https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/StrategiesForDealingWithProblems.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Mark 14:3-9<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. The world is filled with problems. Some caused by others. Many that I cause myself.<\/p>\n
A. How do you deal with them?<\/p>\n
II. Ignore them<\/p>\n
A. It is so tempting to pretend that the problems aren’t really there.<\/p>\n
B. Don’t forsake your friends – Proverbs 27:10<\/p>\n
C. Example from the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-32<\/p>\n D. If I ignore other people’s problems, then my heart won’t be touched – Romans\n12:15\n
1. But that cuts both ways. Uncaring is just a small step from unloving.<\/p>\n
E. If I ignore problems, they build up – Proverbs 24:30-34<\/p>\n
III. Give up<\/p>\n A. If I can’t fix everything then I won’t even try. We allow problems to overwhelm\nus.\n B. To leave slavery in Egypt to freedom in their own land, the Israelites had to travel\nthrough some rough territory. Some did not think the suffering was worth the\nreward – Exodus 17:1-3\n
C. But preserving through trials can perfect us – James 1:2-4<\/p>\n
D. Run with endurance, sit out the race – Hebrews 12:1-2<\/p>\n
IV. Complain<\/p>\n
A. Blame other people for creating this mess<\/p>\n
B. It is easy to find fault<\/p>\n
C. Complaining is easy when you’re not involved<\/p>\n 1. Nehemiah 4:1-3 – Sanballat and Tobiah did not want Jerusalem rebuilt.\nThey did not help with the work. Yet, they stood by and criticized their\nefforts.\n
a. You can’t do it, you’ve been defeated before. You’re too weak.<\/p>\n
b. It will take too long.<\/p>\n
c. You don’t have the right material.<\/p>\n
d. You don’t know what you are doing<\/p>\n
e. It won’t last<\/p>\n 2. Churches that are active, with plans and programs to reach out to the lost\nwith the gospel will be criticized.\n a. The criticism will come from those who won’t work in any\nprograms that are set forth.\n b. When the church grew, those outside complained and conspired\nagainst it, and yet it still grew – Acts 4:25\n
V. Do what I can <\/p>\n
A. Notice the praise of Jesus – Mark 14:3-9<\/p>\n
1. Some found an occasion to complain, but this woman did what she could<\/p>\n
2. She couldn’t save Jesus from his death, but she could do one task for him.<\/p>\n
B. The Macedonians could not end the famine, but they sent aid – II Corinthians 8:1-3, 12<\/p>\n
C. The Samaritan did what he could – Luke 10:33-35<\/p>\n
D. The solution is to do a small bit at a time – Proverbs 6:6-11<\/p>\n E. How many opportunities are passed up because it wasn’t a great deed? – Galatians\n6:9-10\n
F. I can’t do everything, but I can do this one thing – Mark 9:41<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 14:3-9 I. The world is filled with problems. Some caused by others. Many that I cause myself. A. How do you deal with them? II. Ignore them A. It is so tempting to pretend that the problems aren’t really there. B. Don’t forsake your friends – Proverbs 27:10 C. Example from the Good Samaritan…<\/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,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1489,188],"class_list":["post-49627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-problems","tag-trials"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28971,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/solving-church-problems\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":0},"title":"Solving Church Problems","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bobby L. Graham Sentry Magazine, September 2003 Jerusalem: A Church with Problems While it is true that Corinth is probably the church that most often comes to mind in connection with problems, it is also correct that Jerusalem was the first church with problems. The chief difference is that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/explosion-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2233,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/overcoming-emotional-problems\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":1},"title":"Overcoming Emotional Problems","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Philippians 4:4-9 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a simple idea; so simple, you probably think it is obvious. Yet, the ramifications are far reaching. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How we think influences our emotions \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\u00a0It is profound because the world sees it the other way around. \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\u00a0In the world\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":21846,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-have-problems-with-my-mom\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":2},"title":"I have problems with my mom","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have problems with my mom. She and my dad have issues, and she's taking it out on me. Every intention I have to make things better between us is bad to her. She pushes me away and doesn't want to talk to me nor see me. Please help\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":6020,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/blooming-where-you-are-planted\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":3},"title":"Blooming Where You Are Planted","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 3:1-6 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was reading an article by Hiram Kemp titled, \u201cSix Ways to Thrive in a Weak Church\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The points were good, but it also had me thinking about the difficulties we face in this region. \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\u00a0There are not many faithful churches and\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":69119,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-cant-find-a-good-congregation\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":4},"title":"We can’t find a good congregation","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I'm facing a dilemma and seek guidance to do the right thing. My husband and I used to attend the only church in our area that lacks a kitchen. We stopped going because the preacher left, there are no elders, and the men currently leading the church are\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":37189,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-do-christians-have-problems\/","url_meta":{"origin":49627,"position":5},"title":"Why Do Christians Have Problems?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Carey Scott from an outline by Donnie S. Barnes If everything is supposed to work out for our good, why do we still have problems? After all, does Romans 8:28 tell us that all things work out for good to those who love the Lord? Then why do faithful\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49627","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=49627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49627\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}