Sermon outline on worry

A sermon on worry

• If we skimmed through the “Sermon on Mount” in Mt. 5-7, here is a quick summary of what we would find:
• Two verses deal w/anger & murder (Mt. 5:21-22); information on reconciliation is in Mt. 5:23-26.
• Adultery & lust discussed in Mt. 5:27-30; then we come to the subject of “divorce” in Mt. 5:27-30.
• Oaths are the topic under consideration in Mt. 5:33-37.
• After oaths the focus switches on how to treat others (Mt. 5:38-43).
• Some information about love takes up Mt. 5:44-48; then we come to giving (Mt. 6:2-4).
• Material possessions are is covered in Mt. 6:19-24.
  1. All these topic were appropriate for Jesus to discuss, but they were not what received the most attention.
  2. What got the most attention in Mt. 5-6 is “worry.”
  3. From Mt. 6:25-34, Jesus spoke about “worry.”

The availability of online cialis generic order Oral Jelly has been a sharp increase in the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and impotence. If your partner is not experienced or is inhibited when communicating about sexual issues, it may generic overnight viagra be better off setting up an article site rather than a blog. Be online prescription viagra sensitive to what they are saying, what they not saying, and what they might be feeling. Many biological and psychological factors are responsible for this as this disorder is faced by many of tem which does not puts generic cialis 5mg them in fault but it definitely is ruining many love lives.

• A religious group once put the following message on their public sign:
• “WHY PRAY WHEN YOU CAN WORRY?”
• This was not a bad sign based on how some decide to live.
• People – even very religious people – can be consumed with worry.
  1. The Bible discusses worry and even gives specific examples of it.
  2. 37:1 says “Fret not thyslef because of evil-doers.”
     1. Some are worried because of an evil person.
     2. Perhaps a child is worried about someone at school who does not like them.

• Someone at work may worry about a boss or coworker.

1. Neighbors may worry about someone who lives close to them.
2. If worry is not over someone is evil, it may involve someone who is a friend or loved one.

1. If worry does not involve people, it can involve objects.
   1. We may recall some information from Lk. 10:40-41 – 3 key people are in these verses –
   2. Luke spoke about a time when Jesus, Mary, and Martha were together.
2. Martha was “anxious and troubled about many things.”

6. The word Jesus applied to Martha is the same term used in the SOM in Mt. 6.
7. This word for worry is also found in Mt. 6:25, 27, 28, 31, 34.

• Planning an event causes some to worry.

1. A third cause for worry may be circumstances.
2. In Lk. 12:11 we find these words: – READ
   1. When people are called before authorities, they may start to worry.
   2. Will the student be kicked out of school? Will the judge send someone to jail?

• Will the boss be telling us we need to find a new place to work?

1. Sources for worry abound in the world.

1. It is not surprising to see just how much focus Jesus put on the subject of “worry.”
2. In recent weeks we have been looking at the idea of being “tired.”
   1. Worry can make people tired.
   2. If we worry, we may be tired of worrying.

• The Lord has some things to say about the problem of worry.

6. We were asked to have our Bible open to Mt. 6. So let’s go there now and see what we find.
7. We begin with verse 24 – READ
   1. This verse does not specifically mention worry, but it sets the stage to discuss worry.
   2. I highlight this text for our attention for this reason –

• Someone or something will be dominant in our lives.

1. If wealth is what matters most (and this is true for many), worry will likely be a problem.
   • Men worry about not having enough as well as worry about keeping what they have.
   • There are worries about theft, economic downturns, and what will happen after death.
2. If family is the # 1 priority in our life, worry w/also like be a significant problem for us –
   • We can be worrying about this one, that one, a medical condition, or something else.
   • If we put God in the right place and keep Him there, worry (undue concern) gets handled.
3. A long time ago the prophet Habakkuk spoke some exceedingly important words –
   • 2:4 says the “just” (righteous/saved) shall “live by faith.”
   • Some seem to think God said: “Live by worry.”  God says “live by faith.”
   • The apostle Paul repeated this point in Rom. 1:17 – the just shall live by faith.

1. It has been said the “beginning of anxiety is the end of faith.

• The opposite of this would be: “the beginning of true faith is the way to cure anxiety.”

