Danity Kane - Damaged Bible Study

The newest edition of Interlinc's YLO magazine (YLO 72) just cam out. Here's a short Bible devotion I wrote for the magazine. It's based on Danity Kane's song, Damaged:

Song: Damaged
Artist: Danity Kane
Album: Welcome to the Dollhouse

Kirk Moore
Union Congregational United Church of Christ
Somonauk, Illinois
kirk@revkirk.com

Teaching Point: Heartbreak

Opening Question: What can mend a broken heart?

Discussion: The wounds of a broken heart don’t heal easily. They don’t heal quickly. Sometimes when they feel healed they aren’t healed at all.

This Danity Kane song describes a person who is enduring a broken heart while desperately seeking relief and healing so that they can feel better. The group acknowledges that time can heal their wounds, but they also seek ways to cover up the symptoms of a broken heart while they are waiting for it to heal.

It’s been said that time heals all wounds. Like other well-known bits of wit and wisdom, this one tries to encourage someone to simply wait and things will get better. Sadly, time doesn’t heal all wounds. Time can pass while wounds go untreated, but real healing needs more than just time. A physical wound heals because the body has the built-in response and tools to heal injuries. Emotional wounds need a response and tools as well.

When we’re suffering from heartbreak, words of kindness, support and comfort from family and friends go a long way to helping us heal. Words of comfort and promise from the Bible remind us that God cares for us and will help us heal. Psalm 147:3 reminds us that God heals the brokenhearted. Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that nothing can ever come between us and Jesus’ love for us. Matthew 11:28 offers comforting words as Jesus invites the troubled to find rest in him.

Conclusion: Heartbreak is painful. We all wish that we never had to experience heartbreak, but for most, heartbreak comes all too often. We can seek support and comfort from friends and family in our pain. We can also find comfort in God’s unconditional and unending love.

Three Days Grace - Never Too Late

The newest issue of Interlinc's music magazine (YLO 71) is out and I have a few articles in it-- here's a short devotional I wrote for the re:tuned section about the Three Days Grace song - Never Too Late.

Song: Never Too Late
Artist: Three Days Grace
Album: One-X
Kirk Moore
Union Congregational Church
Somonauk, Illinois
kirk@revkirk.com

Teaching Point: Hope

Opening Question: How do you respond to a person who has lost all hope and is considering suicide?

Discussion: Suicide is about hopelessness. A person might reach a point where their circumstances seem so overwhelming that there doesn’t seem to be another answer.
A first thing to remember when you’re either thinking about, or are with someone who is thinking about committing suicide is to GET HELP. Tell an adult you trust. Call a suicide prevention line (1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE) or go to a suicide prevention website. (suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

The next thing to remember is to stay with the person or stay with someone to either talk or listen. Talk openly. Listen seriously.

While listening, it can be helpful to offer the possibility of hope. The Bible teaches that Jesus came to give life, (John 10:10) that Jesus provides rest for the weary, (Matthew 11:28) that
God will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and that we can look to God for hope no matter what our situation. (1 Peter 5:7)

Keep talking, keep listening, provide help and provide hope. Just like the song says, it’s never too late.

Conclusion: We can always, no matter what our situation, place our hope in God. God never leaves and God never stops loving.