Biblical Solutions to Problem

PROBLEMS

• may be testing your faith. ^§ Genesis 12:10; ^§ Luke 4:1; ^§ 2 Thes. 1:5

• following God may bring more. ^§ Genesis 12:10; ^§ Exodus 5:4-9; ^§ Exodus 5:22-23

• danger of solving them our way. ^§ Genesis 16:3

• blaming others for ours. ^§ Genesis 16:5

• don’t run away from. ^§ Genesis 16:8

• none too complicated for God. ^§ Genesis 16:13; ^§ Genesis 18:14

• lying brings more. ^§ Genesis 18:15

• God will help solve yours. ^§ Genesis 20:11-13

• God overcomes the impossible ones. ^§ Genesis 21:1-7

• how three patriarchs handled similar ones. ^§ Genesis 30:3

• Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem-free life. ^§ Genesis 35:10; ^§ Psalm 18:32-34

• what they can teach us. ^§ James 1:2-4

• wrong solutions worse than no solutions. ^§ Genesis 37:26-27

• let them make you better, not bitter. ^§ Exodus 1:12

• when you can’t solve yours, God can. ^§ Exodus 2:9

• Moses learned that God can solve any problem. ^§ Exodus 4:6-7

• how God views our problems. ^§ Exodus 4:10-13

• can exercise our patience. ^§ Exodus 5:22-23

• big problems let God give big answers. ^§ Exodus 6:6

• maintain your faith despite them. ^§ Exodus 9:1; ^§ Matthew 14:28; ^§ Mark 5:35-36

• God can get you out of any kind. ^§ Exodus 14:21

• do you complain or pray about them? ^§ Exodus 17:2

• God concerned about each one. ^§ Exodus 39:32

• finding hope in midst of. ^§ Leviticus 26:40-45; ^§ John 5:6

• focus on positive aspects of. ^§ Numbers 13:25-29

• don’t trust God with only the small ones. ^§ Numbers 14:5-9

• from failing to trust God. ^§ Numbers 14:34

• overrating yours. ^§ Numbers 16:13-14

• do you believe God can help you with? ^§ Numbers 21:34

• not usually solved by change of scenery. ^§ Numbers 23:27

• sometimes caused by allowing sin to remain in our lives. ^§ Numbers 33:55

• how to keep them from getting the upper hand. ^§ Deut. 1:22

• our problems are no problem for God to solve. ^§ Deut. 3:1-3

• turn to God first when problems arise. ^§ Judges 4:3

• look first within yourself for why they come. ^§ Judges 6:13

• don’t complain about them without doing something about them. ^§ 1 Samuel 7:2-3

• putting giant ones in perspective. ^§ 1 Samuel 17:26

• let them drive you toward not away from God. ^§ 2 Cor. 1:8-10; ^§ Rev. 2:9-11

• look for solutions rather than blame. ^§ 1 Samuel 30:6

• come from excusing sin. ^§ 1 Kings 11:9-10

• seek God before they come. ^§ 1 Chron. 14:10

• Nehemiah’s approach to problem solving. ^§ Neh. 2:11-17

• don’t question God’s goodness in. ^§ Job 2:10

• refine our character. ^§ Psalm 66:10-12

• give us the potential for praise. ^§ Psalm 107:32

• why God is able to bear ours. ^§ Psalm 145:14

• are you just using God to escape yours? ^§ Jeremiah 21:1-14

• do you rejoice at others’ problems? ^§ Obadiah 1:12

• Jesus controls the storms of life. ^§ Matthew 8:25

• trusting God with. ^§ Mark 4:38-40

• how we underestimate Jesus’ help in. ^§ Mark 4:41

• should not keep us from God. ^§ Mark 5:25-34

• God hasn’t lost sight of yours. ^§ Mark 6:49

• why we should be able to help others with. ^§ Matthew 9:35-38

• how the church should resolve them. ^§ Matthew 18:18; ^§ Acts 15:2

• developing a new attitude toward. ^§ Luke 12:13

• your life not too complex for God. ^§ John 1:3-5; ^§ John 11:4

• don’t let them hinder love. ^§ John 15:17

• make prayer your first step in solving. ^§ Acts 1:12-13

• keeping proper focus on. ^§ Acts 5:1

• how God works them all for good. ^§ Romans 8:28

• why some churches seem to have so many. ^§ 1 Cor. 3:10-17

• legalism causes us to look for. ^§ 1 Cor. 10:25-27

• must be confronted in the church. ^§ 1 Cor. 16:24; ^§ Galatians 2:2-3

• may be a sign of effective living. ^§ 1 Thes. 3:1-3

• God will end all yours in eternity. ^§ Rev. 7:17

CONFLICT(S)

• between Cain and Abel.

