Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.”

Big Dig Ceiling Collapse Boston

 Inferior epoxy  Bolts failed to hold

Machine Design, Nov. 2008

“from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4:16

Definition = “strain or straining force exerted upon a body that tends to strain or deform its shape” Worry  Anglo - Saxon word = “To strangle or choke” 1

1 Matt. 6:25-30 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil or spin; 29 “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

1 Matt. 6:25-30 “by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil or spin; 29 “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matt.6:11 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” Phil. 4:6 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 1

How to Build Stress: 1.Put off everything until the last minute 2.Set unreasonable goals 3.Never let others know how you feel 4.Never trust anyone 5.Never seek help 6.Don’t let it go and give it to God American Academy of Christian Counselors,

“ Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [s easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:

Definition - “Physical or mental exhaustion; weariness.” Repeated applications of stress 2

“…in time of temptation fall away” - Luke 8:13 Demas loved this present world - 2 Tim. 4:10 Ephesus left their first love - Rev. 2:4 2

Prophet Elijah – 1 Kings 19  Victory at Mt. Carmel  Afraid and “arose and ran for his life”  God provides food - “I alone am left”  7,000 had not bowed their knees to Baal 2

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thess. 3:13 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal. 6:9 “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” Heb. 10:36 2

“To gnaw to pieces” - “to eat into or wear away gradually, as by rusting or the action of chemicals” 3

Corrosion can happen to us spiritually “ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. shun profane and idle babblings...their message will spread like cancer.” 2 Tim. 2:

Corrosion can happen to us spiritually “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” 1 Cor. 15:33 “the cares and riches and pleasures of this life” Lk. 8:14 3

Becomes brittle due to the stress of the load, the chemicals within the bolt and the processes it has been subjected to. 4

Spiritually - Occurs when certain conditions and attitudes exist that makes us easily offended Webster defines “brittle” = “easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged…easily hurt or offended.” 4

Col. 3:12-13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Eph. 4:2 “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” 4

“ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law ” Rom. 13:8

“ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” 2 Cor. 13:5  Trust God - do not be anxious  Persevere - do not grow weary in well-doing  Keep pure - do not be like the world  Be mature - do not fail from within

Heb. 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21. make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

HearJohn 12:48HearJohn 12:48 BelieveJohn 8:24BelieveJohn 8:24 RepentLuke 13:3RepentLuke 13:3 ConfessMatt. 10:32-33ConfessMatt. 10:32-33 BaptizedMark 16:16BaptizedMark 16:16 FaithfulMatt. 24:13FaithfulMatt. 24:13