1. When it comes to worry, we must make a choice:
   • Will we make worry our master and God? Will worry be the power we submit to?
   • If we choose to make worry our master, we essentially dethrone and disown God.
   • If we put God in His rightful place, worry really has no basis.
2. In verse 25 of Mt. 6 we read about some “needs” – food and clothing.
3. Not having clothing is a problem; if go without food too long, our body knows it.

• Many worry about non-essentials; here Jesus spoke about anxiety over ESSENTIALS.
• If anyone needs to do any “worrying,” let that be done by God.

1. The force of Jesus’ teaching in Mt. 6:25 is something like “stop worrying.”
   • Jesus was likely speaking to people who were worrying as He delivered this message.
   • Perhaps some here this morning came in with one or more worries –
   • We have been thinking: How will I/we manage to ….
   • Jesus said: Let me handle that.
2. Most remember the story about Peter and his walking on the water to meet Jesus.
3. Peter had good intentions – this man really had some faith.

• After Peter started to venture out to the Lord, things got more complicated for him –
• Peter’s faith started to fail.
  • Christians can say to themselves: I have faith, I will not worry, all will be fine.
  • After some time passes, the faith may begin to waver and perhaps rapidly decline.
  • At some point what was faith or thought to be faith ends up being worry.
• Worry is a common problem for people and God has a lot to say about it.
  • This morning, while looking at some other material, I noticed something from book of Mt.
  • At least 5 times in the book of Matthew we read about “little faith.”
  • Matthew’s repeated use of these words seems to imply the apostles often had faith issues.
  • This is not exactly a surprise, but the repeated uses of “little faith” may suggest rebukes.
  • Time and time again the disciples may have been chastised for their “little faith.”
  • Eventually those apostles figured things out and began to live by faith.

1. Worry is a choice. Living by faith (absolute trust in God) is also a choice.  We get to choose.

1. Someone may think about this for a bit and say it “sounds good,” but it seems so hard.
2. Do we think we are at least as smart as a bird?
3. Notice what Jesus said in Mt. 6:26 – READ
   1. Birds are fed by God. This feeding process is not automatic –
   2. Birds do not sit in their nests and God supernaturally brings food to them.

• God works in His world (providentially) to ensure creatures like birds are fed.

1. For thousands of years millions and millions of birds have been fed.
   1. Jesus used God’s well-established history of feeding birds to teach us a lesson:
   2. If birds (creatures not made in God’s image) receive help, what about us?

• Will God not aid us with the concerns and anxieties we have if we will only trust Him?

• The problem is not God’s love or power; the problem is with us.
  1. All too often we think WE must come up with a solution.
  2. We may think WE have gone over all available options and there is NO SOLUTION!
  3. If we cannot figure out how to solve a problem, we may think it cannot be solved.
  4. We may think that if our solution is not used, the best solution will not be used.
  5. All too often we only feel comfortable if we are in the driver’s seat when it comes to life.

