Pleasant Valley Church Of Christ - Christians Don't Get Depressed

"A Church With Open Arms" - 5/20/2012 am - Patrick Mead
"Unity of Spirit; Bond of Peace" - 5/20/2012 class - Patrick Mead
"A Path to Unity" - 5/20/2012 pm - Patrick Mead

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Christians Don't Get Depressed

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, October 11, 2006
“A Good Christian Doesn’t Feel Anxious, Angry, or Depressed”

5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer

5 Minutes - OPEN

Have you ever really thought about why God made us with the capacity to have such a broad array of emotions?

Describe in your own words the idea of our being “emotional beings.”

While we’ve identified three “negative” emotions (i.e., anxiety, anger, and depression) that we’ve probably all experienced to some degree in our lives, allow everyone in the group to identify some of the “positive” and/or “negative” emotions they have experienced already this week.

15 Minutes - DIG

Would you characterize God as being “emotional”? Make a case for why you believe this to be so.

Assuming you conclude that God is “emotional,” it is no wonder being made in His image that He made us “emotional beings.” In your mind, what is the primary reason God gives us the capacity to have “emotions” (feelings)?

As a Christian, have you been trained to believe that you should only possess “positive” emotions (i.e., love, joy, peace, contentment, etc.) and that when the “negative” emotions (i.e., anger, depression, fear, anxiety, etc.) come upon you, that such are “wrong”?

From where did this conviction come? And why?

If we come to believe that we should expect these negative emotions to come into our life and that such are not necessarily wrong, what are we taught in scripture to do with such? What are we taught in scripture to not do with such?

For example, consider Ephesians 4:26-27, 31, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

Let’s address one of the serious problems we Christians have with some of these negative emotions we possess – suppressing the negative emotion(s), never communicating or confessing this emotion to God and/or any close friend, and allowing it to become a cancer in your life.

Two questions:

* Why do we do such? (Make this a personal matter and allow each group members to confess their reasons for such.)
* What are the dangers and serious repercussions of this behavior?

15 Minutes - REFLECT

Admittedly, as Christians when sin has entered into our life, God has made us such that we will experience internal conflict.

Notwithstanding that reality, do you agree with this statement?

When one or more negative emotions exist in your life, likely it evidences either (1) a weariness of having to live without your basic needs being met by others; and/or (2) when your convictions have been violated; and/or (3) when your value or worth is trampled on.

Can you think of other significant reasons why negative emotions take root in your mind / heart?

Job 23 is an expression of Job’s feelings toward God about his circumstances. How do you communicate with God about your negative emotions (be specific)? What does this say about your relationship with God?

In what ways can you improve upon your communication with God about these feelings?

Do you have one or more people in your life with which you confess and confide your negative emotions? If not, what keeps you from having this type of accountability partner?

One more point of discussion along these lines. Why are we Christians so reluctant to admit to any type of weakness in our lives and seek help?

5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER

In our prayer time tonight, let’s all admit to our weaknesses and the reality we struggle with negative emotions. Some of us are deeply plagued at this point in our life with these feelings.

Use this time tonight to allow the group to bond together in a more intimate way by allowing each group member to express their struggle on this front and allow the group to be prayerful for one another.

Submit all of these matters to our Heavenly Father.