A Better Kind of Grieving

A Better Kind of Grieving
INTRODUCTION:

Every person will experience a loss about every six years of their lives. What do you do when you lose someone or something that is very important to you? How do you handle loss in your life? How do you react to the death of someone near and dear to you? I believe there are some healthy and unhealthy reactions. There are some benefits that Christians have that non-Christians don't have. Not that we don't experience traumatic loses, not at all, but we can grieve, sorrow or mourn, Not as those who have no hope, but as those who have HOPE! 1 Thess 4:13

WE NEED A BETTER _____________________ OF GRIEF
1. Grief Briefly Defined... "Deep mental ____________, as that arising from bereavement"
2. Understanding Grief & Loss
  1. Grief is a _________________, healthy response!
  2. It is not self-pity, nor is it the development of a victim mentality.
3. Studies have found that people go through stages or phases in their grieving.
  1. 1^st - feeling emotionally __________.
  2. 2^nd – deep _________________ for the person who has died.
  3. 3^rd – outbursts; strong emotions; _________________; silence; withdrawal
  4. 4^th – pain begins to ______ over time – life is seen in a more positive light again.
  5. 5^th – final phase – this is where the person ______ ____ of the deceased
4. Process of Grieving... Some Helps...
  1. Accept the fact that the grieving process takes ______ and is different for each individual.
  2. It is important the griever "acknowledge the loss".
  3. People experience grief individually and therefore ____________ than others.
GRIEF IS NOT __________________...
1. ______________ manifested grief - John 11:32-35
2. __________ wrote of "a continual grief" that he had in his heart - Rom 9:1-2;10:1
3. Paul and the _________________ elders expressed their grief - Acts 20:36-38
FAITH IN JESUS HELPS US TO OVERCOME GRIEF
1. JESUS PROVIDES COMFORT TO THE GRIEVING SOUL...
  1. Jesus certainly _________________ our grief - Heb 4:14-16
  2. He taught His disciples how to find comfort when troubled
    1. To _______________ in Him - John 14:1-3
    2. To ___________ His commandments, John 15:10-11
    3. To ____________- - John 16:24,33; Phil 4:6-7
  3. He provides comfort with the promise of our _________________ - 1 Cor.15:1-ff.
  4. It is in the knowledge and faith concerning the events of Christ's coming; as Paul teaches in 1 Thess 4: 13- 17.
2. JESUS PROVIDES A ________________ TO HELP BEAR OUR GRIEF...
  1. Those who believe in Jesus are part of a family - Mt 13:46-50
  2. As a family, we can __________ one another's grief - Gal 6:2, 9,10
  3. Sadly, many do not take advantage of this blessing of a spiritual family.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus certainly did not intend for us to bear our grief alone...
1. He taught us how to have lasting joy and peace, through faith IN HIM, even in the midst of grief.
2. He now intercedes as our High Priest, to comfort us in our times of grief.



A Better Kind of Grieving INTRODUCTION: Every person will experience a loss about every six years of their lives. What do you do when you lose someone or something that is very important to you? How do you handle loss in your life? How do you react to the death of someone near and dear to you? I believe there are some healthy and unhealthy reactions. There are some benefits that Christians have that non-Christians don't have. Not that we don't experience traumatic loses, not at all, but we can grieve, sorrow or mourn, Not as those who have no hope, but as those who have HOPE! 1 Thess 4:13 WE NEED A BETTER _____________________ OF GRIEF Grief Briefly Defined... "Deep mental ____________, as that arising from bereavement" Understanding Grief & Loss Grief is a _________________, healthy response! It is not self-pity, nor is it the development of a victim mentality. Studies have found that people go through stages or phases in their grieving. 1^st - feeling emotionally __________. 2^nd – deep _________________ for the person who has died. 3^rd – outbursts; strong emotions; _________________; silence; withdrawal 4^th – pain begins to ______ over time – life is seen in a more positive light again. 5^th – final phase – this is where the person ______ ____ of the deceased Process of Grieving... Some Helps... Accept the fact that the grieving process takes ______ and is different for each individual. It is important the griever "acknowledge the loss". People experience grief individually and therefore ____________ than others. GRIEF IS NOT __________________... ______________ manifested grief - John 11:32-35 __________ wrote of "a continual grief" that he had in his heart - Rom 9:1-2;10:1 Paul and the _________________ elders expressed their grief - Acts 20:36-38 FAITH IN JESUS HELPS US TO OVERCOME GRIEF JESUS PROVIDES COMFORT TO THE GRIEVING SOUL... Jesus certainly _________________ our grief - Heb 4:14-16 He taught His disciples how to find comfort when troubled To _______________ in Him - John 14:1-3 To ___________ His commandments, John 15:10-11 To ____________- - John 16:24,33; Phil 4:6-7 He provides comfort with the promise of our _________________ - 1 Cor.15:1-ff. It is in the knowledge and faith concerning the events of Christ's coming; as Paul teaches in 1 Thess 4: 13- 17. JESUS PROVIDES A ________________ TO HELP BEAR OUR GRIEF... Those who believe in Jesus are part of a family - Mt 13:46-50 As a family, we can __________ one another's grief - Gal 6:2, 9,10 Sadly, many do not take advantage of this blessing of a spiritual family. CONCLUSION: Jesus certainly did not intend for us to bear our grief alone... He taught us how to have lasting joy and peace, through faith IN HIM, even in the midst of grief. He now intercedes as our High Priest, to comfort us in our times of grief.