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Life Matters: Lesson 2: Michael Lewis September 16, 2007 |
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Life Matters: The
Book of James
Lesson Two: “A Tough Teacher”
by
Michael Lewis
Dalton Gardens Church of Christ
September 16, 2007
FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR CHRISTIANS LIVING IN A STRESSFUL WORLD:
1. Realize some trouble is inevitable .
James 1:2-4; John 16:33
2. Most trouble expedites maturity .
Trials versus Tests:
A. Trials refer to the difficult circumstances of life.
B. A test has to do with our spiritual response to trials.
James 1:3,4; Gal. 6:4; Matt. 4:7; Genesis 22:1; James 1:12
1. Trials always come in some form or another, but how we respond to them determines how we grow spiritually and whether we pass the test .
2. God cares more about our character than our comfort .
3. Understanding how to pass spiritual tests requires wisdom and that requires prayer .
James 1:5-8
4. Remember all human circumstances are temporary .
James 1:9-11, 12
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials . These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-8
Suffering is inevitable ... Misery is optional .
Trials are inevitable ... Allowing them to bring us closer to God is our choice .