{Please excuse the noise from the 4 minute mark to 8 minutes}
Tips on how to cope with Holiday Depression & Stress by Indiana University
of Pennsylvania
o Do something for someone else.
o Spend time with people who are supportive and care about you.
BIG IDEA: God can heal the hurting through our community.
DISCUSSION:
1. We Can Experience Life’s Extremes within Community (v.13-14)
James 5:13-14 gives us 3 of life’s extremes:
1. Suffering is an Extreme…endure afflictions
2. Happiness is an Extreme…to be in good spirits
3. Sickness is an Extreme… weak, feeble, diseased
Scripture does not artificially sanitize the extremes of human
life.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NASB
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter
under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
The Adverse Childhood Experience test is a measure of
traumatic experiences that examines the relationship between
things that occurred when we were children and how that
impacts our health and social outcomes as adults.
James 5:13-14 NIV
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing
songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church
to pray over them…
To the Troubled… Pray
To the Happy… Praise
To the Sick… Call for Prayer
John 9:2-3 NASB
“ 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned,
nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Communal blessing: We go through individually but we are in this
together
2. We Can Receive the Lord’s Remedies within Community (James 5:14-16)
Authority & Accountability;
Relationships & Reciprocity.
QUESTION: How many people by show of hands have ever lost faith
in leadership in any sphere of your life?
James 5:16a NASB
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that
you may be healed.”
QUESTION: How many people by show of hands have ever lost faith
in people?
James 5:16 MSG
“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be
reckoned with.”
Galatians 6:1-2 NASB
“Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who
are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each
one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Bear one another’s
burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Ask: Do you trust God’s ability and willingness to make you whole? Do you
trust the powerful force of a healthy community to mediate your healing?
Action Item:
o If you’re in trouble – pray
o If you’re happy – praise
o If you’re sick – ask for prayer
