S.o.t.M. WORRY, STRESS AND SPIRITUAL REST - FALL 2020 INTRO CLASS
Notes
Transcript
WELCOME: so glad you are here tonight. This is very different than what we have been doing. One, having class on Thursday night and two being outside.
This semester is going to be different than any other so far because of all the adjustments and precautions that we are having to make like this; sitting outside so we don’t have to wear masks (or sitting inside with masks.) It’s kind of strange.
But what hasn’t changed is Jesus and no matter what we can still make it our goal to grow closer to Christ as His disciples and seek first His righteousness.
How many freshmen are here for the first time? We are so glad you are here and bless you for starting your college career during a pandemic. (But, it will be a great story for your kids and grand kids.) IS ANYONE NERVOUS? WORRIED AT ALL?
Want to encourage you to take part in the opportunities that we are going to provide at the UCSC for you to build relationships, grow closer to God and serve Him.
We are here for you! Myself, the interns (introduce: Matthew, Makaela, Katie and Adam stand up guys) and the other ministers here and elders and body. We are here to support you!
HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK: I want to LET YOU KNOW A FEW THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK:
CLASSES: as already announced, classes will be outside unless the weather does not allow, then we will go into the auditorium where masks and social distancing will be practiced.
WE WILL HAVE OUR APP COMING OUT THAT WILL GIVE ALL THE DETAILS TO EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING. There is a tutorial of that on...
CLASS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE: discussion may be a challenging SO WE ARE GOING TO…????
THIS SEMESTER WE ARE GOING TO BE STUDYING THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: (on the side of a hill…it is about as close as we are going to get.)
The sermon on the mount is one of my favorite (and a lot of other people’s as well). Jesus touches on so real life topics in such a short sermon. BUT ALSO WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT WHO WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETS TO THE HEART OF TRULY FOLLOWING HIM!
YOU CANNOT HONESTLY STUDY THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT WITHOUT EXAMINING YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST.
(TRANS: rather than start at Matthew 5, what I want to do this week and next is fast forward to chapter 6 and look at the topic that applies very heavily to where we are right now, both because of the where our world is right now and where you are right now with starting a new semester: MATTHEW 6:25-34, the TOPIC OF WORRY OR BEING ANXIOUS!
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Q: DO YOU CONSIDER THIS AN EASY COMMAND TO FOLLOW? WHY NOT?
It is actually not very easy to follow at times for a number of reason but everyone has things that they struggle to not be anxious about. (There are things that I am tempted to worry about that you are not, and then things that are common worries.)
Q: WHAT COMMON WORRIES DOES JESUS MENTION IN VERSE 25?(food and clothing)
Q: How many of you are worried about food and clothing?
(I didn’t say thinking about food, ha!) We have no problem with these things. BUT for the people of Jesus day, much of what you did was work so you could survive, eat and provide for your family. (These things were much harder to come by then, they couldn’t just do a amazon prime order and have it in two days, or get online and do a click and pull order so all you have to do is pick it up and take it home.)
Jesus is using common examples of things people were anxious about in life then. But we need to apply it to our lives today, now. (SO…maybe not food and clothing, although…)
Q: IS JESUS ONLY SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, BECAUSE GOD IS GOING TO GIVE THOSE? (But bigger things are different?)
The reasons why we are not to be anxious (which we will look at next week) apply to anything that we would be anxious about. Also other scriptures tells not to be anxious about anything: Philippians 4:6 says, “do not be anxious about (WHAT?)…anything!
So do not be anxious about ANYTHING? NOTHING? AT ALL?
(TRANS: SO LET’S APPLY JESUS’ TEACHING TO NOW AND WHAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT NOW!…not food and clothing so much but other things.)
(I have been really looking forward to this class because I want to here your input on how life has been for you and those you have been with the last months…)
“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE!”
“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE!”
LET’S talk about HOW MUCH WE NEED THIS TOPIC AND WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT.
