Without Worry 7.10.22

Counter Cultural July 10, 2022 Without Worry! Good morning and welcome to LEC! Wow...this year is flying...we are already in the last half of 2022. Did you know there are only 168 days until Christmas? In two weeks, we are planning a big kids ministry day-our children are going to lead in service, worship and Pastor Naomi will be sharing the message of the day. So we can all look forward to that... We are continuing our summer series-CounterCultural and we are learning that God's desire is that our lives reflect the work of grace in each of us--to a world that is lost. Recently, I met a man named David from Fargo, ND. David is a man's man, a giant guy with a great heart for the Lord. It wasn't always that way. He was so lost, broken marriages, life disrupted. As a young man he was smaller and often bullied by boys in his school. When he got into the military, he learned his body responded well to training and he bulked up and learned how much he loved to fight. When he got out of the military he could not wait to go back to his home town and he would find these former bullies who were now adults and he would beat the pulp out of them as revenge. Then he encountered Jesus Christ and the transformation made David a new man. He shared with me that recently while back in his hometown, he was crossing the street and found himself staring at the man who was once the biggest bully of David's younger life. But instead of revenge, he just started crying and kept walking toward the man and as the man recognized him, he started to turn and run but David grabbed him, hugged him and shook his hand. He sat down and spent several hours taking with the man, sharing the story of Jesus and listening to the brokenness of a man's life who David says is still living in 1987...with tears we talked about how God makes all things new and there was no way to fully appreciate what God is now doing. The way of the world is about getting even, taking every advantage to look after one's own need. God calls you and I to live CounterCulturally-and in doing so we represent the grace of God in our own lives and reflect the real love of Jesus Christ to hurting people. Let's Pray! EXPLAIN THE CARDS Are there any worriers in the room? Anybody who regularly battles anxiety, feelings of fear and even depression. There is a countercultural message for you --- Let's read from Matthew 6 (Matthew 6:19-34) Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (v.24)...No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry (DON'T WORRY!) about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry (DON'T WORRY!) about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry (DON'T WORRY!) about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs (countercultural). Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry (DON'T WORRY!) about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (one slide) Worry is defined as an emotion experienced from anxiety or concern about a real or imagined issue. It is a natural response to anticipated future problems. (separate slide)we worry as a way to feel emotionally prepared for negative outcomes. (Towson University) Worry is a very human thing to do. So Jesus speaks to every worry in the room and every person who has battles with fear, anxiety and worry...and He has come today to deliver you and set you free. As you listen to the message and hear God speaking to you, write on the card you were given the very thing that you are most worried about...and at the end you are going to cast that worry into the hands of God who is calling you to new freedom in Him! So what does Jesus tell us about our worry... Decide Which Side You Are On... (include scripture with point) (v.24) No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. * A divided heart cannot be surrendered completely to God. * The starting point is to live the kind of life God wants begins with the absolute commitment to God. (James 1:5-8) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. Notice how simply Jesus speaks to the many areas of our worry... * Jesus says don't worry about everyday life (v.25) * Jesus says don't worry about what you will wear (v.28) * Jesus says don't worry about what you will eat or drink (v.31) * Jesus says don't worry about tomorrow (v.31) (Each point gets its own slide) There is futility in our worry (v.27) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? There is peace when we trust God's care for us (Romans 8:31-32) What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? There is order in worshipping Him (Matthew 6:31-33) So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Luke 12:22-28) Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Conclusion: The levels of our anxiety and worry are the product of how much we trust in God. There is no condemnation...but there is deliverance. (I John 4:18) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. (all on one slide with picture of someone worshipping) I love you I know you love me I worship you (On that card, write down what you are worried about right now-bring it to the container) Song of worship-while we burn the cards...