• Man can sometimes be a very, very foolish creature.
• There are possibilities we cannot foresee and our solutions are not always the best choices –
• Jesus in a very forceful way said: Trust God and scrap the worrying.
• We could become one of the best worriers to ever live on the face of this planet.
  1. If we could become an expert worrier, this would not matter one little bit.
  2. Notice what Jesus said in verse 27 – READ
  3. Jesus was a teacher who asked people questions – He asked A LOT of questions & here is one.
• The ASV and the KJV treat this verse a bit differently.
  1. The ASV focuses on the length of life (“one cubit unto the MEASURE” of life).
  2. The KJV directs our attention to height (“one cubit to his stature).
  3. Each of these versions reflects a possible translation of the original –
  4. The word Jesus used can describe age or size.
• If we are an adult, we may have had some worries as a young person –
• Maybe we were very concerned about how tall or short we would be.
• Maybe we were concerned about our weight. Maybe we were concerned about getting married.
• There may have been worries about getting a job, going to college, or something else.
• Some worry about how long they are going to live or if they will get a certain disease –
• Worry cannot change any of the items just mentioned.
• Worry can decrease some of our years and it can defeat people in some ways – it cannot help.
• Worry is destructive and Jesus spent a lot of time saying: DON’T DO IT!
  1. It is not wrong to have some concerns.
  2. For our Scripture reading (1 Cor. 7:32-33) Paul spoke about some concerns –
  3. There will be some concerns with family and things in this life.
  4. The problem is not with having some concerns; the problem is UNDUE concern.
  5. The problem is putting worry above faith in God.
  6. The next you are tempted to say: HOW AM I / WE GOING TO….stop right there –
  7. Ask if you are not leaving the path of faith and headed down the path to worry.
  8. Faith helps alleviate the stress and fatigue brought about by worry; worry will make you tired.
• Flowers do not worry about how pretty they will look (Mt. 6:28-29).
• If flowers (like the birds) are not worried, why should God’s people be worried?
• In verse 30, Jesus ratcheted up the intensity of His point – READ
• The next time we are tempted to worry, bring these words back to mind: O ME OF LITTLE FAITH.
• Verses 31-32 – READ
• The sentence construction used by Jesus in this part of His lesson means: “don’t worry at all.”
  1. A person (perhaps a Christian) may say: I don’t worry “too much” –
  2. Jesus didn’t sanction “a little worry” – He said DON’T WORRY AT ALL.
     Why would Jesus make such a bold statement? Did He misspeak?
• If you have been following along in your Bible, let’s back to up to verse 8.
  1. Verse 8 is part of a discussion about prayer, but this also has bearing on worry –
  2. READ verse 8.
• Jesus said the Father “knows” what we have “need of before we ask.”
• The word “knows” is a “perfect tense” verb –
• Before we were born God “knew” what we would need.
• Before Adam and Eve were created God KNEW what we would need.
  1. We may not discover a need for another week, month, year or a decade.
  2. When our next need pops up, God has known about it from eternity.
• If God knew about our needs prior to the start of time, and we are one of His people –
  1. Greater than the birds and the grass – HE WILL PROVIDE FOR US –
  2. Our job is to “live by faith” and not by worry.
• Worry brings about useless fatigue and we can avoid it. God wants us to avoid it.
• Will we walk by faith and not by sight?

  Un sermón sobre la preocupación
  1) Si pasamos por el “SOM” en Mt. 5-7, aquí hay un resumen rápido de lo que encontraríamos:
  2) Dos versículos tratan con ira y asesinato (Mt 5: 21-22); la información sobre la reconciliación está en Mt. 5: 23-26.
  3) Adulterio y lujuria discutidos en Mt. 5: 27-30; entonces llegamos al tema del “divorcio” en Mt. 5: 27-30.
  4) Los juramentos son el tema bajo consideración en Mt. 5: 33-37.
  5) Después de los juramentos, el enfoque cambia la forma de tratar a los demás (Mt 5: 38-43).
  6) Alguna información sobre el amor ocupa el monte. 5: 44-48; luego llegamos a dar (Mt 6: 2-4).
  7) Las posesiones materiales están cubiertas en Mt. 6: 19-24.
  a) Todos estos temas fueron apropiados para que Jesús los discutiera, pero no fueron los que recibieron la mayor atención.
  b) ¿Qué recibió la mayor atención en Mt. 5-6 es “preocupación”.
  c) Del monte. 6: 25-34, Jesús habló sobre “preocupación”.
  8) Un grupo religioso una vez puso el siguiente mensaje en su señal pública:
  9) “¿POR QUÉ ORA CUANDO PUEDES PREOCUPAR?”
  10) Esto no fue una mala señal basada en cómo algunos deciden vivir.
  11) Las personas, incluso las personas muy religiosas, pueden ser consumidas por la preocupación.
  a) La Biblia discute la preocupación e incluso da ejemplos específicos de ella.
  b) Ps. 37: 1 dice: “No te detengas por causa de los malvados”.
  i) Algunos están preocupados por una persona malvada.
  ii) Tal vez un niño está preocupado por alguien en la escuela que no le gusta.
  iii) Alguien en el trabajo puede preocuparse por un jefe o compañero de trabajo.
  iv) Los vecinos pueden preocuparse por alguien que vive cerca de ellos.
  v) Si la preocupación no es que alguien sea malo, puede involucrar a alguien que sea un amigo o un ser querido.

  c) Si la preocupación no involucra a las personas, puede involucrar objetos.
  i) Podemos recordar alguna información de Lk. 10: 40-41 – 3 personas clave están en estos versículos –
  ii) Lucas habló sobre un tiempo cuando Jesús, María y Marta estaban juntos.
  d) Marta estaba “ansiosa y preocupada por muchas cosas”.

