Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Series Image

Years ago when we lived in Iowa the boys and I were moving some furniture in our home.

We had a large bookcase that wasn’t massive in size but it was heavy!

On this particular day we were moving it downstairs (I’m not sure how we got it up there in the first place) which is easier because of gravity but also more dangerous because of gravity.

In this tight space of a stairway the bookcase was placed on my back as the boys guided it down.

I almost died that day – if the boys would have lost grip gravity would have taken over and I would have been crushed under the weight of this massive object, I think this was the heaviest load I’ve ever carried and it probably wasn’t safe which is why Dana closed her eyes and left stairway.

Machines, not human beings, are designed to carry heavy loads and yet we carry our fair share don’t we.

· Pics

Most of have carried a heavy load at one time in life even if it’s just a heavy bag of books that weigh us down.

Series Need

And yet being weighed down by a heavy load doesn’t have to be a literal object.

We can be weighed down by things that are unseen and untouchable.

We can be weighed down by guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, doubts, insecurity, despair, grief, the pursuit of success, the desire to be accepted and loved, regret, and pain.

I’m not sure what’s weighing you down this morning but I know that we don’t have to carry these heavy burdens in life.

We are going to have our share of trial and suffering in this life but we don’t have to carry so many burdens that weigh us down.

Series Preview

Today I want to begin a three-week series entitled “LET IT GO” – just in case you’re wondering it has nothing to do with “Frozen” and hopefully you won’t have that song going through your head each week (that’s would be a burden that weighs me down).

I’m concerned that we spend too much of our life oppressed, enslaved, and weighed down by the burdens of worry, pain, and regret.

I would love to sit down with each of you and listen to what weighs you down in life.

Over the next three weeks we’re going to open up God’s Word and have Him speak to us about letting go of our worry, pain, and regret.

Sermon Image

Today we begin with the worry we carry that weighs us down (backpack).

How many of you would call yourself a “worry wart?” (Raise hands) Nice!

· Worry (list/joke/quote)

Sermon Need

Worry wart or not, worry is a reality of our lives.

What do you worry about?

(Share) Worry weighs us down.

Worry enslaves us.

Worry can master us.

I lay awake at night worrying about the next day, only to wake up worrying about the day ahead, anyone else?

On the latest update on my Iphone there is a section in the “Settings” that tracks my “Screen Time.”

It’s been eye-opening – I can see the total amount of time I’ve spent on my phone each day – it even breaks it down into categories like “Entertainmet” (music & pics), Productivity (email, calendar), and Social Media (messages, Facebook, &Twitter).

What if your phones tracked how much time we spent worrying each day – I wonder how surprised we’d be by the amount of time we spend worrying about situations, circumstances, people, events, and ideas.

We desperately need to “Let Go of our Worry” in life – it’s weighing us down.

What does God say about worry?

Is there any relief from worry in this life?

Can we really “Let Go of Our Worry?”

Sermon Preview

If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, please turn to the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew’s Gospel– it’s the first book of the NT.

Turn to .

Matthew Chapter 6:25-34. .

In were find Jesus’ instructions about “Worry.”

Jesus’ teaching on worry is a part of His broad teaching known as “The Sermon on the Mount” ().

Here’s a brief outline (OL) of “The Sermon on the Mount” that helps frame His teaching on worry.

The “Sermon on the Mount” presents “Kingdom Living” on earth – Jesus’ kingdom was inaugurated in His first coming and will be consummated at His second coming.

Jesus is Lord – reigning now at the right hand of the Father – and we can live as Kingdom people on earth We can give people a glimpse of the Kingdom that will come in the here and now.

We can live as Kingdom people – and as we’re going to see life in Jesus’ kingdom can be “worry free.”

(Read ).

Jesus’ teaching on worry is powerful and profound.

Let’s walk through it together as we consider Jesus’ Prohibition on Worry and Jesus’ Reasons “Why” we can let go of our worry.

I) JESUS’ PROHIBITION ON WORRY

There are many things we are not permitted (allowed) to do in life—let’s consider some of the “Prohibitions” of life—the certain actions we are prohibited (forbid) from doing by an authority or law.

How many of you don’t like prohibitions – being told what you can’t do?

