There is no doubt that mental health issues are on the rise. With the influence of social media, the rise in suicide rates, and the rising cases of depression and anxiety, this is not an issue the church can afford to silent on any longer. Derwin Gray, author, founder and Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina, and former NFL player talks with us on the issue of mental health and how the church can do a better job of walking alongside, and connecting people with resources regarding mental health.
Author: supervisor
Does God intend everyone to get married? Does the church have a blind eye to single people? What does it look like to live as God intended, even in singleness? We talk with Lina AbuJamra, the founder of Living With Power Ministries, author of the book “Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended” and pediatric emergency room doctor. She is also engaged in providing medical care for Syrian refugees in the Middle East.
HOW we communicate, HOW we get our point across, is important. As Christians, are people even listening to us or are we just living in our own echo chambers? Have we lost the art of effective communication and debate? Dr. Ed Stetzer, professor and dean at Wheaton College, Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, and author of the book “Christians in the Age of Outrage” dives into the topic of cancel culture, and how we communicate as Christians.
Open Your Bible to Luke 8:22-25
Five Pain Management Principles 
In the midst of life’s pain…
- My faith is being tested. (Luke 8:22)
“Count it all joy, my brother, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” – James 1:2-3 - My obedience is being challenged. (Luke 8:23)
“Each act of obedience by the Christian is a modest proof, unequivocal for all its imperfection, of the reality of what he attests.” – Eugene Peterson“If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship… Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship with God is nurtured.” – Eugene Peterson“We can decide to live in response to the abundance of God and not under the dictatorship of our own poor needs.” – Eugene Peterson“Mercy, GOD, mercy!”: the prayer is not an attempt to get God to do what He is unwilling otherwise to do, but a reaching out to what we know that He does do, an expressed longing to receive what God is doing in and for us in Jesus Christ.” – Eugene Peterson“There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness.” – Eugene Peterson“Christians don’t simply learn or study or use scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in company with the Son.” – Eugene Peterson - My patience is being tried. (Luke 8:24a)
It’s not usually the unrest outside the boat that is the real issue, but rather the unrest that is inside the boat.Five Faith Filled Responses When Our Patience is Being Tried:
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- Remember God’s Promises (Ps. 119:105)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 - Reflect on God’s Presence (Is. 41:10)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 - Rely on God’s Power (Ex. 15:6)
“Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.” – Exodus 15:6 - Rest in God’s Peace (Ps. 4:8)
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8 - Revel in God’s Protection (Ps. 34:14)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” – Psalm 34:14
- Remember God’s Promises (Ps. 119:105)
- 4. My maturity is being exposed. (Luke 8:24b-25a)
- 5. My commitment is being revealed. (Luke 8:25b-c)
You can listen to Pastor Ron elaborate on these selected verses as they relate to untangling our pain by clicking here.