28 Jul Life to the Fullest | Part 3 “Why Am I so Stressed?” – All Locations
NEW ENGLAND AND APOLLO BEACH LOCATIONS:
FIRST WEDNESDAY IS AUGUST 21. FASTING BEGINS AFTER LUNCH ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 AND CONTINUES THROUGH BREAKFAST ON TEH 21.
NEW ENGLAND:
NO TUESDAY CAFE ON AUGUST 21
Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events):
NEW ENGLAND LOCATIONS:
Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview Workshop – If you are interested in attending this workshop, please click the link below to register.
Abundant Hope Fundraiser: There is still some time to get your donations in! Just let us know if you plan on donating a themed basket or service so we can plan. Thanks!
PAT BARRET CONCERT INFO:
There are a limited number of General Admission tickets available at the NA Campus bookstore and there is a church presale discount available online through 10am Monday, June 17th.
NEW BOOK BY PASTOR TIM: “ENDING EMPTINESS” now available in our Lobbies, Kindle, and Nook endingemptiness.com
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Reminders:
✳ Please regularly check your Planning Center profiles for requests to join your life groups, remove members from the list that no longer attend, or add members not listed. Please ensure that you have added no-reply@churchcenter.com to your email contacts so that you do not miss an email from Planning Center and encourage your members to do so as well. This will ensure you do not miss a member request or any emails that come from the Planning Center site. Thank you!
Waters Class Schedule:
- 1st Sunday: Discover Waters – after 1st service
- 2nd Sunday: NO CLASSES
- 3rd Sunday: Connect Class – after 1st service
- 4th Sunday: Baptism Class – after 1st service
Waters Help: Need marriage and family care or have a group member in need of marriage and family care? Click here: help resources page or visit waterschurch.org/help
Location Text Alerts:
| North Attleboro | Text “subscribe” to 508 695-1300 | |
| Norwood | Text “subscribe” to 781 762-3357 | |
| Apollo Beach | Text “subscribe” to 813 642-6979 | |
| Woonsocket | Text “subscribe” to 833 241-4837 | |
| Southcoast | Text “subscribe” to 508 809-3490 | |
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 7
Ice breaker
Q. What is the most unusual food you have ever eaten or that someone has tried to get you to eat?
Life inevitably will bring you stress. On average, stress levels are ten percent higher than pre-pandemic. This is particularly true for young people.
Stress is real. It affects your heart and has other physical, mental and emotional costs.
Solomon was able to ask the big questions of life. Solomon had so much blessing in his life and he did not have to worry about the basics like food, shelter, and clothing that he was able to ask the big questions of life.
He was king and his kingdom was rapidly expanding. He was also world re-known. That had become very stressful and it was at the end of his life that he wrote this book.
Ecclesiastes 6:12 (ESV)
These two questions are the sources of two great stress factors in your life.
Q. “In what ways have you noticed an increase in stress levels in your own life, particularly since the pandemic? How do you see this stress affecting your physical, mental, and emotional health?”
Two Stress-inducing realities:
- MORAL AMBIGUITY.
You may be asking yourself what the right choice is about something in your life and wondering what you should do right now. Not having the whole picture is stressful.
2. FUTURE UNCERTAINTY.
We don’t know what the future looks like and have no idea what is going to happen.
Q. How does the uncertainty and lack of a clear picture affect your stress levels and decision-making process?
Stress-Reducing Rejections:
- LIMITED PERSPECTIVE.
We need to get rid of the idea that this is all that will be and where we are is fixed.
Ecclesiastes 7:1–4 (ESV)
*The long term effect of your life is more important than smelling good in the moment.
*How you finish your life is more important than how you start your life. This is good news for anyone who feels like they came from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ It is not about where you are, if you are not dead, you are not done. It is not over.
*Going to a funeral and seeing how life ends brings perspective.
*If you are willing to learn, you will learn far more in your dark days than your bright days. If you are questioning what is going on, then you are in a good place. Your heart is receptive and ready to receive from God. He brings life out of death. He brings empty graves out of the darkness. He brings light into the darkness of our soul.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
Ultimately, God wants you to think beyond your day of death. People with hope in the next life are far more beneficial to people in this life. You care for others because you know that this life is not the end.
John 16:13 (ESV)
Our God is future focused. The Holy Spirit keeps you focused on where you are going not where you have been.
Q. How does focusing on the bigger picture rather than the immediate circumstances bring you peace or clarity?
Stress-Reducing Rejections:
2. APPROVAL ADDICTION.
You have to stop trying to get everybody to like you. We all go through this phase and then get to a point that we don’t care anymore.
Ecclesiastes 7:5-6 (ESV)
The song of fools and laughter of fools refer to people liking you in the moment. The approval of someone does not last. They can love you today and hate you tomorrow. It does not lead to lasting fulfillment.
It is better to receive correction from the right people than get encouragement from the wrong people.
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV); Romans 8:15–16 (ESV)
There is only one Judge to seek the approval of, and that is Jesus. There is no better group to be a part of than the family of God!
Q. Reflect on a time when you received correction from someone you trusted versus encouragement from someone who may not have had your best interests at heart. How did each experience impact your growth and understanding of seeking approval from the right source?“
Stress-Reducing Rejections:
3. ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY.
You need to reject this. It is a worldly mentality. Lucifer had the first entitlement attitude.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 (ESV)
To you it may seem crooked but to God it is straight. When you are not trusting God, then your path is crooked.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (ESV)
There will be days you are praising God and other days you are cursing life. God gave you the day in which you are struggling. Perhaps he is trying to show you something. Let God guide you and direct you to where He wants you to go.
Realizing the you are only able to receive what God has given you, will bring you peace.
Q. How does letting go of entitlement and trusting God’s plan bring peace to your life?
Stress-Reducing Rejections:
4. A SELF-RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT.
Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 (ESV)
You may consider yourself good and if you do good God will reward you but that is not true. Don’t consider yourself no good or worthless either.
Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NLT)
Dont consider your self worthless and don’t consider yourself righteous. Stay in the middle of these.
The Ultimate Solution to Stress:
A. ADMIT you’re a SINNER.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV)
The moment you admit that you are a sinner, the Lord starts to hear you.
Ecclesiastes 7:21–22 (ESV)
The beginning of salvation is to stop blaming others and realize the problem with your life is you.
B. BELIEVE God’s a FORGIVER.
Psalm 130:3–4 (NLT)
C. CONFESS Jesus as SAVIOR.
If you want the peace Jesus alone can give, this is where it starts.
1 John 1:7-9 (ESV)
Challenge:
Spend time with God this week and focus on reducing stress by rejecting a self-righteous spirit and embracing humility. Admit your imperfections, and believe in God’s forgiveness.
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