SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, MARCH 7, TOPIC-DEALING WITH FAMILY STRESS
TOPIC-DEALING WITH FAMILY STRESS
Memory verse: Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusted in thee, (KJV).
TEXT-GEN 24 V41 THRU 28V9 -22
Believers can rely on God to help them cope with stressful situations.
The lesson outline
1. Coping with peer pressure
A. Devastating force
B. Antidotes
2. Avoid harmful addictions
A. What is wrong with a little wine? B. God’s answer
3. God is our helper
A. Safeguards against stress
B. God provides help
Teaching Goals
1. Impart
and
reinforce knowledge: instruct your
students about
principles for Godly
living found in God’s words, in order to combat
stress.
2. Influence Attitudes: encourage
students to appreciate and embrace Christian values that safeguard against
stress.
3. Influence Behavior: challenge students to reduce stress in their
lives by developing right priorities by which they live.
Introducing the Lesson
This week’s
lesson includes
the unit “strengthening marriage and
family ties”. In this lesson, we will examine a contemporary issue faced by most
families-stress.
Stress can
be defined as “a
physical, chemical, or emotional tension”.
Anyone raising a family
knows that this definition describes what the
family is facing today.
Stress can come in many ways and from source – both from within
the
family and from
force outside of the family. This week, we will look at
two source of family stress. More importantly, we will discover God’s
answer for stressed out families.
You and your family do not have to live in a stressful situation. God is your helper. Allow him to minister to your needs
this
week.
Commentary and
Application
1. Coping with
peer
pressures
A. devastating force
Peer pressure can
be a
major source of stress to the family. Such
pressure operates
on the principle of
compromise. Peer pressure force
people to be what they are not, do things they would not normally do,
and go where they really do not
want to go.
Question
for
Application
What is it about human nature that gives peer pressure such a grip in many lives?
Nearly all human nature beings have a right of rejection or of not
fitting in with the around them. This basic fear us susceptible to pressure
by those around us. But a firm set of constitution based on god’s word
will help
us overcome the temptation to compromise.
One of the ways we can combat peer pressure is by understanding
principles for godly living found in god’s word. In doing so, we can help
each
family member learn to evaluate outside influence and adhere
to true and lasting godly
values.
While not all peer pressure is bad, Paul recognized that the world will
try to pressure us into conforming
to
its mould. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, he addressed the dangers
of trying to blend in with those around us. Paul
declared that believers are not to be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers.
Paul drew this analogy from Deuteronomy 22:10 that prohibited the
Jews from ploughing with mixed breeds of animals.
While Paul’s command is commonly used to prohibit marriages
of believers with unbelievers, there is a boarder
application. As believers
we must not develop
a close relationship with unbelievers that might cause us to
compromise our Christian convictions or
witness. When we
succumb to the world’s
pressure,
we are joining ourselves with the
world. This is totally contrary to the values of true Christianity. Paul presented five rhetorical
question
designed to illustrate the incompatibility of Christianity and heathenism.
It is important to note that Paul was
not suggesting that we do not associate with those in the world. How else can we win them if we avoid
all contact with them?
The world and
Christianity do not
share the same values or goals. Trying to blend the two creates
a struggle in which Christian values
usually come in second.
Because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, the conviction he brings when
we
compromise godly standards
produce stress. The only way to alleviate this stress is to ask for forgiveness and begin to live by his word.
B. Antidotes
One antidote for peer pressure is in 2 Corinthians 6:17. God demands
that
his people live differently from the ways and desires of the world. If we do, god has promised that he will receive us and be our father, and we will be his “sons and
daughter.
If family members will focus the attention on holy living and the promise of god, negative peer pressure will not have the devastating effect it could have. When we cease trying to be like the world and strive to become more like God, we find a contentment that the things in the world can new provide.
2. Avoid harmful addictions
A. What is wrong with a little wine?
Few things put more stress or family than a member who addicted to
something. In today
society, even Christian
families face these problems.
One of Satan’s most deception lies is the belief that as long as you do something in moderation, it will not hurt you. An alcoholic may have one
time been a moderate drink until he became addicted and lose
control of his
life. They compulsion gambler only wagered
a few coins first. Soon
he found himself believing he was only one wager away from the “big win”.
There are many forms of addition. They include gambling, drinking, drugs, pornography, and violence. Each can create his stress level in a home and potential destroy the family. The addiction person can make life miserable everyone.
God’s word provides warning to help avoid being caught in the trap
of addictive habits. The book of
Proverb addresses the issue of alcohol. We can learn from this massage a lot
about
how alcohol addiction occurs.
The
write provided
a vivid description of
a drunkard sorrows.
Verse 31 warns “look not upon
the wine when it moved itself aright”. The writer pointed out how
subtly additions work. Note the word he used inverse 31 to describe it enticement.
Wine “moved itself aright”[KJV] or “goes down smoothly”[NIV]. Whiling
one is drinking, it is difficult to comprehend
it results. Those who began to drink probably
did not intend to become alcoholics. The deception took place with the first drink.
