Teaching Notes for November 21

Crossroads Bible Church Sr. High Student Ministry
Sunday School Class Notes, November 21, 2010.
Knowing Christ, Week #12. Freedom in Stress.

Discussion Starter: On a sheet of scrap paper, write down three things that you truly WORRY actually COULD happen to you (for example, not getting into your first choice college, or not being able to pay for car repairs or failing a class). Why do these things cause you to get stressed? What are some ways you deal with stress? How do these help? What are practical steps you can take to deal with/avoid stress?

Ephesians 4: 17—32, Sometimes we cause our own stress…

In verses 17—19, HOW do the Gentiles walk?
In verses 20—22, HOW do Christians show a contrast to them?
In verses 22—24, WHAT choices can we make and what would be the marks of a
transformed life?
In verses 25ff, what COMMANDS are we given?
Sometimes, stress is caused by…

Matthew 7: 24—27, A Dose of Reality:

Notice that the rain falls on…
Notice that the difference in results is based on…
John 16:33 also reminds us…
Notice that in Matthew 11: 28—30, Scripture tells us that we can have ______________
even when we are in ________________, but we will have _______________ in life no matter what.

Freedom in Stress:

IMPROPER THINKING PATTERNS:
____________________________ expectations
____________________________ dependencies

ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES  Disappointment/Fear

Natural Response
Faith Response
Anger: Deny, Attack, Minimize Rationalize
Thanksgiving (Philippians 4: 6)
Self-Pity: Tired anger (future/past thinking)
Peace (Philippians 4: 7)
Depression

Applications to our lives: