BIG IDEA GUIDE

DISCUSSION GUIDE / SESSION 4 - TRANSFORM MY HEALTH

SERIES BIG IDEA QUESTION 2 Don’t conform any longer. Rather, be transformed to According to WebMD: become all God created you to be. During these five • Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse weeks we’re going to look at five key areas of your life health effects from stress. and the changes you need to make, want to make, and • 75% to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for can make because of God’s transforming power. stress-related ailments and complaints. • Excessive stress plays a role in causing headaches, high blood pressure, heart THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, Spiritual habits can help lower our stress levels thus arthritis, depression and anxiety. transforming us to lead to happier, healthier lives. Do you think that it’s possible for scripture to teach us how to reduce stress and live healthier lives? Why or SCRIPTURE why not? Psalm 23

ICE BREAKER Share with the group something that you find stressful, QUESTION 3 even though many people don’t find it to be stressful. People who initially heard the 23rd Psalm were very Or share with the group something that many people familiar with sheep and the occupation of . consider stressful, but you find enjoyable. Sheep are defenseless. They can’t fight. They can’t run fast or hide from predators. They are prone to wander. Their ability to live depends entirely on the , who feeds them, takes care of them, and guides them. READ PSALM 23 proclaims in his psalm that his shepherd is none other than the Lord, and therefore he lacks nothing. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes What effect might it have on your life to acknowledge me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet your dependence on the Lord as your shepherd? waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the QUESTION 4 days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord In Psalm 23, what does God do for David to remove his forever. stress and anxiety and bring him to peace?

QUESTION 1 The 23rd Psalm is the most well-known and beloved psalm in the Bible. What about it do you think causes it to be so well regarded?

Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org For copies of Big Idea products visit www.bigidearesources.com BIG IDEA GUIDE

DISCUSSION GUIDE / SESSION 4 - TRANSFORM MY HEALTH

QUESTION 5 DISCUSSION GUIDE / SESSION # - TITLE What can we apply from the 23rd Psalm to remove stress and anxiety to our lives, so that we will have an inner peace and better health?

QUESTION 6 Rick Warren says that the following are the seven most common sources of stress in modern life: 1. Worry 2. Hurry 3. Crowds 4. More Choices (too many choices) 5. Loss of Privacy 6. Pluralism (people you interface with often have very different beliefs, convictions, lifestyles, cultures) 7. Fear of the Future (what-if’s)

Which of these causes the most stress for you, and what can you do this week to reduce the effect of that stress in your life?

CONCLUSION The Lord is your shepherd, too. Pray each day this week that he will “make you lie down beside still waters,” relieve your stress, and transform your health.”

Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org For copies of Big Idea products visit www.bigidearesources.com NEXT STEPS GUIDE

NEXT STEPS GUIDE / SESSION 4 - TRANSFORM MY HEALTH

The Next Steps Guide is designed so that you can go THIS WEEK’S BIG IDEA further in your interaction with this week’s Big Idea. We Spiritual habits/practices can help lower our stress levels encourage you to connect with a few others from your thus transforming us to lead to happier, healthier lives. small group and discuss the following content. Feel free to use it as an individual study tool. Leaders, feel free to This week, focus on one spiritual habit each day. Begin by use the content below to supplement your small group reading aloud Psalm 23. Then, pray to God, asking him discussion times. how you can apply each spiritual habit to your life. Enter in the last column, what you will do to integrate each spiritual practice into your life.

HOW CAN I APPLY THIS TO DAY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SOURCE APPLICATION MY LIFE THIS WEEK? 1 Look to God to Meet My Psalm 23:1 - “The Lord is my We can combat worry when Needs shepherd so I have all I need.” we trust God to take care of us. 2 Obey God’s Instruction Psalm 23:2 - “He makes me lie We combat hurry by taking About Rest down.” Sabbath rest 3 Recharge My Soul with Psalm 23:2-3 - “He makes We combat crowds by Beauty me lie down in lush green adding the beauty of meadows and leads me creation into our lives. beside calm quiet waters. He restores my soul.” 4 Turn to God for Guidance Psalm 23:3 - “He guides me in We combat the stress of the right paths for his name’s choice by asking God for sake.” wisdom.

5 Trust God in the Dark Psalm 23:4 We combat the hard times Valleys “Even though I walk through by leaning into the presence the valley of the shadow of of God. death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff comfort me.” 6 Let God be My Defender Psalm 23:5 - “You prepare We combat criticism by a table before me in the letting God handle mean presence of my enemies, and and rude people. you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” 7 View Life with an Eternal Psalm 23:6 - “Surely goodness We combat fear of the future Perspective and love will follow me all by remembering in the end I the days of my life, and I will will be with God forever. dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org For copies of Big Idea products visit www.bigidearesources.com NEXT STEPS GUIDE

NEXT STEPS GUIDE / SESSION 4 - TRANSFORM MY HEALTH

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS DISCUSSION GUIDE / SESSION # - TITLE Review the Seven Spiritual Practices:

1. Which spiritual practice do you think is most absent from your life?

2. What negative effects does the absence of this practice have on your life?

3. If you implement this spiritual practice, how will your life be different?

4. What can you do to permanently integrate this habit into your life?

FOR FURTHER INSIGHT A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by Phillip Keller is a book that truly unpacks the beauty and emotion of the 23rd Psalm. Written by a real shepherd, Phillip Keller provides new insight into the poignancy of this psalm and leads us to rediscover the expressions of love that , the , extends to each of us, the sheep of his pasture.

Community Christian Church / www.communitychristian.org For copies of Big Idea products visit www.bigidearesources.com