• PROFILE: Cain

• take the initiative to solve. ^§ Genesis 13:5-9

• preparing for. ^§ Genesis 14:14-16

• when it’s wise to avoid them. ^§ Genesis 26:17-22

• not always worth the consequences. ^§ Numbers 20:21

• try to make peace first. ^§ Joshua 22:11-34

• talk before you fight.

• PROFILE: Jephthah

• find common goals bigger than your differences. ^§ 2 Samuel 3:1

• Jesus controls the storms of life. ^§ Matthew 8:25

• between believers and unbelievers. ^§ Matthew 10:34-39

• how the church should resolve them. ^§ Matthew 18:18

• accepting Jesus may lead to conflict. ^§ Luke 12:51-53

• finding peace in conflict. ^§ John 14:27-29

• need not affect spiritual unity. ^§ Acts 4:32

• sometimes inevitable for the Christian. ^§ Acts 5:29

• how churches in Antioch and Jerusalem resolved theirs. ^§ Acts 15:2

• God works through. ^§ Acts 15:36-39

• should Christians go to court over? ^§ 1 Cor. 6:1-6; ^§ 1 Cor. 6:6-8

• selfish desires often a cause of. ^§ James 4:1-3

Help!! I'm In My Own Way!

Series (Distractions: Can’t See the Forest for the Trees)

Sermon Title: Help! I’m in my own way!!

2 Cor. 4:4 (NLT) Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Mark 4:7 (NLT) Other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain. (See Mark 4:18-20 for explanation)

Sermon Concepts/Insights:

• The god of this world uses blindness (smokiness) to keep people from the reality of God’s love, support, honor, accompaniment, etc.
  
• Just because Jesus heals us from this blindness doesn’t mean that Satan no longer attempts to bring us back into a place of blindness.
  
• When we don’t know Jesus, the enemy uses spiritual blindness.
  
• When we don know Jesus, the enemy uses distractions
  
  
  
  • This is subtle because we are often distracted by things we want, like or believe we need or are entitled to.

Anxiety: Often caused by an agenda this is ours and not God’s. It is placing an importance on something that isn’t important to the purpose of God.

• Comfort
  
• Popularity
  
• Materialism
  
• Abundance/size/vastness/greatness

The cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things (none of these is bad or ungodly)

We need to get on the same page as the Father re: His priorities for our lives.

Choke: Strangle completely; crowd out; to drown; stifle; squeeze breath out; obstruct oxygen flow; suppress & seize.

►The cares of this life, (Stress & Anxiety)

• We’re living in trying time right now
  
• Stress is a killer and the leading culprit in _____ disease that claims millions of lives and costs billions of dollars in treatment.
  
• Culprit (fear, anxiety, indecision): Overwhelming issues for which we see no solution…this pressure weakens our immune system, causes insomnia, give room to degenerative diseases.

Examples of people who suffered stress/anxiety and it clouded their judgment & ability to perceive God’s plan: Elijah; Timothy; David (#d the troops). Fear/Anxiety caused them to forget their Source.

How to reduce stress:

• Foods: Spinach, oranges, oatmeal, salmon, soybeans, pistachios, avocado/guacamole, almonds, warm milk (skim or low fat)
  
  
  
  • Regulate serotonin and cortisol levels so as to reduce stress

• Exercise
  
• Sleep: We weren’t built to function 24hrs a day. We are not computers/machines. We need to shut off.
  
• Shut off devices: pagers, iPhones, texting, email, facebook, twitter.
  
• Find what you enjoy: reading, travel, movies, walks, gardening, puzzles, family, etc. and do it!!
  
• Get accountability for your dreams and aspirations because unrealized potential is a real source for stress.

• Find consistent people to talk to
  
• Get professional therapy
  
• Get some pastoral counseling
  
• Work to start a support group here at church

Jesus’ response to this:

• Cast your cares on me, I care for you.
  
• Remember the sparrows

Luke 12:6-7 (NLT) "What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

Solutions/Challenges:

• In Mark 4 we worry and think that “things” and status can fulfill and direct us. Let’s us this fast and a time to identity and address fears in our life.
  
• We cannot wait for systems to change before we have peace! We must find peace in the truth of Jesus message. This is a hallmark of Christian maturity: peace & joy!!
  
• We must develop a healthy theology for *miracles, *prayer, *suffering & *community

Psalm 55:22 (NLT) Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

• Remember the Holy Spirit is our paraclete (helper alongside). Seek the Holy Assistance this week.

(Consult the Bible Responses to Problems sheet for scriptural references that will help you cope with your problems)

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