Q: HAVE YOU WORRIED OR BEEN ANXIOUS AT ALL IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (OBVIOUSLY) HOW ABOUT MORE ANXIOUS?
Q: HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FOUND YOURSELF MORE ANXIOUS THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS? (hands? shows your not alone)
If this is where you are you are not alone. In 2018 anxiety disorders affected 40 million adults in the U.S. That is one in five. Now imagine with pandemic...
In 2020 there has been an increase in anxiety for obviously reasons. For example the Kaiser family foundation polled Americans and reported: In a recent KFF poll, nearly half (45%) of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus. As the pandemic wears on, it is likely the mental health burden will increase.”
EVEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC ANXIETY HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MAJOR PROBLEMS AS IN OUR CULTURE.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE WORRIED ABOUT or ARE CURRENTLY ANXIOUS ABOUT? (or at least trying not to be anxious about) PROBABLY things like;
Getting sick, loved ones getting sick, needing social interaction, general unrest and/or uncertainty about the future, How this school year will go? (If you are a freshman it can be stressful enough and the temptation to worry can be strong even in normal circumstances…do not be afraid to ask for help.)
Isolation and boredom? Anyone? Can lead to thinking to much. Social unrest, division/fighting, political views, financial problems, relationship problems, sending kids to school, (maybe for some).
LIFE CAN BE CRAZY without all the things of a pandemic. Work, school, busyness, raising kids, deadlines, relationships, stress.
AND YET CHRIST SAYS “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE.” THIS IS HARD BUT WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHY AND HOW THEN IT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.
We can go from a chaotic existence to the peace that Christ had and offers. We can go from fearful to having faith in God’s control. We can grow, love and be who God wants us to be.
SO, I do not want this to be all negative, when we talk about common struggles it shows us that we are not alone…but we can ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT HELPS US...
TRANS: SO DON’T ANSWER RIGHT NOW BUT I WANT YOU TO BE THINKING ABOUT A QUESTION FOR THE END: WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST DURING THESE TIMES (OR OTHER TIMES OF WORRY OR ANXIETY?)
THERE is something else we need to notice about our text in regards to being anxious...
Trans: but before Jesus said do not be anxious, He said something else…LOOK AT VERSE 25 AGAIN...THEREFORE…WHAT does this tell us?
Q: WHAT DOES THE PHRASE THAT COMES BEFORE “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS” TELL US “THEREFORE I TELL YOU, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS?”
He is saying this because of something that he already said. Since this is true, “do not be anxious.” This is important especially here because it teaches us a lot.
So let’s read the statement before this…Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Q: WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH NOT BEING ANXIOUS ABOUT YOU LIFE AND THE NECESSITIES OF IT?
Yes, if we trust in money to get us the things that we need in life more than we trust God then we will serve money more than God (or even as our god). We cannot give ourselves to in service to both.
To say it another way when we are anxious about having what we need in life (and do not trust God for it) then we will be tempted to go after money more than God. And one will get in the way of the other.
SO NOT BEING ANXIOUS ABOUT LIFE WILL KEEP US FROM GOING AFTER MONEY.
Q: WHY WOULD BEING DEVOTED TO MONEY CAUSE YOU TO DESPISE GOD?
Because you will not have time for God and serving God will only get in the way of your greater love; making money. THIS IS ONE THE GREATEST PROBLEMS IN OUR CULTURE: PEOPLE SERVING MONEY AS THEIR GOD.
But there is a great lesson in thinking about how money and anxiety connect.
WHATEVER WE ATTACH OUR SECURITY TO BECOMES WHAT WE GO AFTER. (IN OTHER WORDS WHATEVER WE BELIEVE WILL RELIEVE OUR WORRY/ANXIETY WE WILL CHASE.)
What we have been talking about is a great example of this. During the past 6 months as people’s anxiety levels have risen and worry spread people have turned to a lot of different things to cope and give a sense of security or relieve the anxiety.
