MESSAGE NOTES AND INDIVIDUAL/GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS, 4/14/24

Our emotions act as a barometer of our soul and can lead us to God or away from Him. When we engage well with our feelings (glad, mad, sad, scared, shame, shocked), we come to a new understanding of ourselves, experience greater intimacy with God, and discover a healthy way of conveying them to others. 

This week, our focus is on how God wants to help us deal when we feel sad. Our guest speaker  is  Tammy Swanson-Draheim,  Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) President.

1. How are you dealing with how you are feeling? Have you been taking time to reflect on your emotions and using the process of Naming, Taming, Claiming, and Proclaiming (see Emotions Journal – ACC Lobby $5)? If so, what have you gained? If not, what holds you back?
2. What aspects of Tammy’s message impacted you the most?
3. Sadness can take us to desperate places. How good are you at identifying your sadness (rate yourself on a scale 1-5: unable to identify – great at it!)? Typically, how do you express yourself and cope with your sadness? What has worked and not worked in the past?
4. Reflect on Psalm 88. What does the Psalm tell us about the psalmist and God? Which parts of the psalm are unsettling and/or encouraging to you? Which parts of the psalm have you felt?
5. Psalm 88 reflects a deep sadness. How do you see the differences between a deep sadness and a shallow sadness? Since they both cause us to ride the emotional elephant, why is it important to take both types of sadness to God? What happens if we don’t?
6. Reflect on John 11:1-35. How do you feel about Jesus’ delay in coming? What does Mary and Martha’s approach with Jesus tell us about how we can approach Him in our grief? How does Jesus being deeply moved in spirit, troubled and in tears shape your perspective about His empathy for your sadness? Note these other passages Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 56:8.
7. Practice & Prayer: Take 5-10 minutes to identify your sadness and bring it to God.

Name it! – “I am feeling _________________.”

Tame it! – “I am feeling this way because _______________________ .” (list at least 1-3  reasons)

Claim it! – “Lord, I give you my feelings…  .  Grant me Your wisdom.”

       What perspective and truth did He reveal to you?

Proclaim it! – Share with another or members of your group what came to mind.

PRAY  Psalm 34:18 over yourself or each member of your group. 

=>GET AN EMOTIONS JOURNAL (in lobby) TO CHECK IN WITH GOD DAILY<=