Life Group Study Material
Straight Talk - Addiction
Life Group Study Material
Addiction with Dr Ferghal Armstrong
Dr Ferghal Armstrong was our special guest on Sunday July 9th as we addressed the topic of “Addiction”.
Ferghal is an addiction medicine specialist and works at Turning Point in Box Hill. He was involved in the groundbreaking SBS documentary series “Addicted Australia” Addiction is a health issue, which remains pervasive throughout our society. One in five Australians will experience an alcohol, other drug or gambling disorder in their lifetime. Anyone can be affected, as addiction does not discriminate – against age, gender, beliefs, income or social status.
Ferghal provided insights into addictions and helped us understand the kind of community that can support those who struggle with addictions.
Ferghal is an addiction medicine specialist and works at Turning Point in Box Hill. He was involved in the groundbreaking SBS documentary series “Addicted Australia” Addiction is a health issue, which remains pervasive throughout our society. One in five Australians will experience an alcohol, other drug or gambling disorder in their lifetime. Anyone can be affected, as addiction does not discriminate – against age, gender, beliefs, income or social status.
Ferghal provided insights into addictions and helped us understand the kind of community that can support those who struggle with addictions.
- “Addiction is a series of broken relationships.” How do you understand this statement?
- Read Luke 4:16-22 aloud. Then turn to read the passage it refers to in Isaiah 61:1-6. Isaiah is describing an individual who God will use to restore the fortunes of Israel who had returned from exile in Babylon. Go ahead and describe in your own words the kind of revitalization that will occur.
- Now return to Luke and read Luke 6:17-23. What strikes you about God’s heart for the marginal reflected in both Luke 4 and 6?
- According to Luke 4 and 6, what is the nature of the good news? Or, what is supposed to be ‘good’ about the good news.
- Christians have been trained to think that God is interested is saving souls, as if a person’s ‘soul’ is of more value than their body. But do you see this kind of differentiation in Luke 4 or 6?
- In Luke 6, Jesus seems to be saying to the ‘poor’ and ‘hungry’ that God is for them too. This understanding has been central to the mission at New Community. God loves us as ‘wholes’ not just souls. Jesus’ good news is integrated body and soul!
- Now let’s return to point 1. From what you heard on Sunday, what is the process to freedom for those living with addiction? How could God’s church and his power intersect the lives of people who are seeking to be set free? Paint a picture of how that could happen and what that might look like at New Community.