Acts 20

Become Your Own Best Friend

Become Your Own Best Friend

Anxiety and Depression• 3/14/21 • John Opalewski

Key passage: Matthew 22:36-39

1 in 4 adults 18-24 contemplated suicide during the pandemic.

  • A 300% increase

28% of Americans are suffering from symptoms of depression during the pandemic.

Followers of Jesus aren’t immune.

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

  • Matthew 22:36-39

How do we love ourselves without becoming self-centered narcissists?

Healthy self-talk

  • Be kind with the words you say about yourself.

  • If we talked to our friends the same way we talk to ourselves, we would quickly wind up with a long list of enemies.

Self-care vs Self-centeredness 

  • Acts 20:28 - attend to the flock AND yourselves.

  • Philippians 2:4 - not just yourself, not just others. both/and

Embrace God’s opinion of you

  • Psalm 139:1-3 - God knows everything about you.

  • Psalm 139:13-14 - you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

  • Psalm 139:17-18 - his thoughts and cares for you are vast and uncountable.

  • You are worth loving without strings attached. You are worthy of His thoughts.

Get in touch with your soul

  • Proverbs 19:8 - he who gets wisdom loves his own soul.

60 million people in the United States suffer from depression

  • 350 million worldwide (pre-Covid)

Why does depression happen to someone who loves the Lord?

Event- driven

  • loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job

Incremental

  • Small things that compound and build up

Doesn’t respond to strong-will

  • You can’t work your way out of it by sheer force of will.

A black hole of sadness

  • Matthew 26:38

Hits when least expected

  • It can happen even when life is going great.

  • It can happen even when we are close to the Lord.

It can happen to anyone, even people who love God.

  • King David, Jeremiah, and Elijah...

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

3 Choices

  • Tell your anger where to go.

  • Protect yourself from abuse.

  • Refuel emotionally. Fill your emotional tank.

I’m not struggling with this

  • Be thankful!

  • take care of yourself

  • It is easier to prevent depression and anxiety than it is to cure it.

I am struggling

  • Know that it’s not a life sentence.

  • Call your doctor

  • Find a competent counselor/therapist

Be Bold - Grad Sunday 2019

Be Bold

Phil Woodman - 06/02/19

Key Passage: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Steps to a bold life that impacts the world for Jesus.

Bold Trust

  • You have followed my teaching

    • 2 Timothy 3:10

  • Continue on in it

    • 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Consistent Choices

  • Conduct - manner of life

    • 2 Timothy 3:10

  • Living sacrifice

    • Romans 12:1-2

    • Transformed, not conformed

Embrace our Purpose

  • Testify to the gospel of God’s grace

    • Acts 20:24

Expect Opposition

  • “All who want to live a godly life will be persecuted”

    • 2 Timothy 3:11-13