When You Encounter Trials, Church of Christ Sermon

"When You Encounter Trials" is a sermon from James 1:2-8 at the Mountain Creek Church of Christ in Chattanooga, TN. The sermon discusses God's desire for us to develop endurance, wisdom, and faith. Interestingly, all three of these qualities are necessary for successfully dealing with trials and temptations, and are increased by dealing with trials and temptations.

I. Endurance
A. Trials we endure
1. Compromise scripture to be more inclusive
2. Interpersonal conflict from fleshly lusts
3. Criticism from calloused hearts
B. Expect difficulty
1. 1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
C. Be thankful for trials -- count it joy
1. V. 12 perseverance
2. Testing of faith -- makes stronger
3. When preparing for race, testing your readiness increases your readiness
4. Practicing for game is type of test/trial
5. Changes you into what God wants you to be

II. Wisdom
A. Dealing with trial requires wisdom
B. Wisdom is ability to put knowledge into practice
1. Discernment -- knowing real from fake
2. Prudence -- avoiding the dangerous, risky
3. Understanding -- seeing below the surface
4. Common sense -- learning from experience
C. Going through trials successfully requires wisdom
1. Trials teach wisdom
D. God gives wisdom generously -- v. 5
1. Ask God -- how often do you pray for wisdom
2. How often do you ask for wisdom?
3. When you don't know what to do, where to turn, how to proceed, ask for wisdom
E. God wants you to have wisdom
1. Enable you to live fuller, richer, contended life
2. Prov 2:2-8


III. Faith
A. God wants faith
1. God wants us hound doubt from our minds
2. "Without any doubting"
3. 1939 -- George Dantzig -- doc. candidate at UC Berkely -- late to class -- two theorems on board -- copied down as homework -- completed them -- they were previously unsolvable
4. Intolerant of continual doubting -- "I can't help it" -- "Can't control my thoughts"
B. Doubting comes from unstable thought
1. Driven and tossed back and forth
2. Double-minded -- trying to believe and follow two contradictory things
3. God wants you to reach a conclusion
a. Pick a side -- look at the evidence and put your faith in him and act on it
b. Continuing to waffle divides your mind
C. Train your mind
1. Eph 4:22-24 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
2. 1 Peter 1:13 prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.