Love in Action: Supporting Mental Health Together
Summary
In my sermon today, I began by introducing our new series, "Tear Off the Roof," inspired by the friends of the paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2. These friends were determined to bring their loved one to Jesus for healing, even if it meant tearing off a roof to do so. This act of love and determination sets the stage for our discussion on how we, as followers of Jesus, are called to love people well and do whatever it takes to help those who are hurting find healing.
I then addressed the issue of mental health, a complex and prevalent concern in our society. I shared statistics highlighting the significant impact of mental health issues across various demographics, including Gen Z, high schoolers, and elderly men. I emphasized that mental health struggles are not what God desires for us, as evidenced by Jesus' teachings in Matthew chapter 6, where He instructs us not to worry about everyday life.
I confessed that I have failed to love people well through their mental health struggles, just like anyone else might have. This series is not about preaching from a place of superiority but about learning and growing together as a church in how we care for people in their darkest hours.
I offered practical advice on how to support someone battling mental illness. First, remember that they are a person to be loved, not a project to be fixed. Second, reiterate their value consistently, reminding them of what God says about them. Third, be a safe place by being honest about your own struggles and keeping confidentiality. Fourth, encourage them to get help, recognizing that God has given us tools and professionals to assist in healing. Lastly, point them to Jesus, not by guilting them but by praying with them, sharing Scripture, and walking alongside them in their journey.
I also touched on the concept of co-regulation, comparing it to how God's rhythms become our rhythms when we walk closely with Him. This closeness allows us to experience the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and self-control.
I concluded by reminding us that Jesus understands our suffering because He has experienced it Himself. He is not afraid of our brokenness and is here to offer hope and healing. Therefore, we must be willing to "tear off the roof" to help people get to Jesus, trusting Him and using the tools He has provided.
Key Takeaways:
1. True love for others is demonstrated by a willingness to do whatever it takes to help them, just as the friends of the paralyzed man did. This means being proactive and creative in finding ways to support those in need, reflecting Jesus' love through our actions. [17:52]
2. Mental health is a significant issue that affects many, and as followers of Christ, we must approach it with compassion and understanding. We are called to be a source of comfort and support, not judgment, for those struggling with mental health challenges. [21:13]
3. In supporting someone with mental health struggles, it's crucial to see them as a person to be loved. Our role is not to fix them but to love them, affirm their value, and remind them of their worth in God's eyes. [28:23]
4. Being a safe place for others involves honesty about our own struggles and maintaining confidentiality. By doing so, we create an environment where others feel comfortable sharing their own challenges, knowing they will be met with empathy and trust. [32:39]
5. Encouraging those struggling with mental health to seek professional help is an act of love. It's important to recognize that God works through various means, including medicine and therapy, to bring about healing and restoration. [41:16]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 2:1-12 (NIV)
> When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven." But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, "What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, "We've never seen anything like this before!"
2. Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)
> "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
3. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
> "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the friends of the paralyzed man take to bring him to Jesus? (Mark 2:1-12)
2. According to Jesus in Matthew 6:25-27, what should we not worry about, and why?
3. What are the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23?
4. In the sermon, what practical advice was given for supporting someone battling mental illness? ([27:35])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the determination of the friends in Mark 2:1-12 reflect the kind of love and support we should offer to those in need? ([17:52])
2. What does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-27 suggest about God's care for us, especially in the context of mental health struggles? ([23:30])
3. How can the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 be applied to our interactions with those struggling with mental health issues? ([26:00])
4. Why is it important to see someone with mental health struggles as a person to be loved rather than a project to be fixed? ([28:23])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to go out of your way to help someone in need. How did it make you feel, and what did you learn from that experience? ([17:52])
2. How can you apply Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-27 to your own life, especially when dealing with anxiety or worry? ([23:30])
3. Think of someone you know who is struggling with mental health. What are some specific ways you can show them love and support this week? ([27:35])
4. How can you create a safe space for someone to share their struggles with you? What steps will you take to ensure confidentiality and trust? ([32:39])
5. Have you ever encouraged someone to seek professional help for their mental health? How did you approach the conversation, and what was the outcome? ([41:16])
6. What are some practical ways you can point someone to Jesus without making them feel guilty or inadequate in their faith? ([43:26])
7. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others, especially those who are struggling? ([26:48])
Devotional
Day 1: Love Through Action
True love is often demonstrated in the actions we take to support and help those around us, especially when they are in need. Reflecting on the story of the friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus, one can see the lengths they went to ensure their friend received the healing he needed. This kind of love is proactive, creative, and relentless. It doesn't wait for opportunities to come but creates them, even if it means tearing off roofs. This love is not passive; it's an active force that compels us to move beyond our comfort zones for the sake of others. It's about being present, available, and willing to go the extra mile, just as Jesus did for humanity. [17:52]
James 2:15-17 (ESV)
"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: How can you actively demonstrate love to someone in your community this week, going beyond words to meet a specific need they have?
