I googled “Christian Stress” and here’s a sample of the
book titles that appeared on my screen:
- Stress Management: The ultimate guide to getting rid of stress and anxiety – the most effective techniques
- Surrendering Our Stress: Prayers to calm the soul and strengthen the spirit
- Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 simple strategies to stress less, sleep more, and restore your passion for life
- How to Properly Perform Emotional Freedom Technique: By EFT tapping your chakras, you can be free of emotional stress
- Simplicity: 1,000 ways to reduce stress and simplify your life starting today
- Don’t Be a Worry Wort: Accept God’s peace and change your life
- Meditation: The Meditation Solution: A practical guide to a happy, peaceful and stress-free life
Today stress management is a billion dollar industry.
Studies have shown a link between stress and nearly every physical, emotional,
mental, and spiritual disorder known to man.
If you are anything like me you receive scores of transmissions
throughout the week from those struggling with the stressful circumstances of
life. Some of the stress is self-inflicted. Other stress seems to be imposed by
others. Regardless of the source, the stress and discouragement that
accompanies life in the 21st century is pervasive. No one is immune.
And it’s about finding peace in the midst of turbulence that causes us to dig
back into Paul’s letter to the Philippians this Sunday.
As you know, Paul is writing from prison. He has a death
sentence hanging over his head. He’s isolated from those who have been to him “a
joy and a crown”. He longs for the Philippians and yet, instead of focusing on
his own plight, he spends his time instructing them on how to rejoice always
regardless of the circumstances.
When we studied chapter 4 together a few months ago, we
emphasized some other features in Philippians 4:1-9. This Sunday we will circle
back and find Paul’s recipe for rejoicing in all circumstances.
In preparation for Sunday’s message “The Recipe for
Rejoicing” you may wish to consider the following:
- What does I Corinthians 11:16-33 tell us about the turbulence of Paul’s life?
- Note God’s prediction of all of this in Acts 9:10-16.
- On what basis does Paul tell them to “stand firm” in Philippians 4:1?
- What happened on October 19, 1987?
- How does Paul link 3:2 to 4:1 and establish a principle in dealing with stress?
- How does prayer reduce anxiety? (see v. 6)
- What kind of prayer is he talking about?
- What does Paul mean in verse 5 when he says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone”?
- How is it connected to what he says in I Corinthians 7:29-31?
- What do you make of Paul’s use of the words: “The peace of God” and “The God of peace” in verses 7 and 9?
See you Sunday as we gather at His table.
