/ How to Cope with Your Circumstances
Shock
Proverbs 3:5-6
Pastor Bob Parisot
January 7, 2018

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Iwant to start this yearoff with steps on how to cope with life situations when you are faced with an emotional crisis. All of us receive bad news, the loss of a job, a spouse wanting a divorce, to the death of someone close to you. No one here will go through life without something bad that happens in their life. No one will live an absolutely wonderful, trouble free life. All of us will experience things that put us in a tailspin of life, news that is hard to deal with, situations of the “what now” syndrome and feeling the effects of what has just happened in our life. M y goal is to give you some help in coping with things that you have faced in the passed and have yet to face life and to be prepared. Most of the events that has happened in your life, you didn’t see coming. It came without notice with no warning at all. The events that happen in your life you can’t go around, go under, or go over, or erase it, you must go through it.

  1. Six Stages of Crisis
  1. Shock
  2. Sorrow
  3. Struggle
  4. Surrender
  5. Restoration
  6. Engagement

Ever since that rebellion in the garden, that world became broken, separated from God, and so the world battles with the curse of evil and bad things everyday. And because the world became broken, all of us, you and me, have to deal with this curse, the curse of tragedy and loss. The bible tells us that tragedy falls on us unexpectedly and that know one knows when these times will come:

Ecclesiastes 9:12 (NLT)
12 People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

  1. Three Possible Conditions:
  1. You know someone that is going through a crisis
  2. You are in a crisis yourself
  3. You are getting ready to go through a crisis

You either know someone who is there now, are you are going through it yourself right now, or you might be facing one that your not expecting yet.

  1. Helping a Friend in Shock:

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Psalm 50:15 (NIV)
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

  1. Show up
  2. Share their pain
  3. Take the initiative
  1. what to do when you are in a moment of crisis:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken

a. Cry out to God

b. Let others help you

c. Don’t make any major decisions

  1. Preparing yourself for an emotional catastrophe
  1. Cultivate strong relationships

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

  1. Have a close relationship with Go

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Sermon Discussion Guide Leader Notes

Suggestions for This Weeks Small Group Study

  • Illustrate by personal testimony or story of someone you know who let temptation lead them to sin
  • Discuss Ideas on what can be done not to let temptation lead to Sin
  • Accountability partner
  • Prayer
  • Read God’s Word
  • Just say no
  • Pay attention to your conscience, if it feels wrong it probably is, run away

Suggestions for This Weeks Small Group Study

Prayfor God for to give you insight and understanding of the topic and scripture. Ask for God’s wisdom, that the Holy Spirit will be the teacher and that you will be God’s spokesperson and representative to lead a group to a greater understanding and a willingness to commit to His commands and Word. To become more Christ like and be ambassadors for Christ. Prayer should be your primary source of preparation for leading your group.

Planon how you want your group to respond and commit to obedience to God’s Word in the next 60-90 days. What is your groups strong areas, what are their weakness? Consider how you can challenge the members to live a more balanced Christian life. Consider God’s purpose for their life and the life of the church. Consider the five purposes of the Church: Evangelism, Discipleship, Ministry, Fellowship, Worship? Encourage the group into further commitment in their life and the life of the church.

Ponder your progress At the end of each session and the end of the series, reflect on what went well and what didn’t. Re-evaluation of the group and progress is essential for future growth. Consider how effective the study has been to move people into a more intimate relationship with God and to one another. Consider how you have been doing in leading your group, discussion, challenge, encouragement. Were you able to keep the group on track? Are there any changes that should be made?

Using this Sermon Discussion Guide

A closer look discussion guide is a tool to aid you in the needs of your group. It is designed to help you complete the discussion within 30-45 minutes. As the discussion leader, you should preview and evaluate the questions and scripture prior to your meeting and to meet the need of your group. Decide beforehand what is most important to focus on to keep to the allotted time.

Adapt the study to meet the need of your group. If your group is more mature, consider diving deeper in scripture that is listed on the sheet. Remember this is only a guide to assist you.

Personal application is essential for growth in the life of a believer, and how the principles should and can be applied is critical. Discuss with your group how whet they have learned should and can be applied. Ask how they have applied the truths to their life at the beginning of the next session. Is it important to help people meet their goal. Ask general questions like, “How are you doing since last week?” “How can the group help you?” Encourage each group member to be accountable to the group and to each other for personal progress and maturity.

Your goal as a leader is to bring the group into a stimulating discussion where all can be engaged and to encourage discussion, especially those who are more quite. Don’t force or coerce anyone into speaking if they are uncomfortable in doing so, encouragement is best by asking engaging questions. Create accountability in your group, and group the is personally involved in others lives in care and love.