What Is | Week 1 - What is Hope in a world of depression?

Kick of the discussion with prayer followed by this week’s reading and discussion questions

You can use the kick off prayer below (or do your own), and give time for others to pray into the night together. 

‍Example kick off prayer: Father we praise you for gathering us together. Despite whatever weighed on our hearts as we entered this house, we pray that your Spirit guides our time together and free us from anything that is not of you. We pray that by the strength of your might we may speak truth in love to one another. We pray that we are led by the gifts of your spirit, so that we may build up one another and your church as a whole. As we read your word, we pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner pleasing to you.  

Message: This week we are taking a 2 week break from the Colossians series to look into What Is... A more beautiful way to live.

"When you’re depressed you don’t control your thoughts, your thoughts control you. I wish people understood that."
This quote is painfully true. According to the World Health Organization, depression can make a person feel his or her mind has taken control of the show, with self-attacking thoughts tumbling after another with volcanic force: _I’m so stupid; Everyone is looking at me and laughing; Nothing good ever happens for me…_To someone beset with this chronic mental battering, the negative thought train, no matter how outlandish, seems entirely credible.

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• As described in the quote above, self-deprecating invasive thoughts are often central in a person's experience of depression, and have the power to shape the person's identity.
• Are there experiences or voices over your life that have shaped how you think about yourself? 
• If someone expressed they were experiencing depression, how would you respond to them? 
• Do you think the Gospel speaks into depression?
• What are some hesitations you have in integrating the Gospel into your response? 

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Read the following texts and discuss further (if time) or move into prayer after reading.

Psalm 56:8–11
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?  9  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.  10  In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise,  11  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Lamentations 3:19–26
Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!  20  My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.  21  But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  22  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  23  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  24  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  25  The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  26  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18
[16] So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. [17] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Philippians 4:4–9
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
[16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Share with one another and pray for one another. Pray for God to speak into your direct questions and circumstance. Ask the Holy Spirit for a gift, such as a word or image, that can be used to build up someone in your group.

Habit of Grace: Fasting

What would be one reason you would consider trying fasting? [Spiritual attack, sickness, loss, depression, life altering decision, some to ask you to, salvations, etc.]

Does the reason exist in your life or the life of someone you know? 

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Practice

Consider making fasting for at least one 24 hour period a weekly habit. {Note this jumps from one meal to regular habit as we are breaking for school holidays. Sorry for the jump, but talk with your group about the possibility of supporting one another in integrating this means of grace into your life.}

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‍Discuss, pray and encourage one another.