Sermon title – “TROUBLE”

                      Sept. 3, 2006

Intro: Job 5:7- “Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks

fly upward.”   The Bible is a book about trouble.

I. Trouble energizes-

 a) eliminates indifference

 b) compels one to action-  Matt.9:36

II. Trouble clarifies-

 a) Issues of life—Lk.12:15, Matt.16:26

 b) Issue of death--  more apt to think of death when we

are sick

 c) Value of scripture-  Psa. 119:71

III. Trouble magnifies- pressure on coal produces

Diamond

 a) our weakness-  brings us to see the need to pray

 b) His power- opportunity to evidence just what God

  can do

IV. Trouble points people to Christ- in the gospels,

the sick, diseased, infirm, blind and such came to Christ.

  a) as a companion to believers- Heb.2:18

  b) as a Savior from guilt & sin- Isaiah 1:18