https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/YouJustDontUnderstand.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Psalms 119:97-104<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Some people are confident that no other person can possibly understand what they are\ngoing through.\n
A. “You’ve never struggled with addiction”<\/p>\n
B. “You have more money, so you can’t understand my difficulties.”<\/p>\n
C. “You grew up in the church, I didn’t.”<\/p>\n
D. “You’ve never experienced prejudice.”<\/p>\n
E. Do you have to personally experience a problem to understand its solution?<\/p>\n
F. Each of our lives are unique. <\/p>\n
1. I’m sure I can find something I dealt with that you have not. <\/p>\n
2. And the other way around as well. <\/p>\n
3. But does it matter?<\/p>\n
G. Truth exists independent of the individual. <\/p>\n
1. It doesn’t depend on the messenger<\/p>\n
II. How Christ was treated<\/p>\n
A. From the wrong part of the country – John 1:41, 46<\/p>\n
B. Wrong ethnicity – John 4:9<\/p>\n
C. No education – John 7:15<\/p>\n
D. No one important listens to him – John 7:48 <\/p>\n
E. Not old enough – John 8:57<\/p>\n
F. Hangs out with the wrong crowd – Matthew 9:11<\/p>\n
G. No one special – Matthew 13:55<\/p>\n
H. People set standards that do not reflect the accuracy of what someone is saying.<\/p>\n
III. What does it take to understand sin?<\/p>\n A. Do you have to experience the exact same temptation, or does understanding the\nnature of sin and how it works suffice?\n
B. Sin is common to man – I Corinthians 10:13<\/p>\n
C. The nature of sin is defined for us – James 1:13-16; I John 2:15-16<\/p>\n
D. And the Bible is filled with examples – I Corinthians 10:6, 11<\/p>\n
IV. Do you have to believe in something to understand its flaws?<\/p>\n A. I get this from Roman Catholics regularly: “I pray that some day you may have the\nopportunity get the actual answers you seek and begin to understand the fullness\nof the Christian faith in his church. Until then please stop criticizing what you do\nnot understand and interpret to be true.”\n B. Was it wrong for the prophets to condemn idolatry since they didn’t worship\nidols? – Isaiah 44:9-11\n
1. Does it mean Isaiah didn’t really understand idolatry?<\/p>\n
2. The truth is that the idolaters did not understand – Isaiah 44:12-20<\/p>\n
V. Do you have to know everything before you can say you understand and believe<\/p>\n A. Can you imagine someone saying, “I don’t understand quantum mechanics, so\ntherefore I don’t believe in chemistry”? \n
B. Yet, that is how some people treat religion. <\/p>\n
1. Some things are critical, but every aspect doesn’t need to be known.<\/p>\n 2. Christians are expected to grow, which means additional learning and\ncoming to understand things you didn’t realize before – I Peter 2:1-3\n
VI. Does your understanding make something real or not?<\/p>\n
A. Or does reality exist apart from personal understanding?<\/p>\n
B. God’s word is truth – John 17:17<\/p>\n
C. Study of it gives understanding – Psalms 119:98-100<\/p>\n
D. Thus, a young preacher can teach older men – Titus 2:1-2<\/p>\n
1. He can teach women, even though he is male – Titus 2:3-5<\/p>\n 2. He can teach younger people without being a part of that generation – Titus\n2:6\n
VII. In reality, “You don’t understand” is an excuse to avoid listening to truth.<\/p>\n
A. Let’s be willing to accept truth, regardless of who delivers it – Ephesians 5:14-17<\/p>\n
Based on an article by David Diestelkamp<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104 I. Some people are confident that no other person can possibly understand what they are going through. A. “You’ve never struggled with addiction” B. “You have more money, so you can’t understand my difficulties.” C. “You grew up in the church, I didn’t.” D. “You’ve never experienced prejudice.” E. Do you have to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[451,761],"class_list":["post-39684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-teaching","tag-understanding"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28769,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/spiritual-illumination\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":0},"title":"Spiritual Illumination","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 4, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 3 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What does it take to understand the Bible? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I had one woman object to an article stating that the Ten Commandments were not directly in effect because they were a part of the Old Law. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She told me to read several\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42930,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-answers-help-me-think-more-deeply-about-subjects\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":1},"title":"Your answers help me think more deeply about subjects","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've been reading and listening to your audio lessons and responses to questions on your website and I thank God for your accuracy in teaching the gospel. May He bless you. I'm only 16 years old and I understand the responsibilities that we, followers of Christ, currently have and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":94965,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/contradiction-or-expanded-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":2},"title":"Contradiction or Expanded Details?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Many are those who think they see \"contradictions\" everywhere in the Bible, but my experience has been that after more careful consideration, these so-called contradictions are but an expansion of details, both of which can be true. For example, one common claim is that Luke says\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":85411,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-we-understand-the-bible-alike\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":3},"title":"Can We Understand the Bible Alike?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton If we think about it, anytime we understand something, we understand it alike. We can misunderstand things differently, but when we truly understand something, we understand it alike-2 plus 2 equals 4. If we understand that math problem, we will understand it alike. Anyone who comes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63215,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/outside-the-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":4},"title":"Outside the Camp","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 13:9-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Understanding the place of the Old Testament is difficult for man \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God is clear that \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Old Law would come to an end - Jeremiah 31:31-34 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Old Law did come to an end - Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15-16 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54536,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-god-washed-mens-feet\/","url_meta":{"origin":39684,"position":5},"title":"When God Washed Men’s Feet","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 13:1-17 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus\u2019 mission was drawing to a conclusion \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was the night that Jesus would be betrayed \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Judas had already made a deal with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus had gathered with his disciples to eat one last Passover\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39684\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}