RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP / BIBLE STUDY
All Leader Resources
Devotions, guides, tips and other materials that can be used to facilitate a greater awareness and understanding of mental health and the Church.
Article
Understanding Spiritual Growth with Mental Health Challenges
This 3-day devotional booklet from Mental Health Grace Alliance can be used as a tool to help you learn more about the good and beautiful work God does in us through our challenges.
Understanding How to Trust God with Our Loved One’s Mental Health Challenges
This 5-day devotional book from Mental Health Grace Alliance can help caregivers reframe the distress of a loved one’s mental illness diagnosis by learning how to rest in God’s promises and grace in the midst of trials. Session one contains helpful information for how to work through the grieving process of a loved one’s diagnosis.
7-Day Devotional: Building Resilience & Strengthening Hope
This mental health devotional booklet from the organization Hope Made Strong focuses on one key aspect of resiliency each day which is grounded in Biblical teaching and coupled with a practical strategies for readers to implement right away.
I’m a Pastor With Depression
It is can be difficult to admit you have depression when you are a pastor. Here is one pastor's story.
Dignity and Grace in the Face of Mental Illness: Article with Study Guide
This article explores how the Church can form a community of care which embraces people living with mental illness and lovingly supports their family members. There is an accompanying free downloadable study guide available on the same webpage containing thought-provoking discussion questions for mental wellness teams and church leaders to consider in their care of souls.
Preaching on Mental Health
Read about Rev. Shane Moore's experience introducing mental health to his congregation.
Bible Studies
Aging and Well-Being: A 4-Part Bible Study
This 4-part Bible study explores what Scripture says to us about aging, health, and the Church’s role in including and caring for older members. It can help congregations become stronger and healthier through the whole person care of their older members. Session topics include: “Seasons of Life,” “God’s Faithfulness and Ours,” “Not Too Late,” and “The Congregational Role.”
Lifting the Lid
Lifting the Lid is a six-week Bible study course focused on faith and mental health. Created with small groups in mind, drawing on well-known Bible stories, it’s a free study resource to help churches explore the topics of emotional and mental wellbeing, using the Bible as a guide.
Let’s Talk! Breaking the Silence around Mental Illness in Our Communities of Faith
Let this study be the beginning of opening up to one another in a safe environment about mental health issues.
The Sanctuary Course
How can a church become a sanctuary—a place where individuals living with mental health challenges feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging? The Sanctuary Course was created to inspire and equip communities of faith that are asking this important question. Developed in consultation with mental health professionals, theologians, and people with lived experience, this eight-session study guide explores key mental health topics and examines meaningful ways to offer companionship, support recovery, and promote wellbeing.
Grace for the Afflicted Discussion Guide
This discussion guide can be used as a Bible study that will help individuals and churches not just broaden their perspective about mental health, but USE their perspective to help themselves and others. It is intended to be used alongside the book Grace for the Afflicted.
Gospel Relief for the Despairing: Speaking Christian Comfort to the Depressed and Suicidal
This downloadable resource contains practical advice in sections 1 and 2 for pastors and other church workers who counsel congregation members experiencing despair. Section 3 contains a Bible study that can be used in one-on-one counseling with individuals. The Bible study could also be adapted for use in a small group Bible study setting.
Bulletin Inserts/Media
Worship Album for Mental Health
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries and The Porter’s Gate are creating an album of songs about mental health and faith. The goal is to help people hold on to God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances—including experiences of mental health challenges. While the album is not yet complete, several singles which appear on the album have been released and are available on a variety of platforms. Click here to access these songs:
Suicide Prevention Communication Aids
These resources will help you communicate with your members about the Faith.Hope.Life.campaign. They may be used without permission, either in their current form, or as you choose to modify them to suit the culture, language, and customs of your particular faith community. These materials conform to Faith.Hope.Life. editorial guidelines; however, the theological or spiritual perspective of each is that of the contributor or the author and not necessarily that of the Action Alliance or the Faith Communities Task Force.
Free Mental Health Bulletin Inserts
This webpage from The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation, Advocate Aurora Health, contains a variety of bulletin inserts on mental wellness related topics that can be added to your congregation’s bulletins and newsletters.
Widen the Welcome Bulletin Insert
5 simple things your congregation can do to make people with mental illness feel welcome in your church. From the UCC.
Prayers
How to Lament
Easy-to-use resource that helps you cry out to God when you are in pain. Also available in Spanish.
Christian Litanies Addressing the Issue of Suicide
Christian litanies addressing suicide, from Action Alliance.
Sermons
A Mental Health Sermon, by Rev. Gabe Kasper
Being vulnerable to admit you have depression is difficult enough, but it is often more difficult when you are a pastor. Rev. Gabe Kasper, LCMS pastor in Ann Arbor, MI, shares his personal story of depression and offers a sermon on mental illness pointing us to the hope we have in Christ.
Sermon Starters Shared by Christians and Jews
Scripture ideas with short commentaries about Biblical characters in their most discouraging times and how they eventually found a path toward a fruitful and productive life with God.
Preaching Hope in the Darkness: Help for Pastors in Addressing Suicide from the Pulpit
How can a preacher best address suicide from the pulpit? This book provides wise advice on a range of topics, including suicide prevention, funeral sermon preparation, and post-crisis care.
Mental Health Sermon Sermon #1: Suicide and the Brain
Addresses mental illness as a disease of the brain that sometimes leads to suicide and how churches can respond in light of this perspective.
Mental Health Sermon #3: Depression and the Brain
Addresses the topic of how to help a friend who has depression, and what it means to bear one another's burdens.
Toolkits/Guidebooks
Restoring Hope: Care for Mental Health
The LCMS Health Ministry has created a free downloadable booklet titled “Restoring Hope: Care for Mental Health—Spiritual Care Companion Booklet” which offers guidance and spiritual support for individuals, caregivers, and others who are navigating various mental health challenges. This resource addresses a number of mental health topics and disorders, providing a pertinent Scripture verse, hymn stanza, theological reflection, and prayer for each one, as well as other valuable information and resources. This is a must-have resource for pastors and other church workers, Mental Health Advocates, Stephen Ministers, and caregivers.
Mental Health Toolkit from The Lutheran Foundation
Find a variety of resources - including litanies, hymns and praise songs, prayers, camera-ready graphics and sermons - to support your church's mental health ministry.