The Christian Lifestyle… And… Lesson 1 “The Condition Of Stress”

The Christian Lifestyle… And…

Lesson 1

““The Condition Of Stress”The Condition Of Stress”

PLAN OF STUDYPLAN OF STUDY

Lesson 1: The “Condition” Of Stress

Lesson 2: The “Cause” Of Stress

Lesson 3: The “Consequences” of Stress

Lesson 4: The “Cure” For Stress

Anybodyhave

the problem?

Is Anybody…Is Anybody…

OVER LOADED?OVER LOADED?

OVER WORKED?OVER WORKED?

OVER COMMITTED?OVER COMMITTED?

DOESDOESTHE AGENDATHE AGENDAOF YOUR LIFEOF YOUR LIFE

LOOK LIKE THIS?LOOK LIKE THIS?…OR MORE IMPORTANTLY…

DOES IT “FEEL” LIKE THIS?

Work On Marriage

Keep PromisesTerrorists

My Devotional Life

Spend Time With Family

Be A Good Parent

Catch Up

Health Concerns

Make The Deadline

Beat The Clock

Out Do The Competition

Resist Satan Resist The Culture

OVERWHELMEDOVERWHELMEDMatch Expectations

Deal With Hurts

Solve Problems

Please Family

Please BossPay BillsServe God

Do Chores

Help Others

RepairsCall Friend

HURRICANES

U S A

ONE NATION UNDER…

ARE “WE” ANY DIFFERENT?

THE CONDITIONTHE CONDITIONOFOF

STRESSSTRESS•Let’s definedefine it

•Let’s dissectdissect it

•Let’s describedescribe it

In Our Study…

is the word that describes

Facts…1.1. If you are alive, you will experience If you are alive, you will experience

stress.stress. Constantly, you will be “responding” to people and events within your life.

2.2. Stress occurs whenever your body, mind, Stress occurs whenever your body, mind, or spirit react to any person, event, oror spirit react to any person, event, or situationsituation—even when you may be responding to “a reality” that you are “imagining.” (Your body, mind, and spirit know no difference.)

Facts…3.3. Touching a hot element on a stove Touching a hot element on a stove

or hearing a good joke both cause or hearing a good joke both cause reactions within your body, mind, reactions within your body, mind, and spirit.and spirit. Thus, both cause a type of “stress.”

4. Some stress is actually beneficial beneficial and desirable.and desirable. Some stress is hurtful hurtful and damaging.and damaging.

Facts…5.5. Hurtful and harmful stress will cause Hurtful and harmful stress will cause

damaging wear and tear on your body, damaging wear and tear on your body, mind, and spirit.mind, and spirit. This is “distress.”“distress.” (From Latin root “dis” meaning “bad.”)

6.6. Helpful stress will actually motivate Helpful stress will actually motivate you to live effectively.you to live effectively. This is “eustress.”“eustress.” (From Greek root “eu” meaning “good.”)

7. In recent days, the word “stress”“stress” is almost always used in reference to “distress.”“distress.”

Facts…8. The people, events, and experiences

which cause “stress” (our reaction) are called “STRESSORS.”“STRESSORS.”

9. What is a “positive stressor”“positive stressor” to one person may be a very “negative “negative stressor”stressor” to another person.

STRESSORS >>

>>

>>

>>

>>

EU (good)

STRESSORS

GOOD-STRESS

DISSTRESSORS

DIS-STRESS

>>

STRESSOur use of

the word—“STRESS.”STRESS.”

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

Joe

Jane

PUBLICSPEAKING

DreadFear

Anxious

OpportunityMotivated

Excited

DIS-STRESS

GOOD-STRESS STRESS

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

Joe

Jane

HOLIDAYS

MemoriesBills

Depression

FamilyGiftsCheer

DIS-STRESS

GOOD-STRESS STRESS

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

Joe

Jane

JOB

DreadFeel UsedMiserable

MotivatedPaid WellFulfilled

DIS-STRESS

GOOD-STRESS STRESS

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

You?

You?

?

TOTALLEDPERSON

TOTALPERSON

DIS-STRESS

GOOD-STRESS STRESS

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

You?

You?

?

TOTALLEDPERSON

TOTALPERSON

DISSTRESS

EUSTRESS STRESS

TOO FEWTOO FEW

TOO MANY

TOO MANY

DISTRESSDISTRESS

EU-STRESS or DIS-STRESS?

Big Promotion

Vacation

Home Ownership

Marriage

Million Dollars

Shopping Trip

In-law Visit

New Car

Retirement

Leader In Church

Graduation

Death

WHAT ISDIS-STRESS?

WHAT ISDIS-STRESS?

