Mental Illness - Chickamauga church of Christ · 9/23 Pam Henderson 9/28 Bill Uhler; Sue Ann Woods 9/29 Ann Foster 10/3 Steve Young 10/5 Sarah Hamala; Logan Webb 10/7 Norine O’Kelley

September 21, 2014

Mental Illness By: Steve Higginbotham (via: preachinghelp.org)

You finish the sentence. “I was sick and you _____________.”

Now, if we’re talking about heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, I’m pretty sure we could fill in the blank

with “visited me.” But what if we’re talking about mental illness? Might the sentence more truthfully

be completed as follows: “I was sick and you avoided and talked about me?”

Christians and churches have room for improvement in the way we minister to those who suffer from

mental illness. I’m afraid there is a “whisper factor” involved with mental illness, and those who

suffer from it live in fear of being discovered. Consequently, they suffer alone, in silence, with little to

no support.

But why should there be a stigma attached to those who suffer from mental illness? Are chemical

imbalances in the brain any less real than clogged arteries in the heart? We wouldn’t stigmatize a

person whose body doesn’t produce the right amounts of insulin, and therefore has to be medicated

to regulate his levels of insulin. Then why would we stigmatize a person whose body doesn’t produce

the proper balance of chemicals to keep the brain functioning properly?

The National Institute of Health estimates that 26.2% of Americans, ages 18 and older suffer from a

diagnosable mental disorder. That’s one in every four adult Americans. That also means our churches

are filled with people who are suffering with mental illness.

May God help us to create a community of compassion and

understanding. May we create an environment in which people feel

safe seeking help and support. And may our response to those who

suffer from mental illness be no less compassionate, loving, and

Christ-like than those who suffer with other illnesses.

9/19 Robert Foster

9/19 Carl & Juanita Wallace

9/21 Linda Weaver

9/23 Pam Henderson

9/28 Bill Uhler; Sue Ann Woods

9/29 Ann Foster

10/3 Steve Young

10/5 Sarah Hamala; Logan Webb

10/7 Norine O’Kelley

Jesus: The Lion, the Ox, the Man, and the Eagle Most of us are likely familiar with the parallel which has often been noted between the four Gospel Accounts and the four living creatures in the opening vision of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:10). The lion symbolizes supreme strength, kingship; the man, highest intelligence; the ox, lowly service; the eagle, heavenliness, mystery, divinity.

In Matthew we see the Messiah-King (the lion).

In Mark we see Jehovah's Servant (the ox).

In Luke we see the Son of Man (the man).

In John we see the Son of God (the eagle).

It needs all four aspects to give the full truth. As Sovereign He comes to reign and rule. As servant He comes to serve and suffer. As Son of Man He comes to share and sympathize. As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem.

Wonderful fourfold blending - sovereignty and humility; humanity and deity! Ezekiel's vision is seen again by John (Revelation 4:6-8). The Pulpit Commentary says,

The patristic interpretation which finds in the four living creatures the symbols of the four evangelists must be considered as the play of a devout imagination, but not as unfolding the meaning of either Ezekiel or St. John.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. - John 20:30-31

Healing Hands

We will once again be collecting items to send to Healing Hands International. We will

collect the following items for the next two months. A box is provided in the foyer.

Infant Care Kit includes:

Baby bib Washcloth

Baby bottle Pacifier

Baby blanket Baby Outfit

Baby toy Baby socks

Baby soap Baby powder

Baby shampoo Cloth diaper

PRAYER REQUESTS

OUR SICK

Marilynn Sisson, pneumonia

Marilyn Drain, surgery scheduled 9/23

Jeannie Granger, home; to see kidney specialist

Amanda Shannon, continuing problems with neck

Burma Black, E. Ridge LifeCare Center, Rm 124

Please remember our shut-ins in prayer.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Donna Dockery, Addie McCarty’s daughter

Nell Williams, Terry & Angie’s mother

Cindy Uhler, Bill & Linda Uhler’s daughter

Gloria Magnusson, friend of Jenny and Melanie

Kathy Shropshire, Marlene Chaney’s daughter

Darlene Perry, Norma Burney’s daughter

Patty Marshall, Barrett Williams’ grandmother

UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 21-24 Gospel Meeting @Pleasant

Grove w/Reid Perry; 7:30 PM

Mon-Wed

Sept. 27 Ladies’ Day @Subligna

w/Charlene Notgrass; 8:30 AM

Sept. 27 VBS @Chattanooga Valley;

10 AM

Sept. 30 Dorcas Meeting; 1:30-3:00 PM

Oct. 5 First Sunday Fellowship Meal

Oct. 5 TRIPLE R MEETING

Oct. 13 RiverSing aboard the Southern

Belle; 6 PM; $28.50 (includes

dinner)

Nov. 1 4th Annual Purity Day @Camp

Wetoga w/Jennifer Webster

Lesson NotesSeptember 21, 2014

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JESUS: OUR ELDER BROTHER• Jesus is firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15). He has all of the

rights and privileges of the firstborn son (Heb. 1:2; 2:10, 17).• As our elder brother, Jesus is our example (1 Pet. 2:21), our pro-

tector (1 Cor. 10:13), someone we look up to (Heb. 12:2), & talk to about anything (Heb. 4:14-16).

JESUS: OUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY MEMBER• Every human is made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Christians

are all made in the image of their elder brother (Rom. 8:29).• Jesus spoke of His true family (Mt. 12:50; Lk. 8:21); & called His

followers “brethren” after He rose (Mt.28:10; Jn.20:17).• God sanctifies those who associated themselves with Jesus and

His sufferings (Heb. 2:10-11; 1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 6:1-10, 17). Those who obey (Heb. 5:8-9) are Jesus’ spiritual family (Gal. 3:26-29).

JESUS: OUR FELLOW WORSHIPPER• Only those who are part of Jesus’ spiritual family have the ability

to truly worship God (Heb. 10:19-25).• As the head of the church (Col. 1:18), Jesus assembles with us in

worship (Heb. 12:23-24). We enjoy fellowship with Jesus (1 Cor. 1:9) when we pray (1 Tim. 2:5), sing (Heb. 2:12-13), and share with Him in the Passover feast (1 Cor. 10:16, 11:25-27).

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GET INVOLVED //going on this week

Tuesday // Hospital LunchWednesday // He Is Better: Hebrews 4 Saturday // Ladies Day @ Subligna 8:30 AM // VBS @ Chattanooga Valley 10AM

Word SearchHebrews 2

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” 13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.

Scripture ReadingHebrews 2:10-13