When Your Life Falls Apart
- Chris Brown
- Aug 27, 2025
- 4 min read
Pastor Chris Brown
August 27-28, 2022
Message #34 / 2 Samuel 16
When Life Falls Apart
The three keys to surviving a trainwreck:
2 Samuel 16, 12, Philippians 2:1-13, Romans 12:1-21
Having the right view of OURSELVES
Having the right view of OTHERS
Having the right view of GOD
The soundtrack to a horrific failure:
Psalm 3
David is writing out his FAITH and the TRUTHS about God,
even though his REALITY is telling him something
VERY DIFFERENT.
The mathematics of genuine faith:
Matthew 6:25-34, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4-13
E + R(BS) = O
Our ACTIONS will show if we just have an
intellectual BELIEF or a genuine FAITH.
The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info.
Pastor Chris Brown
August 27-28, 2022
Message #34 / 2 Samuel 16
When Life Falls Apart
The three keys to surviving a trainwreck:
2 Samuel 16, 12, Philippians 2:1-13, Romans 12:1-21
Having the right view of _____________
Having the right view of _____________
Having the right view of _____________
The soundtrack to a horrific failure:
Psalm 3
David is writing out his _________ and the __________ about God,
even though his ___________ is telling him something
______________________.
The mathematics of genuine faith:
Matthew 6:25-34, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4-13
____ + ____(________) = ____
Our ___________ will show if we just have an
intellectual __________ or a genuine _________.
The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info.
Food for Thought for the week of August 28, 2022
This weekend, Chris taught the importance of maintaining the right perspective in three areas: ourselves, others and
God. In 2 Samuel 16:12, we see David’s views of himself and of God in a humble acceptance of what he deserves (the
curse) while acknowledging God may still be merciful because of who God is.
Psalm 25, which David wrote in the midst of suffering, also speaks to “the three keys to surviving a trainwreck” from this
weekend’s message. As you read the psalm:
• Circle anything that demonstrates David’s view of himself.
• Highlight anything that demonstrates David’s view of others.
• Underline anything that demonstrates David’s view of God.
Psalm 25 New International Version (NIV)
1 In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.
2
I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, LORD, is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
Is there anything in verses 1-7 that resonates with you about yourself and who you are?
In verse 11, what do you think David means by appealing for mercy for the sake of God’s name? What might this
say about how he views God?
Reflecting on your current perspective of God, is there anything in verses 8-14 you want to embrace or focus on
more?
What encouragement can you glean from verses 15-21 regarding viewing your enemies or the trials of this
world?
In these verses, David is asking for freedom from his enemies and trials. As you reflect on your own view of
these, is there anything you might need to adjust in order to experience such freedom?
Lessons from the life of King David. Here’s a blueprint for how to survive when we walk through the lowest parts of our lives.
