Main Thought
“Mental illness” is one of the most misunderstood struggles we’ll face, even as Christians. It’s very important that we understand the nature of the battle, how to help one another, and how we can overcome. Christians need to understand that the battle for our mental health and wellness is fought on three fronts. Those three fronts are the mental, the physical, and the spiritual. Godly and gentle help can help us figure out which front (or fronts) needs care. Furthermore, we can all expect to struggle with one of three big issues to some extent: anxiety, depression, or control (OCD). Our responses to these things can help or hurt one another. Finally, we must use God-given strategies to overcome. Knowing the truth, believing the truth, and speaking the truth can help us live with mental wellness.
Main Passages
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
- Galatians 6:1-7
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
- Philippians 4:6-8
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from Pastor Bret Holman’s sermon, or from the Main Thought above?
Pastor Bret shared the following three terms and definitions. Which, if any, do you struggle with most and why?
Anxiety: divided with distracting worries and outcomes.
Depression: weighed down with anxiety and discouragement.
Control (OCD): grabbing for control due to anxiety and fear.
Did you see something in one of the Main Passages, or hear something from the sermon, that can help you practically? If so, what?