Sermon Notes
Can Worry Increase Your Life? | Questions Jesus Asked | Week 1
Pastor Dave Pretlove
Matthew 6:25-34
Why are we the most worried and anxious people who have ever lived? Because …
- We are making temporary things big and eternal things small.
- Matthew 6:25, 19-21
- We are making our perceived needs big and our real value small.
- Matthew 6:26, 28-30
- We are making our illusions of power and control big and God’s actual power small.
- Matthew 6:27
- We are making our anxieties big and our uniqueness small.
- Matthew 6:31-32
- We are making our goals, priorities, agenda, and kingdom big, and God’s small.
- Matthew 6:33
- We are making living in the past and the future big and living in the present small.
- Matthew 6:34
Group Questions
- Thinking about all of the questions that Jesus asked, who’s someone in your life that asks a lot of questions? Is there a question they ask repeatedly?
- Why do you think Jesus asked so many questions throughout the Gospels?
- Read Matthew 6:25-27. Think about the illusion of power and control that worry often creates in our lives. How do you think worrying deceives us into thinking we have control over certain circumstances?
- Read Isaiah 43:18-21. Remember that Pastor Dave told us that worry robs us of the present by living in the past and future. How can we choose to “not dwell on the past” and see what God is doing in our present?
- How can we shift our perspective to trust in God’s ultimate power and sovereignty?
- Which sermon point resonated with you most? What one step will you take this week to grow in this area?
Scriptures To Meditate On
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Matthew 6:25-27 ESV
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”
Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV
Resources
Spiritual Practice To Try
This week, explore the spiritual practice of silence and solitude. While discussing solitude, Richard Foster writes, “In times of solitude, we become enveloped in God’s very presence. There is an intimate connection between solitude and silence. Silence, you see, creates in us an open, empty space where we are enabled to become attentive to God. And oh, how we need such open spaces in our modern techno-world with its relentless barrage of ’sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ Indeed, many people today have become little more than walking ’towers of babble.’”
Devote some time this week to practice silence and solitude in God’s presence. Focus on his presence with you and that he loves you and he likes you – he wants to spend time with you this week!
Something To Think About
I was talking with someone this week about how easily obtrusive thoughts can come in and bring worry. My mind easily goes to the worst-case scenario. Someone is late to lunch? They were in a horrific wreck. Brett didn’t answer his phone? He for sure got hit by a car … again. I have to actively submit my thoughts back to Jesus and ask him to redeem my mind.
This week, just begin to bring awareness to the obtrusive thoughts and worry that so easily enters your mind. As soon as you’re aware of the worry creeping in, capture those thoughts and ask Jesus to redeem them. I’ve heard author and speaker, Carlos Whittaker, say, “I don’t pray the problem. I pray the promise.”
Instead of praying circles around the thing you’re worried about (basically meditating on the problem!), choose to pray God’s promises over that worry. This requires knowing his Word! This week, get into God’s Word, know his promises, and start praying his promises over your life. This list might be a place to start!
Blessings,
Lydia Long