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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Philippians 4:1-9 Why You Don't Have to Worry = August 30

Why You Don't Have to Worry
Philippians 4:1-9

Intro Questions

Text Graphic
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?

  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.


#Worry
#Presence
#Peace



Other Resources:

 

Document for DBS

Series: Be Different “Making Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Title: Different Presence

Bookmark: Click Here

Opening Thoughts: What does it mean to be a non-anxious presence in your home, work and in the world? Is it even possible? Learn how the voice of chronic anxiety can be stilled by the truth of the gospel.

v  Newly discovered asteroid may collide with the earth.

o   February 14, 2046 it could happen. (2023DW)

o   Something else to worry about.

v  Do you often worry or feel anxious?

o   Examples

o   “Do not worry.” –Jesus, Matthew 6:25

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Text: Philippians 4:4-9

Final Exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.

v  Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  Anxiety (Acute Anxiety vs. Chronic Anxiety)

v  Philippians 4:4-9

o   Rejoice (Celebrate) Be joyful.

o   Anxious (Pull apart)

v  Jesus used the same word in Matthew 6:25, 31-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

v  Helpful Insights and suggestions:

o   Be present – don’t worry about tomorrow.

§  Worry doesn’t change the past or the future.

§  How long have you lived?

o   Be prayerful – Prayer is the faith response to worry.

o   Be thankful – You can choose to focus on what’s best.

o   Be at peace – Be at peace with God and one another.

§  Worry doesn’t remove tomorrow’s PAIN, it just removes today’s PEACE.

§  Anxiety is often generated by false beliefs & false needs as well as assumptions & expectations. – Steve Cuss

§  Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.

 

 

Digging Questions:

·         How will you respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?

·         What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?

·         What is God calling us to do?

Take Away Challenges

·         What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?

·         Whom do you know who needs to hear this?

·         What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?

Hash tags #Answer #Hope #Good News

Sunday sermon link          https://youtu.be/MDUvt9SUcIU

Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes

Comments and resources with some more resources:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A4-9&version=NIV


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Moderation In All Things - KJV
Joel Stephen Williams
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is a very creative approach to Christian psychology. The letters are an imaginary correspondence between Screwtape, an experienced demon tempter, and his nephew, Wormwood, a novice demon recently assigned to tempt a man in order to win him over to the devil. Frequently Screwtape suggests subtle temptations to subtle sins. Screwtape also suggests that a certain amount religious practice is not bad for the devil's cause, as long as it is done in an outward way with little or no influence over the man's will. At one point Screwtape writes to Wormwood about moderation:
Talk to him about "moderation in all things." If you can once get him to the point of thinking that "religion is all very well up to a point," you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us [devils] as no religion at all and more amusing.
If Jesus had taught a religion of "moderation in all things," he would have been welcomed by the Sadducees and could have avoided the cross. Not only were the claims of Jesus about himself extravagant, but also the demands he laid upon others were pervasive.
“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment...every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery...If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away...If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away...Do not swear at all...Do not resist one who is evil...Love your enemies...You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect...Judge not...Enter by the narrow gate...whoever would save his life will lose it...Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
This does not sound much like "moderation in all things."
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HELP ME PRAY
October 16 , 2018
Dr. Joe Pettigrew


“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6

When you pray, how much of your prayer is spent praising and thanking God, and how much is spent making requests?

We should take advantage of every opportunity we get to say “Thank You” to God in prayer. If we’re happy, our joy will be multiplied by sharing our gratitude with the One who made it possible. If we’re down, we’ll feel better when we focus on the good things God is doing in our life.

Too often my prayers, even during my devotional time, sound like a fast-food order. The problem with that approach is that it’s one-sided. Shouldn’t prayer be a conversation, a way of exercising and celebrating our relationship with God?

Constant asking may not make for a good relationship.
If we’re serious about having a relationship with God, a good rule of thumb may be to begin our prayers with praise and thanksgiving. That way, if we run out of time, we will have gotten to the critical, relationship-building part. God will take care of our needs and honor our requests. He proves that every day.

Thought of the Day: Ask God to forgive you for the times you forget to tell Him how much you appreciate what He has done for you.



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August 31, 2009
What Are You Worried About?
by Rick Warren“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG).

Two businessmen were talking about the economy:

Jack: “I’m about to lose my job and our house is in foreclosure, but I don’t worry about it.”
Bob: “How can you not be worried?”
Jack: “I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me. That way I don’t have to think about it!”
Bob: “That’s a fantastic idea. How much does it cost to hire a professional worrier?”
Jack: “$50,000 a year.”
Bob: “$50,000! Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
Jack: “I don’t know. That’s HIS worry!”

Worry is something you learn to do.

There is no such thing as a “born worrier.” It is a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:

1. You learned to worry from experience. After years of mistakes, failures, and unfulfilled expectations, you’ve discovered that things don’t always turn out right. Out of these experiences, you formed the habit of worrying.

2. You learned to worry from examples. There are many models around you. Studies show that children usually pick up their parent’s worries. Anxious parents raise anxious kids.

Since worry is a learned response to life, it can be unlearned!

The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.” Worry has never changed anything. Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today.

Worry has never solved a problem, never paid a bill, and never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you so you can’t work on the solution. Worry is like racing a car when its engine is in neutral; it doesn’t get you anywhere, it just uses up gas.

The Bible teaches, “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).

On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem it gets bigger? Every time you repeat if over and over in your mind you tend to add details, amplifying it so you feel worse.

What’s the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what’s worrying you. He is someone who can do something about it.

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG).



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