Day 2: Compassion for the Struggling
Mental health is a significant issue that touches many lives, and it requires a compassionate and understanding response from the community of faith. Recognizing the prevalence of mental health challenges is the first step in becoming a source of comfort and support. It's not about offering quick fixes or judgment but about being present and empathetic. As followers of Christ, one is called to reflect His heart for the hurting, to be a beacon of hope in a world that often stigmatizes those who struggle with mental health. This means listening well, offering encouragement, and being a reminder of the peace and rest that can be found in God. [21:13]
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."
Reflection: What are some ways you can show compassion and understanding to someone you know who is struggling with mental health issues?
Day 3: Affirming Personal Worth
In a world that often assigns value based on productivity or success, it's crucial to remind those struggling with mental health of their inherent worth. This affirmation is not about fixing them but about loving them as they are. It's about consistently reminding them of their value in God's eyes and the unique purpose they hold in His plan. This approach fosters a sense of belonging and significance, which can be life-giving to someone who feels overwhelmed by their struggles. It's a reflection of God's unconditional love and a powerful testament to the truth that everyone is created in His image. [28:23]
Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Reflection: How can you affirm the personal worth of someone in your life today, especially someone who may feel undervalued or overlooked?
Day 4: Creating Safe Spaces
Being a safe place for others is about more than just keeping secrets; it's about fostering an environment of trust and empathy. It involves being vulnerable about one's own struggles, which can help others feel less alone in theirs. Maintaining confidentiality is a cornerstone of creating a safe space, as it assures individuals that their experiences and feelings are respected and protected. This kind of environment encourages open communication and can be a powerful catalyst for healing and growth. It's a reflection of the safety and refuge found in God's presence. [32:39]
Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)
"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered."
Reflection: How can you improve the level of trust and safety in your relationships, ensuring that friends and family feel secure in sharing their struggles with you?
Day 5: Encouraging Professional Help
Encouraging someone to seek professional help for mental health issues is an act of love and wisdom. It acknowledges that God has provided various means of healing, including medicine and therapy. This encouragement is not about passing off responsibility but about supporting individuals in taking steps toward wellness. It's about recognizing that God works through people, including mental health professionals, to bring about restoration. By pointing someone towards professional help, one is affirming that seeking assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that it is a valid path to healing. [41:16]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: How can you support someone in taking the first step towards professional help for their mental health, and what can you do to help destigmatize this form of care in your community?
Quotes
"Nobody wants to be a problem to be fixed. Nobody wants to be a project, right? Nobody desires to feel like, well, I'm just your project, I'm just your problem. They want to know that they're valued, that they're loved, that they are cared about. Which leads me to my second thing for us. It's to reiterate value." [29:04]
"Being a safe place is so, so crucial. And so how can you be a safe place? The first thing that you can do is you can just be honest about your struggles, about your brokenness, about the things in life that are hard for you. Because nobody wants to go to somebody who has it all together, who life is just perfect and amazing and wonderful for them, and share about what's going on, in their life, in their hurts, in their struggles." [32:39]
"God wants good things for you. We read about the things that God wants your life to be like in Galatians, right? But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There's no law against these things. Obviously not. Those are awesome. That's what I want my life to be like." [26:00]
"Remember that your loved one is a person to be loved, not a project to be fixed. If you are walking through life with somebody who's battling mental illness, remember they are a person to be loved, not a project to be fixed. It is so tempting for some of us when we love someone to want to take care of them." [28:23]
"Encourage them to get help. Encourage them that there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing shameful about needing some help. None of us think it's shameful when our friends have to go see the oncologist because they have cancer. And so help your friends get help. We also have to remember, and I just wanted to make sure I included this this week." [42:39]
"Jesus is not afraid of your brokenness. He's not afraid of the brokenness in the lives of the people that you are walking with. He's here for you. We get to walk with a God. We follow a God of hope and healing. A God who restores and revives. And we live in a world that is broken and hurting so much." [49:00]
"When we walk and step with God, when we walk with Him and we are close to Him, we learn to match His rhythm. That's how we get the fruit of the Spirit. It's not because we just figure it out or earn it. It's because when we're walking with God, when we're held close to Him, His rhythms become our rhythms." [46:17]
"Jesus went through seasons. Where due to political turmoil or His ministry, He was homeless and had to rely on the generosity of other people. Right? Jesus had a family who at one point thought He was crazy. His siblings. Jesus went through the death of a loved one, the betrayal of a close friend, gossip, slander." [47:45]
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