Mark 1:21-35; Luke 4:31-42; Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 25:34-46; Matthew 26:36-44; Psalm 31:24

Memory Text: John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

The lesson lists the following components to spiritual development and mental health: prayer and Bible study, worship, the practice of forgiveness, service to others, hope and trust in God.

• Are there other things you might add?
• Do some seem more important to you than others?
• What might be the hazards of leaving some of these out of our lives?

Jesus prayed after stressful days.

• What are more prevalent stress reliefs in our society?
• Does the benefit of prayer differ from reflective techniques in other religions?
• What distracts us from more active prayer?

Worship and church community

• Does church and group religious activity work for extraverts but not introverts?
• Must everyone be involved with a church?
• What if your congregation exudes negative vibes— e.g. harbors and triggers judgment, guilt, anger, resentment, etc?

Service

• What benefits are there to serving others?
• How does one keep from using service as an “earned ticket” to salvation?

Hope & Trust in God

• Hope illustrated in the Chilean miners who were rescued last fall.
• Is hope denial of present trouble or impossible circumstances?
• Is hope for eternity just an escape from the present?
• When we pray for relief how does it help us to ask that “God’s will be done?”