00
• The ‘Me Maze’ and Its Levels – 13:50–15:50
• Biblical Shift: Peter’s Story – 16:40–18:37
• Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Moves In – 18:37–22:30
• Illustration: The Holy Spirit as a Roommate – 23:40–26:50
• Walking By the Spirit vs. Flesh – 26:50–31:30
• Serving Others in Humility and Love – 31:30–34:44
• Confession: Comparing with Brother Doug – 34:45–36:30
• Collective Prayer and Sending – 38:40–End

Takeaways for the Listener

• Freedom in Christ is more than a one-time decision; it is a journey of learning to step out of self-focus and live in step with the Holy Spirit.
• True transformation isn’t found in self-effort or “self-help” alone but through daily surrender and welcoming God’s help.
• Comparison, fear, and striving keep us trapped in the "me maze," but honest confession and service unlock joy and freedom.
• Community and humility are non-negotiable—following Jesus is a team sport.
• The prayer “Lord, free me from me” is short, practical, and powerful—continue returning to it as you journey towards abundant life.

Final Action & Challenge

As you reflect on this message, take a practical step:

• Pray “Lord, free me from me.”
• Find ways to serve others in your community.
• Get involved in a church group or team—embrace spiritual practices that point you away from self and toward God and others.
• When tempted to compare, confess and reconnect with your true identity in Christ.

Closing Thought

“You’re not going to get it right—you’re going to pray ‘Free me from me’ a thousand times. It’s okay. Because we’re covered because of what Jesus did for us on the cross… This is about learning to walk in a greater degree of freedom.”
— Pastor Ryan Weckenman (B, 37:00)