Much alcohol
states that their alcohol is harmless and innocent;
dinking brings them pleasure. But addicted person is a lot like plough
animals in the early
days of farming. The farmer would tie a carrot to a stick and dangled it in front of the plough animal just reach out. The
animals would trudge around the field all day trying to get a bite of that
carrot. Addicts believe that one day they will find the satisfaction they
desire. It is just one more experience away.
Note in verse 32 the description of the results of drinking-“it bitten like
a serpent and stingiest like an
adder”. Alcohol causes a
person to lose control of his thinking. Under its influence, people would do and say
things
that
the
would not do or say under normal conditions.
People who drink control of their equilibrium [verse 34].they
become
like
sailors staggering around a ship in a storm. They end up in a stupor, like sailor
sleeping
in a ships rigging.
Alcohol can become a master of people lives. Even when exposed to physical
pains, their only needs are
for
one more drink [verse
35].
It is impossible
to measure the negative effects this and other addictions can
have
on a family. But be sure,
this addiction takes their toll.
Does this all means that there is no help for the addict? Of course not. But addicts, whether they are addicted to alcohol, drugs, or other substance or behavior, fine very difficult to admit they have a problem, to themselves or to others. Help it available if they desire it. But they must first be willing to admit their need.
B. GOD`S ANSWER
For the believers, part of resisting those things that cause addiction comes from an
understanding of what it means to live a Christian life. Paul
instructed those to “walk circumspectly”. T word can also be translated
“carefully” or accurately”. Believers are
to understand
the importance of living a life above reproach. Such understanding will cause us
to
shun anything
that has
the potential of
controlling our lives.
We are further admonished not to
be foolish but to have an
understanding of what the will of the lord is. By
knowing the will of the lord,
and knowing what pleases God, then and only then, can we carry it out in our lives?
Part of Gods will is not to be “drunk with wine” but “be filled with the spirit”. As spirit filled believers we are not to be control by anything other than the spirit of God. Taking one drink of alcohol, popping one pill, buying one lottery ticket, or looking at one R-or X-rated film can begin the process of being brought under it control. Then instead of the ridiculous displays of an addicted person, we can experience the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit with it peace, joy and love.
3. GOD Is Our Helper
A Safeguards against Family Stress
Many things in our society
produced stress on the family. One thing is certain, though, God wants to help
families avoid as much stress as possible.
The writer of Hebrews gave us instruction that can help reduce stress in our lives. These instructions concern
developing right priorities by which we live.
Marriage relationship not grounded
on biblical principles can
be a source of stress. We must remember that “marriage is honorable”. All part of marriage is designed by God. This include an intimate physical relationship with immorality is
not only sinful, but also produces
stress.
The words translate “whore
mongers “is the general word
used to describe sexually immoral persons. Not only that adultery
ruins the marriage relationship, but pornography can also put undue stress on
marriage. But when the husband and wife develop the close intimate
relationship that God designed for
marriage, those things that can cause
stress are not allowed to take hold.
The writer in his epistle also instructed families not to be consumed with monetary greed. The word translate “conversation” in verse 5 is a word used to describe one’s lifestyle. The lifestyle of a believer is not to be characterized by covetousness. In other places, covetousness is called idolatry. An important principle for a happy life is: “but be content with such things as ye have”.
Questions for Application
Why is being content so important?
When a person is intent
so
accumulating possessions, he has
switched from the lord to those possessions. Material possession cannot
provide security. And the acquiring of these possessions can cause
financial stress.
Contentment is the solution to greed. But the principles of being content should never be used as an excuse to be lazy and not try to better one self. Verse 5 is a warning not to be caught up in trying to fine security in material possession. Our security is in the lord and his presence. He has promised that we can be content because he “will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” [verse 5]. That makes Christians the most secure people in the world.
B. God provide Help
Our families are being threatened with materialism,
discontentment, frustrations, and other factor that are bent
on destroying families. But we
do not have to fear any
of these or anything else that society
may
do to
distract and
destroy the family. If we establish our family on the word of
God, accept his ways for living, and follow
his directives for each person,
we will not be caught up in the philosophy of this
age.
We can have the confidence while living in this present world
because God is our “helper”. We do not have to be afraid.
Question for Application
How does Gods being our helper relieve stress in our lives?
God is on our side. We
know
that in any circumstance, God is
working for our good. These facts allow us to rest in him knowing that he has everything under control. This gives us the confidence we need to live for God in an ungodly world.
Call to Discipleship
The family unit is very important to God. God designed the family to be a place in which godly values are taught.
A family that is not living as
God intended cannot pass on
the Christian character and values
necessary
to
ensure future generation of dedicated Christians. If the
family unit breaks
apart
of
the stresses
of everyday living, many important things are left unattended. This breakdown at the family level can actually cause the church to become weak ineffective.
Perhaps your family
is going through a time of tremendous stress.
Maybe the peer pressure you are facing at work or your children
at school seems overwhelming. You might even have a family
member
addicted to a life-controlling habit. If this is the
case, remember, God
is your helper.
amazing topic for chrsitians to follow
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