Series: Good Vibes
Sermon Title: When Anxiety Comes…
Passage: Philippians 4:5-9

Reno Campus
Pastor Dave Pretlove

Carson Campus
Pastor Pastor Dave Pretlove

Campus Announcements / Service Moments

Reno Campus
Starting Point

Carson Campus
Starting Point

 

Series: Good Vibes
Sermon Title: When Anxiety Comes…
Philippians 4:5-9

1. Recognize the root.
2. Remember God is with you.
   Philippians 4:5
3. Realize it will not always be this way.
   Philippians 4:5
4. Turn your anxieties into prayers. 
   Philippians 4:6-7
5. Think deeply about what you are thinking about.  
   Philippians 4:8
6. Make Knowing Jesus thje goal of your life.
   Philippians 4:9
   Philippians 3:8 

 

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What are some common sources of anxiety in your life? How can identifying these sources help you address your anxiety more effectively?

• When does concern become anxiety? How have you seen anxiety manifest in your life?

• What content are we consuming daily that could be contributing to our anxiety or unrest?

• How does the awareness of God’s presence influence your response to anxiety? 

• How does prayer and gratitude lead us into the peace of God? How does setting our mind on the good things in life lead us to the peace of God?

• Read 1 Peter 5:7. How is it comforting that God asks you to cast all your anxiety on to Him?

• How can you practically turn your anxieties into prayers? Can you share a specific instance where praying about your anxieties brought you peace?

• Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. How can focusing on these things help reduce anxiety?
• Read John 16:33. Jesus has just finished alluding to the resurrection as the disciples will soon face His crucifixion. How does Jesus’ assurance that He has overcome the world bring us peace?

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• What situation am I trying to control that leads me into anxiety?

• Reminding ourselves of how God’s already provided for our every need in the past helps with our anxiety for the present and future. What are ways you’ve seen God’s faithfulness and provision for you in the past? 

• The Biblical “answer” for anxiety is prayer. When we tell God what we’re worried about and cast it onto Him, He gives us His peace. Anxiety is like a “check engine light”. When the light goes on, we know we need to talk to God. What is something you feel that you need right now? Give that need to God. Talk with Him about it. Present your requests to Him.

• How does the promise that “the Lord is near” provide comfort in times of anxiety? What does this promise mean to you personally?

 

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

• Psalm 139:23-24
• Isaiah 41:10 
• 1 Peter 5:7

 

RESOURCES:

• PODCAST | RESTORING THE SOUL | EPISODE 296 A NON-ANXIOUS LIFE
• PODCAST |Becoming a Non-Anxious Presence | John Mark Comer | NLC2020
• BOOK | My Name is Hope: Anxiety, Depression, and Life After Melancholy | John Mark Comer 
• ARTICLE | Talk to God About Your Anxiety | Desiring God | Jon Bloom

 

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY: PRAYER

Often times when we first enter into and begin to grow in our relationship with God we are either intimidated by prayer or see prayer as a vending machine for God to provide me with what we want or desire. These are both a misconception of Prayer. Prayer is about moving into an ongoing alignment with God. Our desire is that you move off of any misconception, or fear of prayer and begin to build an ongoing interaction and communion with God himself. 

In the grind of life, we all navigate stress, anxiety, disappointment, or joy and excitement. Prayer should be linked to it all. It is the key that brings about inner soul healing and peace, it can move us away from past hurts and prepare us for tomorrow’s struggles. It is the most helpful and key to all the spiritual disciplines. 

This week I would like to give you some daily scriptures to pray through.

• Sunday: The pattern of prayer / Matthew 6:5–15. 
• Monday: The prayer of worship / Psalm 103. 
• Tuesday: The prayer of repentance / Psalm 51. 
• Wednesday: The prayer of thanksgiving / Psalm 150. 
• Thursday: The prayer of guidance / Matthew 26:36–46. 
• Friday: The prayer of faith / James 5:13–18. 
• Saturday: The prayer of command / Mark 9:14–29.

 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

Most of the time when we find ourselves anxious, it is because we are mentally toiling over a potential future situation. We look at all the variations, the outcomes, the what-ifs, and ultimately we are faced with the stark realization that we are not in control. Our anxieties tend to get worse the further the results get from what we were trying to achieve by control. Wisdom comes from knowing that we have very little control in this life if any at all. 

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul demonstrates here the only thing we have control over – our own contentment in every circumstance. This is not the same as our happiness. Paul is saying he has gone through the worst of the worst, and even though he’s not perfect, he knows that the secret to contentment in all things is Christ in him. 

Earlier in Philippians 4 he writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned, received, heard from, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The cure to anxiousness is right here in the text, fill our mind with these things, and THEN the peace of God will be with us. In today’s world, there is no shortage of doom and gloom at every media outlet. Without us realizing it, death, destruction, and violence begin to take root in our souls in addition to our burdens and soon we become overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks and minor inconveniences. Be encouraged that there is hope in our anxiousness, as we choose to focus our minds on things above, on who Christ is and His goodness, and God promises us peace. When this peace comes, we can take on anything that comes our way, and our desire for control seems less and less enticing.

 

Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation and Connections Pastor