Feels
Understanding Emotions
October 17, 2021 • Stephen Putbrese
We're currently living through a crisis in emotional health. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are becoming more and more prevalent, especially in younger generations. To make matters worse, we oftentimes can't pinpoint or even articulate what it is we are feeling or why. How do you deal with yourself and emotions? The Bible talks a lot about the heart, which refers to the center of our emotions and feelings. This teaching introduces our series on emotions and mental health by laying out a biblical framework for understanding our feelings.
Depression
October 24, 2021 • Stephen Putbrese • Psalm 42
Depression is common to man. Some people will experience it acutely and others suffer under it for years, but we all have to deal with it to some degree. But how exactly do we understand depression and how do we deal with it? The Bible is not silent about these issues. In fact many of the Psalms were written by people in the depth of darkness and despair. In Psalm 42, we see a sketch of depression and its root causes, including the spiritual implications, which society tends to ignore. This Psalm also gives us a way to self-examine and press out of the depth of depression.
Insecurity
October 31, 2021 • Stephen Putbrese • 1 Corinthians 3:18—4:7
We've defined "Feels" as "an emotional state that is hard to articulate, but clearly affects a person." Under that definition, the feeling of insecurity is perhaps the emotion that has the greatest impact on a person's life and choices. Dealing with insecurity is especially difficult because we're not always aware of how it is causing us to act and we aren't very quick to admit when do discern that we are feeling insecure. In these moments, we tend to either try to overcompensate or shrink back and disappear, but neither actually gets rid of the insecurity. What will? This teaching will look at the writing and example of the Apostle Paul for help in overcoming insecurity.
Inadequacy
November 7, 2021 • Stephen Putbrese • 1 Corinthians 3:18—4:7
Our culture demands performance, both explicitly and implicitly. As technology continues to speed innovation and shrink the world, it can feel like we are being left behind or failing to live up to ever increasing standards. In short, we feel inadequate, which is to say we feel like we are not enough or measuring up. Our felt inadequacy can lead to feeling paralyzed or trying to avoid and cover up our weaknesses in all sorts of ways. As we look at the life of the Apostle Paul, we see someone who does neither, but has learned to actually find strength in his weaknesses.
Anxiety
November 14, 2021 • Stephen Putbrese • Matthew 6:25–34
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in America. Close to 20 percent of adults struggle with anxiety in its various forms and the rates continue to increase, especially among Gen Z. While everyone knows what it's like to experience some level of anxiety, very few of us know how to handle it when it comes, regardless of the severity. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses anxiety and helps us to deal with it. Rather than providing a simplistic approach to just turn anxiety off, Jesus gets underneath our anxiety and challenges us to rethink it altogether.