A Table of Grace: God Who Cares

(S1)

What do the these iconic TV families have in common?

Waltons/Griswold's/Blue Bloods

Family Dinner at the table; a sacred place...

(S2) — Title

SERIES — More Than Enough

— A Table with room: a place to BELONG

— A Table overflowing with GENEROSITY

— A Table of GRACE: God Who Cares

When Jesus gathered at the tables, things changed; relationships were mended, the sick became well, people lives became better...

Levi's house: a table of tax collectors/sinners

The home of a Pharisee...

Lazarus: Mary and Martha...

The most memorable and transforming—The Last Supper...disciples/Judas

Jesus invited EVERYONE to sit at His table; those who dined with him discovered that He is More Than Enough

We live in a culture that measures life by more — more money, more stuff, more likes, and more security. That voice, which is never satisfied, tells us that if we only had more; we would be satisfied.

When does more become enough?

What I have discovered; as I age; less becomes more. My priorities change; relationships become more valuable...

(S3) — Title

Today, all are invited to the Table of Grace: God Who Cares

In this Thanksgiving season its easy to be grateful...but what about the rest of the year? Do you worry? Are you filled with anxiety about having more...or are you thankful?

In a world that never stops telling us we need more, Jesus shows us; at God's table, there is More Than Enough!

PRAY

(S4) — ‘Worry Wart’

…some people worry just to worry—others worry if we aren't worrying

There is plenty to be worried about these days…

Uncertainty about finances, family, health, marriage, job…sometimes there is good cause to worry

Daughters text to her mother — “Start worrying, details to follow”

How much does worry consume of your life?

Raising a generation wrestling with anxiety. An overwhelming 62% of Gen Z and millennial respondents report feeling constantly anxious, compared to 38% of older generations. On average, people spend two hours and 18 minutes each day caught in the grip of worrisome thought (Study Finds, Steve Fink)

(S5) — worry defined

English word— “to strangle, constrict, or choke

“A tendency to dwell on difficulties and troubles. It starts in our minds and becomes a habit in our hearts”

Worry creates ANXIETY, which can steal our rest, our health, our joy, and even our life.

The #1 killer in America is heart disease.

• 38% of all deaths are heart related and many of those are related to hypertension, high blood pressure and anxiety.

• 3/4 of all visits to primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.

I tend to worry about things I cannot control…how about you; has excessive worry ever kept you up at night?

Worry over Concern—

...about health...for a friend/neighbor...

...about our children...so I teach, counsel, make time for them

...concerned about debt...

...about the church; so I pray, serve, and I give

...about injustice…

Worry/concern (merimnaho)—can be positive; but it can also lead to paralyses and fear

Church Safety

Worry is as old as humanity; part of our fallen nature

Genesis 3:8 “...the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”

(S6) — {6:25}

It is not be surprising that Jesus is addressing this topic with his disciples!

— Worry was a concern among the people in antiquity...crops, harvest, animals all were ways of provision...

But that is not Jesus’ concern when it came to his disciples.

therefore...do not be anxious for your life (LEB)

Do not chase after what his temporary (possessions) like everyone else. I believe he is doing two things—

Assuring them that in following him, they would not go without.

Matthew 10:9““Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality of others.

Don’t worry about what you need for every day life.

Matthew 6:11 “Give us today our day our daily bread ,”

2. Telling them their would have to be a shift in their thinking if they were going to follow him.

Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

In following him, they would need to set their hearts and minds on things above; like Jesus, trusting in the Fathers’ provision.

So let’s get practical. Jesus’ teaching is clear not to worry but instead to trust in God’s provision. How do we actually live that out? What shifts in our hearts and habits can move us from anxiety to gratitude?

Next, Jesus gives them an illustration; why not to worry

(S7) — {6:26}

Look closely…they don’t worry, so why should you? They don’t’ have 401ks or backup plans. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Of course! Jesus isn’t telling them to be careless; He’s saying, trust in God’s provision seen through His created world.

“Enough food is produced today to feed everyone on the planet, but some 821 million people are considered to be “chronically undernourished”.

