One of the major struggles we face is experiencing and coping with negative feelings. Often, they strike us unexpectedly and sometimes they seem to last forever. Life feels bleak and getting through each day is a chore. In this series, we will look at how the Bible gives us the resources not only to move beyond such feelings, but also to satisfy the real need that such feelings are pointing us towards.
Nothing feels more real than our feelings, especially negative feelings. That’s why we tend to follow whatever they are telling us to do. Not only that, they tend to define our reality. In this introductory message to the series, we will look at the nature of feelings and what they are really telling us about meeting our deepest needs.
- Share about a time when you discovered that your feelings did not accurately reflect the reality of your situation.
- Recall a recent incident in which you became angry. What was the cause? To what extent was your anger tainted by sin?
- In what way might you be feeling down? What have you put your hope in that caused you to feel that way? What does the Bible tell you?
Guilt is an uncomfortable feeling which that we have failed to measure up to what is required or expected of us. We typically deal with it by attempting to dismiss the feeling or doing good things to compensate for our shortcoming. However, in today’s message, we will learn from the Bible that there is a better way to understand guilt and experience freedom from it.
1. How bad do you feel when you miss cell group meetings, especially if it keeps happening? What is your guilt telling you, and what is a godly and constructive response to it?
2. Apart from CG, what other kinds of guilt have you experienced in trying to juggle competing obligations in your life? Ask your fellow CG members to share their perspective and suggestions about your situation.
3. When was a time you felt deeply guilty about a sin you committed? What approach did you take to deal with your guilt?
Most of us will struggle with deep feelings of despondency at some point. In those times, we want to give up what we have been doing, hide away from the world and not care about anything anymore. That’s why in this message, we will look at the story of a great man of God who fell suddenly into such a state of depression, and learn from what God did to heal and restore him.
1. How are you strengthening your mental health by ensuring that you take adequate care of your physical and relational needs?
2. Share about how your perspective had been distorted when you were feeling down. How can we help one another maintain the right perspective regardless of what we are going through?
3. When have you been severely disappointed before? What was the premise you had been relying on in that situation? What is the major premise that you are currently building your hopes on?
Nothing holds higher stakes than the question, “Does God exist?” The answer determines what reality is all about and how we ought to live. That’s why feelings of doubt about God are so difficult to grapple with, whether you are a longtime believer, or just struggling to take the first step of faith. In this message, we look at how we can move beyond our doubt to a confident and liberating assurance.
1. What kind of doubts do you have about God? How do you usually deal with such doubts?
2. How much of your belief in God is based on evidence, and how much on just a feeling you have? Why is reliable evidence important?
3. What are some experiences you have had with God in the course of your Christian life that strengthens your belief in God?