ANDAND

TEARTEAR INGING

OF BOOF BO DY,

MIND AMIND A NDNDSPISPI RITRIT

RIPPINGRIPPING

WHAT ISDIS-STRESS?

Important…

THE HUMANBODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

LIVE SO CLOSE TOGETHERTHAT THEY CATCH

EACH OTHER’S DISEASES.

Body>>>>Mind>>>>Spirit>>>>Mind>>>>Body

STRESSOR UNDER/OVER LOAD

SAFEZONE

PEAK

FUNCTIONAL

OVERLOAD

UNDERLOAD

STRESSOR UNDER/OVER LOAD

SAFEZONE

PEAK

FUNCTIONAL

OVERLOAD

UNDERLOAD

STRESSOR UNDER/OVER LOAD

SAFEZONE

PEAK

FUNCTIONAL

OVERLOAD

UNDERLOAD

RIPPING…ROARING…RAGING

COOL…CALM…COLLECTED

1 2 4 5

3SPACED…SHORT-TERM STRESSORS

3

RIPPING…ROARING…RAGING

COOL…CALM…COLLECTED

1 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

MULTIPLE…LONG-TERM STRESSORS

RETHINKING AND REPHRASINGRETHINKING AND REPHRASINGOUROUR

STRESS TERMINOLOGYSTRESS TERMINOLOGY

“I AM UNDER HEAVY STRESSORS.”

My stressors arecausing me to

experience lots ofdistress and pain

in body, mind,and/or spirit.

My stressors aregenerating and

creating within memotivation andenergy in body,

mind, and/or spirit.

GOODSTRESS

BADSTRESS

1. We have distinguished between “stressors,” “stress,” “eustress,” and “distress.”

“Stressors” are the pushing, pulling, and pressing forces of life that we all face.

“Stress” is the human response to stressors.

“Eustress” describes a positive response to stressors.

“Distress” describes a negative response—damaging “wear and tear” on the human body, mind, and spirit due to stressors.

2. It is possible to be subject to many negative stressors, yet remain free of “distress.”

3. In fact, through faith, hope, and love, it is possible for one to respond to negative stressors with “eustress.”

4. Biblical examples where there were many painful “stressors” but no “defeating distress.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Philippians 1:12-26

UNDER

MANY STRESSORSMANY STRESSORS

Or

LOTS OF DISTRESS?LOTS OF DISTRESS?

2 Corinthians 4:7-122 Corinthians 4:7-12

[7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

[8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 4:7-122 Corinthians 4:7-12

[9] persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed.

[10] We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:7-122 Corinthians 4:7-12

[11] For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake,

so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

[12] So then, death is at work in us,

but life is at work in you.

UNDER

MANY STRESSORSMANY STRESSORS

Or

LOTS OF DISTRESS?LOTS OF DISTRESS?

2 Corinthians 6:4-102 Corinthians 6:4-10

[4] Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

in great endurance;

in troubles,

hardships and

distresses;

2 Corinthians 6:4-102 Corinthians 6:4-10

[5] in beatings,

imprisonments and riots;

in hard work,

sleepless nights

and hunger;

2 Corinthians 6:4-102 Corinthians 6:4-10

[6] in purity,

understanding,

patience and kindness;

in the Holy Spirit

and in sincere love;

2 Corinthians 6:4-102 Corinthians 6:4-10

[7] in truthful speech and in the power of God;

with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

[8] through glory and dishonor,

bad report and good report;

genuine, yet regarded as impostors;

2 Corinthians 6:4-102 Corinthians 6:4-10

[9] known, yet regarded as unknown;

dying, and yet we live on;

beaten, and yet not killed;

[10] sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;

poor, yet making many rich;

having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

5. The assumption of this study is that much of our dis-stress frequently grows out of spiritual problems that are correctable or preventablecorrectable or preventable through an on-going application of Christian Christian "life principles.""life principles."

6.6. The Christian lifestyle enables and empowers The Christian lifestyle enables and empowers you to live where you are,you to live where you are, to cope and live with unpleasant and undesirable conditions which, in many cases, cannot be changed. For many, the major stressors of yesterday For many, the major stressors of yesterday still remain today and are likely to continue still remain today and are likely to continue tomorrow.tomorrow.

7.7. The peace that Christ gives is not the total The peace that Christ gives is not the total absence of conflict and chaos,absence of conflict and chaos, but the strength to cope with it.

8. The principles of the Christian faith, when applied, provide the means for us to be "victors over""victors over" rather than "victims of""victims of" the stressors of life!

Tomorrow NightTomorrow Night

The CausesThe Causes

OfOf

“Dis-stress”“Dis-stress”