Lenten Study, Session 2

The Plan Session 1 (February 18) - Chapter 1 - Less Fret, More Faith Session 2 (February 25) - Section 1, Chapters 2-4 - Celebrate God's Goodness Session 3 (March 4) - Section 2, Chapters 5-6 - Ask God For Help Session 4 (March 11) - Section 3, Chapters 7-8 - Leave Your Concerns With Him Session 5 (March 18) - Section 4, Chapters 9-11 - Meditate On Good Things Session 6 (March 25) - Psalm 37 Philippians 4:4-8 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things The goal "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds" (v. 7). The method _______________ God's goodness. "Rejoice in the Lord always" (v. 4). _______ God for help. "Let your requests be made known to God" (v. 6). _____________ your concerns with him. "With thanksgiving . . ." (v. 6). ______________ on good things. "Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise" (v. 8) Dear Lord, You spoke to storms. Would you speak to mine? You calmed the hearts of the apostles. Would you calm the chaos within me? You told them to fear not. Say the same to me. I am weary from my worry, battered and belittled by the gales of life. O Prince of Peace, bequeath to me a spirit of calm. As I turn the page in this book, will you turn a new leaf in my life? Quench anxiety. Stir courage. Let me know less fret and more faith. In Jesus' name, amen. CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESS (Rejoice in the Lord always) "This verse is a call, not to a __________, but to a _________ and a deeply rooted ______________ that God exists, that he is in control, and that he is good." "To change the way a person ______________ to life, change what a person _____________ about life. The most important thing about you is your ______________ system." REJOICE Rejoicing was a key part of the worship of Israel (Deuteronomy 12:1-14) Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10) - He is the ______________ (v. 1) - He is ___________ (v. 2) - He is ______________ (v. 2) - He is a ____________ (v. 2) - He is the __________________ (v. 3) - He is _______________ (v. 3) - He is the God of the ________________________ (v. 4-10) Responding to the word of God (Nehemiah 8:9-12) Rejoicing sees beyond the ______________________ Matthew 5:12 - Luke 10:20 - Acts 5:41 - Romans 5:1-11 - 1 Peter 4:13 - In the Lord "Guilt ______________the soul. Grace ___________ it." "There is a guilt that sits in the soul like a concrete block and causes a person to feel bad for being alive. There is a guilt that says, I did bad. And then there is a guilt that concludes, I am bad." How we deal with guilt: - - - - - - - Psalm 32:3-4 - Psalm 32:1-2- Psalm 32:5 - Psalm 32:10-11 - "A happy saint is one who is at the same time aware of the ____________ of sin and the _________________ of grace. Sin is not diminished, nor is God's ability to forgive it." "My salvation has nothing to do with my work and everything to do with the finished work of Christ on the cross." Always Does God care? "__________ says no. God created the universe and then abandoned it. ______________ says no. Creation has no story or purpose unto itself; it is only a part of God. ___________ says no. Not surprisingly, the philosophy that dismisses the existence of a god will, in turn, dismiss the possibility of a divine plan. ________________, on the other hand, says, "Yes, there is a God. Yes, this God is personally and powerfully involved in his creation." Hebrews 1:1-4- Colossians 1:15-17 - John 1:1-5 - Genesis 3:8-9 - "Joseph viewed the ______________ of his life through the lens of divine _________________." Genesis 50:20-21 - ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING: FINDING CALM IN A CHAOTIC WORLD LENTEN STUDY 2021 SESSION 2 FEBRUARY 25, 2021 2 | Page