Learning to be Content

Bryan Nass

Anxiety • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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As you start your meeting, make sure that everyone has a piece of paper and something to write with. Explain that you want everyone to write down three things:

that you want everyone to write down three things:

1. Something they are naturally good at

2. Something they are good at but had to learn and work at to become good

3. Something they are not good at no matter how hard they have tried (don’t make it too obvious)

Collect everyone’s responses and then go through them one-by-one (as many as you have time for) and have the group try and figure out who belongs to which answers. As you go through, feel free to allow your group to ask questions to learn more about their peers.

group try and figure out who belongs to which answers. As you go through, feel free to allow your group to ask

questions to learn more about their peers.

Ask your group: Why do some things come natural/easy for some, and not for others?

When you have had to learn to become good at something, what was the process like?

Are you prouder of the things you are naturally good at or of the things you have learned to be good at? Why?

Do you think that some people more naturally handle anxiety than others? Why or why not?

Do you think there are some people that no matter how hard they try, they just won’t get better with handling anxiety? Why or why not?

anxiety? Why or why not?

A little background on today’s text: We once again head back to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Coming off last week’s conversation, we think Paul gives us a big clue into whether 4:6 is a command or not. When speaking about his ability to be content in “any and every circumstance,” he classifies this ability by saying twice that he “learned” how to be content. No one demanded it of him and it didn’t just come naturally like he had some special ability to combat anxiety. He learned, through numerous situations, many years and through his faith in Jesus, to be content. We think that is a crucial point to understand when dealing with anxious thoughts and feelings.

previous week’s conversation, we think Paul gives us a big clue into whether 4:6 is a command or not. When

Beyond that, 4:13 is another verse that can be quoted quickly about anxious thoughts. For some, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” becomes a formula, that can quickly lead to fear. i.e. Because Christ is in me, I can just turn off this anxiety and find strength. If I can’t turn off this anxiety, Christ must not be in me.

speaking about his ability to be content in “any and every circumstance,” he classifies this ability by saying twice

We have also heard Christians use this verse to argue against getting professional help or medication claiming that their faith alone should be enough to deal with their mental health.

that he “learned” how to be content. No one demanded it of him and it didn’t just come naturally like he had

However, when we understand verse 13 in the context of Paul “learning” how to be content, we can understand that isn’t throwing this line out to grade our level of faith. Instead he shares it as a man looking back on all that he has been through and shares his perspective that, in hindsight, God gave him the strength to go through the difficult, dark and challenging learning process that brought him to where he is today. We can then develop hope that God can do the same for us.

Look up:

some special ability to combat anxiety. He learned, through numerous situations, many years and through his

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Look up -look up .

faith in Jesus, to be content. We think that is a crucial point to understand when dealing with anxious thoughts

Ask:

What words or lines jumped out to you in the text? Why?

What does it mean to be content?

This is the only time we see the Greek word autarkēs used in the New Testament. Here is an interesting note to consider from the Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

note to consider from the Expositor’s Bible Commentary:

and feelings.

In Stoic philosophy, autarkēs (“content”) described a person who accepted impassively whatever came. Circumstances that he could not change were regarded as the will of God, and fretting was useless. This philosophy fostered a self-sufficiency in which all the resources for coping with life were located within man himself. In contrast,

stances that he could not change were regarded as the will of God, and fretting was useless. This philosophy fostered a self-sufficiency in which all the resources for coping with life were located within man himself. In contrast,

Beyond that, 4:13 is another verse that can be quoted quickly about anxious thoughts. For some, “I can do all

things through him who strengthens me,” becomes a formula, that can quickly lead to fear. i.e. Because Christ is

tered a self-sufficiency in which all the resources for coping with life were located within man himself. In contrast,

in me, I can just turn off this anxiety and find strength. If I can’t turn off this anxiety, Christ must not be in me.

Paul locates his sufficiency in Christ who provides strength for believers.

We have also heard Christians use this verse to argue against getting professional help or medication claiming

that their faith alone should be enough to deal with their mental health.

Is it possible for a non-Christian to be really content in life? Why or why not?

However, when we understand verse 13 in the context of Paul “learning” how to be content, we can understand

Is there a difference between finding contentment in one’s self-sufficiency and finding contentment in God or faith? Why or why not?

that isn’t throwing this line out to grade our level of faith. Instead he shares it as a man looking back on all that

he has been through and shares his perspective that, in hindsight, God gave him the strength to go through the

faith? Why or why not?

With everything that Paul went through (see reminder note below), how do you think he found the ability to be content?

difficult, dark and challenging learning process that brought him to where he is today. We can then develop hope

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Could you make the same claim that you could be content “in any and every circumstance”? Why or why not?

content?

that God can do the same for us.

Do you think you would you be able to make that claim after going through everything that Paul had faced in his life? Why or why not?

life? Why or why not?

What difference does hindsight make in the ability to be content?

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV

2 Corinthians

Statistics say that teenagers who may have an anxiety disorder are largely untreated. Why do you think this may be the case?

be the case?

Twice in these verses, Paul claims that the reason he is content in life is because he has learned how to be content

Twice in these verses, Paul claims that the reason he is content in life is because he has learned how to be content because of his faith. What would learning how to be content look like?

because of his faith. What would learning how to be content look like?

How could faith play a role in learning how to be content?

Do you think our culture, even our Christian culture, has a quick fix mentality when it comes to anxiety and mental health issues? Why or why not?

Do you think our culture, even our Christian culture, has a quick fix mentality when it comes to anxiety and

mental health issues? Why or why not?

Would you ever consider going, or encouraging someone else, to see a counselor to help learn how to better han-

Would you ever consider going, or encouraging someone else, to see a counselor to help learn how to better handle anxious thoughts? Why or why not?

dle anxious thoughts? Why or why not?

Would you ever consider, or encourage someone else, to take medication to help get serious anxiety under better control? Why or why not?

Would you ever consider, or encourage someone else, to take medication to help get serious anxiety under better

control? Why or why not?

Should our faith prevent us from being willing to seek help from doctors, counselors or medication? Why or why not?

Should our faith prevent us from being willing to seek help from doctors, counselors or medication? Why or why

not?

In the context of all that Paul has been through and the fact that he has learned how to be content, how should

In the context of all that Paul has been through and the fact that he has learned how to be content, how should we interpret verse 13?

we interpret verse 13?

Learning to be content connotes a process, a journey. What would it look like to have grace and patience with

Learning to be content connotes a process, a journey. What would it look like to have grace and patience with yourself or someone else as they learn how to deal with anxiety in their life?

yourself or someone else as they learn how to deal with anxiety in their life?

How should we respond to someone who is not willing to learn how to deal with anxiety in their life? Why?

Learning to be Content

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