In The Dark "The Dark Side Approaches"

In The Dark "Assessing Your Anger"

Where's my Bailout "Facing Economic Fears"

Where's my Bailout "Taking the Green Challenge"

Where's My Bailout "Can You Have Enough?"

Someone very wise once told me that worrying is a lot like rocking in a big ol’ rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn’t accomplish much. Rocking may burn a few more calories than sitting does, but it won’t tone your body or help you train for endurance. If you get in the habit of rocking, after a while you won’t even realize you’re doing it anymore. It’s the same way with worrying. God’s word has a lot to say about worry. This week’s study is taken from the Sermon on the Mount out of Matthew’s Gospel. I don’t know if I’ve ever really thought about Jesus’ unique understanding of people and their tendency to worry. I mean not only does He know exactly how God put us together (John 1:1-3), but He also wore our flesh and knows our frailties (John 1:14). That being said, Jesus takes a definite stand on our inclination to worry and His Father’s faithfulness to provide for His children.

Read Matthew 6:25-34

What is Jesus’ stand on the subject of worry?

How would you define worry?

Do you struggle with worry?

Check the statement that most closely describes you:
__ I can’t help it that I worry, it is simply my nature. (I come from a long line of worriers!)
__I do occasionally worry, but when I realize it, I give my concern to God in prayer.
__Worry is not something I struggle with.
__Other – I would say …

What specifically in this passage does Jesus tell us not to worry about? Do you think that there is a difference between general concern and worrying about our life, food and clothing? Explain.

How is planning for our future different from worrying about it?

The references to the “birds of the air” and “the lilies of the field” are especially meaningful to us. These would not be birds that are cared for by man, and the lilies are not grown in gardens. Both of these creations of God are dependent solely upon His provision and accomplish what they are created for … to be a bird and bloom in season.

What are the birds not able to do for themselves?

Whose job is it to provide for the birds?

Why should that realization bring us peace about God’s provision for us?

In verse 32, what assurance does Jesus give us concerning our needs?

How can we separate our needs from our wants?

How are we told in verse 33 to order our lives?

What does “His Kingdom” and “His righteous” mean to you?

Constant worry causes us to miss out on today, and it hinders our Christian witness. (Think about it - why would anyone want to hear about your Savior and Lord, if, all you do is worry about everything?!) You can’t have faith and worry at the same time. Worrying is a choice and so is trusting. Choose wisely.

Where's My Bailout "Gotta Serve Somebody"?

Encounters "Authentic Faith"

Encounters "Quench Your Thirst"

Encounters "I Don't Know"

Encounters "Being a Good Ole Boy"

Encounters "Encounter Eternity" - March 8, 2009

Encounters - "Life 2.0"

Mess up!

Hey everyone,

Last week when I wrote the questions for the curriculum, I put the wrong gospel in. It is supposed to be Mark NOT Matthew! Sorry about that.

Please make the correction on your lessons!

AT

Does Faith Really Matter? - February 22, 2009

Avoiding Heartbreak - 2/15/09

Simplify Your Life "Physically"

Emotions! Part 4 "Simplify Your Life"

Most of our decisions, reactions, thoughts, and memories are driven by our emotions. Since emotions are hard to define and change frequently, they can be a place of great confusion and complication in our lives. Negative emotions such as loneliness, fear, anger, and guilt can overwhelm what should be happy and productive days and make them seem unbearable. Thankfully, for each of these negative emotions God provides a way for us to rise above and live at peace with our feelings.

In times of loneliness, we can turn to God for companionship and perfect love. When we are fearful, God reminds us that he is stronger than anything that might threaten us. When anger threatens to consume us, God's wisdom has the power to put out any fire and bring us back under control. Finally, when guilt overwhelms our spirit, God reminds us to remember that he has already provided the cleansing sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. If we have already accepted Him, there is no longer a need to wallow in our guilt because God has declared us "not guilty." Our emotions, complicated and changeable as they may be, are not out of our control and with God's help they can be a new place of victory and simplicity in our lives.

1) Out of the four emotions listed (anger, fear, loneliness, guilt), which do you struggle with the most? Which are not an issue for you?

2) Many people have decided that how they feel is not really something that they can control, even with God's help. If you were in conversation with this person, even if that person is you, how would you convince them of God's power over emotions?

3) All of the four negative emotions listed above can go beyond simple emotions to lived out actions very quickly. Describe a time when you let one of these emotions lead you to do something that you later regretted.

Simplify Your Life "Emotionally"

Simplify Your Life "Relationally"

January 18 - Simplify Your Life Financially