Sermon Tone Analysis

Why Worrying is Worrisome

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Sermon Series - Expository Preaching from the Life and Ministry of Jesus

Matthew 6:

Anecdote on Worry

Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to take 100 people," Death replied.

"That's horrible!" the man said.

"That's the way it is," Death said.

"That's what I do."

The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death's plan.

As evening fell, he met Death again.

"You told me you were going to take 100 people," the man said.

"Why did 1,000 die?"

"I kept my word," Death responded.

"I only took 100 people.

Worry took the others."

The moral of this story = Worry Can Kill.

Interesting story, can be funny too, the process of worrying and the consequences of it may be something we tend to overlook, but there is a reason why Jesus talked about it in His Sermon on the Mount.

Big Idea: Jesus warned us not only about the futility of worrying but also about the danger of it.

What is worry?

Worry is different from concern.

Concern is a legitimate emotion that helps you focus on real problems and gives you energy to bring real solutions.

Concern is positive while worry is not.

In fact this is a good definition for worry:

Worry

To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts.

To be torn apart by the circumstances around you.

I.

The objects of Worry.

(verse 25, v28)

A. Basic Necessities (Food Clothing Shelter)

If we are going to make Jesus’ words applicable to our current context and time in the America of 2019,.

Food, clothing and Shelter are not the biggest object of worry.

Government provides assistance, the church as well.

“homeless man” that seemed very happy.

B. The “Non-Necessities”

We live in a post-slavery world, but do you know that today:

People Are Enslaved to the Master of Materialism

Many today are so concerned with maintaining their lifestyle, their standard of living.

1.

This is why our jobs are a focal point of stress (Finding a job, the situation and performance at the job, keeping the job)

Christians compromise their values in order to protect their position at work.

2. Running Out of Money

Pray for those in dire situations.

Self-inflicted concerns arising from self-imposed goals.

II.

The Causes of Worry.

(v.

25b, v26)

25b “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

“

A. Lack of Purpose

We have to be thankful about life itself.

A. Lack of Purpose

Not understanding the meaning of life

Your Significance and Pursuit in life (I preached on this)

The side effects manifest as worry.

B. Lack of Contentment

We have to be thankful about life itself.

“Enjoy the Little things in life, because one day you will look back, and realize they were the big things”.

Matthew 6:26

One thing the birds of the air and the lilies of the field cannot do is to be afraid of their future.

One thing the birds of the air and the lilies of the field cannot do is to be afraid of their future.

One thing the birds of the air and the lilies of the field cannot do is

B. Fear

They say there are 365 times that the word “fear not” appears in the Bible.

You have one reminder to “not be afraid” for each day of the year.

Not sure if that count of 365 is accurate but let me tell you that if the God of the universe tells us “Fear Not”, ONCE IS ENOUGH.

Fear of the future is one big fear.

The consequences of Worry.

III.

The consequences of Worry.

(v.

27)

One consequence of worry is its inconsequence - it is useless!

A. Its Uselessness

Stature versus Years (study this)

Stature versus Years (study this)

(People who want to be taller)

B. Its Harm.

Life Span of people who lived in Jesus’ Time was around 55 years.

Reasons, lack of proper nutritional knowledge, lack of cure, people didn’t go to the gym at that time, and then the civilization and politics of their time.

Roman Empire gave some semblance of order and civilization but there was always an outside threat from barbarians, there is the political threat of Roman oppression, or the internal threat of just people killing each other because of the lack of law enforcement.

People must have worried that they can die anytime.

Jesus was addressing their anxiety about how long they will live.

He said:

“Worrying does not Add Years to Your Life”

Now, fast forward, we are blessed to live at this time of advanced western civilization and medical knowledge.

American’s average life span is now around 80 years.

To bring Jesus’ words into our context.

“Worrying does not Add Years to Your Life, It May Even Shorten It”

Evidence here of medical findings of the effects of worry to health..

There's a hormone called cortisol, that's secreted when someone is feeling threatened or stressed.

Too much cortisol has been shown to lower the immune system and affect heart health.

IV.

The Sin of Worry (v 30-32)

“O you of little faith” is Jesus’ indictment of people for their lack of trust.

Worry is doubting God in His Word, His Power and His Character.

A. Doubting God’s Word.

verse(s) here about the promises of God.

Worry is like saying Lord I don’t believe you will keep your promise.