We don’t have a food sacristy problem; but a distribution and access problem

Coats for kids, family for Christmas

When you step outside, look closely at all that you see; My Father in heaven set it all in motion; providing a way for it and its inhabitants to sustain themselves.

So, don’t worry — easier said then done right!

Next, Jesus poses a single question that says it all…

(S8) —

27 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

There is no such thing as a successful worrier

google says so…warrior

The truth is, worry is false hope. It pretends that if I just think about something long enough, if I stress about it hard enough, I can control it.

Worry doesn’t add a single hour to your life. In fact, it does the opposite. Worry drains you, distracts you, and distorts the way you see the world.

Those nights when your mind just spun in circles — the sun came up the next morning, and the thing you were worrying about didn’t change.

Worry DOESN’T work!

What Jesus is naming here, is that...

Worry changes nothing about tomorrow — it only steals the peace of today.

Next time your worried, ask yourself is this working? Is my worrying about…helping me or hurting me?

Jesus makes his point further...

(S9) — {28-30}

Look…do hear the tenderness in Jesus’ words as he points them to something so ordinary that they might miss it—A field of flowers. Things we might not see the beauty in if we don’t stop and look.

look…God clothes (made away) even those small, temporary things with beauty that outshines a king’s wardrobe.

Think about that — if God is this intentional with creation, how much more intentional is He with you?

(MSG) 30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

God has already proven His faithfulness in creation; the sunrise alone is His daily reminder that He is still holding the world together. If He does that for the birds in the air; the flowers in the field, what makes us think He won’t do it for you and me?

Three practical steps…

(S10)

I. Consider your WORTH to God!

Anxiety creeps in when we forget whose we are. When we slip into thinking we’re on our own, that we’re just another cog in the machine of creation.

Jesus reminds us: you are worth infinitely more than grass or flowers. And your worth in His eyes is an assurance of His care for your life.

The Psalmist in a time of worry?

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

So when you’re worried and question if your are valued by God; take a walk outside. Look at the lilies. Notice the grass. Let creation preach a sermon to you. If He’s taking care of them, He will take care of you.

You are more valuable then all of God’s creative splendor—you matter most to God...

(S9) — {6:31-32}

so...in light of what I have told you, know this; you don’t have to worry cause...

..your heavenly Father already knows all your needs

I believe that Jesus is speaking from experience.

— In his kingdom, he had all he needed; but as he emptied and humbled himself as a man and servant, for our sakes, he had to trust in his Father’s will over his.

John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”

Did Jesus worry? Why he went away to pray so often?

Jesus isn’t saying you will never worry…in fact he contrasts their worry, having little faith, with those who don’t yet have faith.

Second step…

(S10)

II. TRUST More—Worry Less!

The reason we worry, according to Jesus, it indicates a lack of trust; little faith (30).

— Wind and Waves/Sleeping Jesus

8:26 “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

— Peter on the Water

14:31 “Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?””

— Upon reaching the shore...enough to eat

16:8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?”

When you have faith in Jesus; less is more —The less you have, the less you have to worry about

“I do what I can do, and trust God with the rest.”

(S11) — {33-34} MSG

Its not about having relaxed calm attitude when things are uncertain but about seeking first...

Above all else, CHASE after the things of God…that which eternal, not the things of this world, which will be thrown into the fire and fade away.

Get your priorities straight; Don’t fuss about what’s not on the table

Missy-Dinner Table

Here’s the question—what are you chasing after? Are you seeking FIRST God’s ways our yours?

(S12)

The third step...

II. Fuss Less - FOCUS More

Luke 10:41 “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!” Few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better

...these are more than just practical steps...rather they are a way of life!

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 

Jesus, I belong to you. I lift up my heart to you. I set my mind on you. I fix my eyes on you. I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice.

Jesus, we belong to you. Praying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen. 

What would your life be like of you worried less...the next time you feel overcome by worry...try this

Consider your WORTH to God—TRUST More-Worry Less—Fuss Less -FOCUS More

The psalmist said it this way, why worry...“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

(S13)

Worry doesn't work—GRACE does!

Gratitude grows when we release our grip on tomorrow and rest in the Father’s faithful provision for today. At God’s table there is More Than Enough

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

A table of plenty, a Table of Grace: God Who Cares