· “No Smoking”

· “No Hunting” (Private Property)

· “No U-Turn”

· “No Parking”

· “No Firearms”

· “No staying out past curfew”

· “No Loitering” (linger aimlessly)

· “No Running” or “No Diving” (Swimming pool)

· “No Shoes, no shirt, no service”

· “No Cell Phones in class”

· “No Crying in Baseball” (Tom Hanks)

· “No Worrying” (Make Sign – Powerpoint)

I’ve never seen a sign that prohibits worry but that’s what we find in God’s Word this morning!

Matthew’s gospel records Jesus’ “Prohibition on Worry.”

If you’re artistic go ahead and draw a “no worry” sign in the margin of your Bible next to this passage.

Jesus’ prohibits “worry” in His kingdom.

Seriously?! Does He know how ridiculous this sounds – how impossible it seems – in light of the fallen (crooked & perverse) world we live in?

Let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ “Prohibition on Worry.”

A) Do not worry about the essentials of life (6:25, 31)

Jesus’ First Prohibition: Do not worry about the essentials of life.”

“Do not worry about the essentials of life.”

We find this specific prohibition twice in this passage—“Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (6:25)—and “So do not worry saying ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?, or ‘What shall we wear?” (6:31).

These are not simply good ideas or mere suggestions, they are divine imperatives and authoritative instruction that prohibit “worrying” about the essentials of life.

The opening command begins with “Therefore” (For this reason) so we have to ask the important bible study question—“What’s the therefore there for?”—it connects what’s to come with what has already been stated in the previous section of Jesus’ sermon.

Jesus had just instructed His disciples “to not store up treasures on earth where moth and rust can destroy them, and thieves break in and steal them but to store up for themselves treasures in heaven” (6:19) and declared they can’t “serve God and money” (6:24).

Jesus teaching about heavenly treasures and serving God instead of money are linked to commands about not worry.

We must see this initial connection between pursuing “wealth” (making $ our god) and “worry” in life.

Now this is not to say that having “money” is inherently evil (sinful) or the effort to earn money means that we’re pursuing “earthly” things over spiritual things.

When I set aside a portion of my check each month to put in my retirement account doesn’t automatically mean that I’m “storing up treasures on earth” – I could be guilty of that if I was putting all my hope and trust in my IRA – so Jesus’ teaching about “not storying up treasures on earth” isn’t a prohibition on earning money and saving money.

Jesus’ teaching reveals that money is a lousy god – the pursuit of money above serving God is troublesome – the pursuit of money produces worry.

For those who make money their pursuit will “worry” about getting it and “worry” about keeping it and getting more of it.

Jesus wants us to see that connection in light of His prohibition on worry.

Jesus’ imperative is a strong prohibition against worry in the life of a disciple.

Jesus called His disciples to not worry (merimnao)—do not have “anxious concern based on apprehension of possible danger—don’t be “worried,” “concerned,” or “anxious” about life.

We find the same word used when Jesus told His disciples to not be worried about what they will say when brought before the synagogue because the Holy Spirit will tell them what to say (), when Jesus confronted Martha about being “worried” about many things but Mary has chosen what is better (), in Paul’s encouragement to the Philippian Christians.

The command speaks of a present action – worry is an act that we do as opposed to something that happens to us – certainly there are times when “anxiety” overwhelms us (we don’t choose and need help) because of an internal or external situation but that’s not what Jesus is addressing in this sermon.

The “worry” Jesus refers to our willful decision & practice, allowing our minds to worry about a situation or circumstance, and “worrying” or “being anxious” is something that I don’t have to do.

· Plane/flight – Our recent travels took us on flights from Denver to Burbank Ca, and then San Diego to Denver.

I’ve been on a lot of flights, I began taking planes back and forth from the hospital when I was a young boy, so I’m not afraid to fly, I don’t get anxious when I fly.

And yet, there is always a thoughts about “what could happen” or “if this plane is going to crash” as you board the flight.

In that moment I can choose to “worry” about the risk and danger of flying the entire flight, sitting in my chair turning it over and over in my head, “What’s that noise?” “Why did we turn so suddenly?”

and “We’re going to crash!” – worry, worry, worry all the way home but I don’t’ have to let that one thought give way to a life of worry.

I could spend the whole flight worrying, wasting my time because in the end I land safely, or I can entrust my life to God, stop worrying about what could happen, and enjoy the flight (crackers).

Jesus is prohibiting the “act” of worrying – the conscious, intentional, and willful time spent worrying, for He knows our hearts and how they can be consumed with worry.