Many modern Bibles have an appendix with suggested readings to suit particular moods and feelings.

The theme of this post is “depression” and Bible verses which can speak clearly to us and help us if we are in that condition.

The following passages from Scripture are discussed in the following sermons on this website.

Click the links in the italicised titles below to go to these sermons, which we hope you will find helpful and hopeful.

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Looking forward to Harvest Thanksgiving, this coming Sunday, Psalm 65 was Rev. Geoff McKee’s reading from scripture at the beginning of this evening’s Congregational Board meeting at St James’.

Psalm 65
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
9 You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.

It can be difficult for children (and adults) to get orientated within the Bible with particular scriptural readings.

These 4 sentences (2 covering the Old Testament and 2 covering the New Testament), courtesy of Scripture Union’s “Light” X-Stream lesson for 24 January 2016, can be helpful if you are starting a lesson or reading and want to get everyone clearly focused in their mind as to which part of the Bible you are learning about.

1. God made the world and wanted people to choose to love him.
2. God sent messages through kings and prophets, but people often chose not to love him.
3. God sent Jesus to die and come back to life so that people could choose to love him.
4. God sent the Holy Spirit who gave God’s people power to tell others that they could choose to love God.

These four sentences, in the order given, are a summary of the whole Bible.

Another similarly helpful tool is the Bible Timeline produced by Scripture Union.

Image by Lukas Budimaier via Unsplash