Philippians 2:14-15 – 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (New Living Translation)

Four Common Types of Complainers

1. The ___________________________________

Psalm 73:13-14 – 13 Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? 14 All I get out of it is trouble and woe – every day and all day long! (The Living Bible)

Matthew 20:11-12 – 11 “They took their money and started grumbling against the employer. 12 These men who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, ‘while we put up with a whole day’s work in the hot sun – yet you paid them the same as you paid us!’” (Good News Translation)

2. The ___________________________________

Numbers 11:11, 14-15 – 11 Moses said to the Lord, “Why pick on me, to give me the burden of a people like this? . . . 14 I can’t carry this nation by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now; it will be a kindness! Let me out of this impossible situation!” (The Living Bible)

3. The ___________________________________

Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, 9 – 2 . . . Life is useless, all useless. 3 You spend your life working, labouring, and what do you have to show for it? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the world stays just the same. . . . 9 What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world. (Good News Translation)

4. The ________________________________________

Proverbs 27:15 – A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; . . . (The Message)

Proverbs 21:19 – Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse. (The Message)

How Do You Conquer Complaining?

☞ ______________________________ it is a problem

Proverbs 28:13 – People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (New Living Translation)

☞ Accept ___________________________________ for my own life

Proverbs 19:3 – Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord. (Good News Translation)

☞ Develop the attitude of ______________________________

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (New Living Translation, 1st ed.)

Philippians 4:11 – I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. (New Century Version)

☞ Look for _________________________________ in circumstances

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – 17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18 Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen. (Contemporary English Version)

☞ Practice speaking ______________________________

Ephesians 4:29 – When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. (New Century Version)