  i) La palabra que Jesús aplicó a Marta es el mismo término usado en el SOM en Mt. 6.
  ii) Esta palabra para preocuparse también se encuentra en Mt. 6:25, 27, 28, 31, 34.
  iii) La planificación de un evento hace que algunos se preocupen.
  e) Una tercera causa de preocupación pueden ser las circunstancias.
  f) En Lk. 12:11 encontramos estas palabras: – LEER
  i) Cuando las personas son llamadas ante las autoridades, pueden comenzar a preocuparse.
  ii) ¿El alumno será expulsado de la escuela? ¿El juez enviará a alguien a la cárcel?
  iii) ¿El jefe nos estará diciendo que necesitamos encontrar un nuevo lugar para trabajar?
  iv) Abundan las fuentes de preocupación en el mundo.
  g) No es sorprendente ver cuánto enfoque puso Jesús en el tema de la “preocupación”.
  h) En las últimas semanas hemos estado viendo la idea de estar “cansados”.
  i) La preocupación puede cansar a la gente.
  ii) Si nos preocupamos, podemos estar cansados ​​de preocuparnos.
  iii) El Señor tiene algunas cosas que decir sobre el problema de la preocupación.
  i) Se nos pidió que tuviéramos nuestra Biblia abierta para Mt. 6. Así que vayamos allí ahora y veamos qué encontramos.
  j) Comenzamos con el versículo 24 – LEA
  i) Este versículo no menciona la preocupación de mencionar, pero prepara el escenario para discutir la preocupación.

  ii) Destaco este texto por nuestra atención por este motivo:
  iii) Alguien o algo será dominante en nuestras vidas.

  iv) Si la riqueza es lo que más importa (y esto es cierto para muchos), la preocupación probablemente sea un problema.
  (1) Los hombres se preocupan por no tener lo suficiente y preocuparse por mantener lo que tienen.
  (2) Existen preocupaciones sobre robos, desaceleraciones económicas y lo que sucederá después de la muerte.

  v) Si la familia es la prioridad número uno en nuestra vida, preocúpese también por ser un problema importante para nosotros:
  (1) Podemos estar preocupándonos por esta, esa, una condición médica u otra cosa.
  (2) Si ponemos a Dios en el lugar correcto y lo mantenemos allí, la preocupación (preocupación indebida) se maneja.

  k) Hace mucho tiempo, el profeta Habacuc habló algunas palabras extremadamente importantes:
  (1) Hab. 2: 4 dice que el “justo” (justo / salvo) “vivirá por fe”.
  (2) Algunos parecen creer que Dios dijo: “Vive de la preocupación”. Dios dice “vive por la fe”.
  (3) El apóstol Pablo repitió este punto en Roma. 1:17 – el justo vivirá por fe.

  ii) Se ha dicho que el “comienzo de la ansiedad es el final de la fe”.
  iii) Lo opuesto a esto sería: “el comienzo de la fe verdadera es la forma de curar la ansiedad”.

  iv) Cuando se trata de preocuparse, debemos tomar una decisión:
  (1) ¿Preocuparemos a nuestro maestro y a Dios? ¿Te preocupará el poder al que nos sometemos?
  (2) Si elegimos preocupar a nuestro maestro, esencialmente destronamos y negamos a Dios.
  (3) Si ponemos a Dios en el lugar que le corresponde, la preocupación realmente no tiene ninguna base.

  v) En el versículo 25 de Mt. 6 leemos acerca de algunas “necesidades”: comida y ropa.
  vi) No tener ropa es un problema; si no comes demasiado tiempo, nuestro cuerpo lo sabe.
  vii) Muchos se preocupan por lo no esencial; aquí Jesús habló sobre la ansiedad sobre ESSENTIALS.

  viii) Si alguien tiene que hacer alguna “preocupación”, que Dios lo haga.
  ix) La fuerza de la enseñanza de Jesús en el monte. 6:25 es algo así como “deja de preocuparte”.
  (1) Jesús probablemente estaba hablando con personas que estaban preocupadas cuando pronunció este mensaje.
  (2) Quizás algunos aquí esta mañana llegaron con una o más preocupaciones:
  (3) Hemos estado pensando: ¿Cómo podré / conseguiremos …
  (4) Jesús dijo: Déjame manejar eso.

  x) La mayoría recuerda la historia sobre Peter y hola