Sermon Central
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How To Worry Well Series
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Oct 27, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: How do we live fearless lives as Christians? God’s heart is that we not just survive, but thrive (adapted from a series taughty by Pastor Larry Osborne, North Coast Church).
Introduction
Fearless the series continues- last installment.
We will be addressing the topic of worry today.
Much to worry about today and even be fearful of.
How do we master our fears/concerns as Christians?
How do we worry well?
Do you know someone who worries? Do you worry?
What do you worry about/Why do you worry?
We want to understand what the Bible says about worry and how the Bible teaches us to respond.
Many believe- always wrong for a Christian to worry.
If go to- Christian friends- tell them you are worried- you will hear clichés that may not be biblical …
you should not worry,
worry is a sin,
you need to have more faith in God.
(NOTES): Worry
Sometimes, worry can be a good thing.
Worry, concern, are natural responses to life.
Worry can serve some good purposes in our lives …
it can heighten our awareness of danger,
cause us to turn to the Lord, or
motivate us- take care of something neglected.
Worry can also paralyze us and consume us.
Lets look at how the Bible uses the word worry …
Jesus- Mtt 6 Do not worry- what eat/drink/wear
Paul in Phil 4:6 Don’t worry about anything;
But there are other Bible verses that translate the same Greek word for worry very differently.
2 Cor 11:27-29
Concern- same word translated as worry, but there is no sense that Paul is sinning.
When-Bible says do not worry-not saying do not have those thoughts, but do not be consumed by them.
Second thing we need to understand about worry …
(NOTES) We cannot control our feelings, but we can control our response.
Cannot control if we suddenly feel worried about something, but we can control what you do about it
People respond differently to life …
some go through life and nothing bothers them,
others are sensitive to everything that happens.
Regardless of how we are wired, we want to learn to respond properly to feelings of concern and worry.
External circumstances do not determine our response
Have you ever known someone who got angry and then afterwards said, “I couldn’t help it.”
It is not the external situation that causes my response,
it is the result of how I evaluate it inside and
what I chose to do with it inside
that determines my outward response.
We need to take responsibility for our actions and not blame them on circumstances or people.
(NOTES): How to Worry Well
Phil 4:4-6 NLT
This is not is a command that says-do not worry- shame, shame on you.
In the Greek it says, do not continue on in your worry, and here is how you can prevent excessive worry.
Phil 4:7 NLT
Is it not God’s peace that we are looking for?
We are not always looking for a solution as much as the assurance that everything will be okay.
Phil 4:8-9 NLT
Paul is telling us that there is a pathway to this peace (assurance) that everything will be okay.
That pathway involves …
1. how we pray,
2. our focus (how we think), and
3. how we live.
(NOTES): 1. The right kind of Prayer.
Phil 4:6 NLT
When-problem arises-reasonable response- can I fix it
If it is out of our control, then we bring it to the Lord.
(NOTES): > Tell God exactly what you want.
There is nothing too small, too selfish, or too unimportant to bring to God.
Jesus did not teach us to pray by beating around the bush or that we only bring the bigger things to God
Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" NASU
Encouraged- approach God as a son would his father.
I often cringe when we talk about God as our daddy.
There is such little respect in our culture for authority.
What this is really saying is that …
We do not approach God through our theology, but through our relationship. Larry Osborne
Most children have no reservation about asking their father for something they want.
They ask what is on their mind at that moment, regardless of how small, trivial, or selfish it is.
We have the same freedom to bring everything to God
Have you ever talked w/boss or someone you were intimidated by and you were afraid to be too blunt so you kind of dance around the subject.
When you are finished w/that kind of conversation you are never quite sure you were understood.
This is one reason it is important to be clear and specific when we pray so we can go away knowing God has heard what is on our heart.
Important to us, so we can experience His peace.