Q: WHAT COPING MECHANISMS HAVE YOU SEEN PEOPLE USE WHEN WORRIED? (during this time or at other times.)
Substances, massive amounts of entertainment, binge watching every season of all the shows.
Q: WHAT HAVE YOU ATTACHED TO YOUR SECURITY? (Maybe in the past that didn’t work)
Is it money, relationship, certain level of income (money fixes everything), certain job. We do this without even realizing it.
One way to find out is to think deeply on the questions: Once I have ________ then I will feel secure. Or What I am really after more than anything is ______.
Q: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH ATTACHING OUR SECURITY SOMETHING BESIDES GOD?
ONE, the problem we have already stated, that it will compete with God in our hearts. Two, any security other than God is only temporary. Think about it. Will having money keep you from being anxious?
Will having loads of money keep you from feeling anxious? Why? No, because finances are not always stable and there is security that money cannot buy.
Three, life becomes all about the side items; possessions, money, houses, career, status, the next fun thing...LIFE IS MORE THAN THESE THINGS...
Q: IF LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOD, CLOTHING AND THINGS, WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?
Next week we will look at the underlying reasons that JESUS GIVES US NOT TO WORRY. BUT BEFORE WE ARE DONE let’s discuss this...
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST STRESSFUL THING ABOUT THIS TIME?
Q: WHAT HAVE BEEN THE THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU THE MOST DURING THESE MONTHS OF STRESS (OR OTHER TIMES OF ANXIETY?)
MAYBE WE CAN HELP each other by talking about how God has helped us through difficult times. Help to not worry on the day to day as things come up!
SOME THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED ME DURING TRANSITION AND STRESS
UNDERSTANDING THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT ALL! If I try to understand everything and know everything about everything that is going on in the world so that I can know how the future is going to play out then I will be anxious.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
There is a peace in knowing that you do not have to know everything to go forward. This Psalm is great because there is humility to it. THERE IS ALSO THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE A PART TO IN CHOOSING TO QUITE OUR SOULS. “I HAVE CALMED...”
Think about it, what are the things that make you the opposite of calm? Some of them at least you have the choice to be a part of or not. (Example: Not looking on social media because of all the fighting. Not getting caught up in…)
But more than that this verse is a good example of self control and SELF REGULATION. WHEN YOU TRUST IN GOD’S WORD AND CALM YOURSELF WHEN YOU FEEL THE STRESS RISING.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THE STRESS OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US; FOCUS ON WHAT GOD IS TEACHING US OR DOING THROUGH THROUGH IT.
Q: WHAT HAS GOD TAUGHT YOU OR SHOWN YOU THIS LAST YEAR?
God has taught me how to pray better and more consistently. He has taught me to get my priorities straight and focused on what is important. HIM, Family, heaven, etc...
He has taught me to really go to Him and find rest when things are chaotic. Where hope really comes from.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
God has taught me to slow down and trust in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Q: HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW IT IS HARD TO SLOW DOWN WHEN YOUR TRUST IN GOD IS STRUGGLING? WHY IS THAT?
Maybe you haven’t noticed it but you are busy and running and worried as if it all depends on you. We struggle like it all depends on us because deep down we aren’t sure if God is gonna show up right?
So because of that we have to plan it all out and do more than we need to because we are worried that it won’t work out right. (Because we are not sure God is going to show)
LET’S LOOK AT ONE MORE VERSE FROM MATTHEW 6 FOR NEXT WEEK:
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Q: HOW DOES THIS TRUTH HELP WITH ANXIETY?
ANXIOUS THOUGHTS BEGET ANXIOUS THOUGHTS AND ANXIOUS THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY LEAD US TO WORRYING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
This is one of most needed verses right now because of how people are so worried about future. But you may also be worried about how this semester is going to go.
LET’S END WITH SOMETHING THAT I want to challenge you to practice this week.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Every time you are feeling anxious, no matter what it is stop yourself and pray to God about and be thankful for God’s help, and control and power.