Sermon on the Mount: Our Anxiety
Speaker: Rev. Kelly J. Tam
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)
“worry” or “anxiousness” translates to “merimna” (μέριμνα)
Which means…distracted, divided, or pulled apart
Examples of Anxiousness in the Bible:
Moses – anxious over his calling (Ex 3:11)
Elijah – fear and depressed (1 Kings 19:4)
David – anxious and fearful of his enemies (Psalm 55:4-5)
Martha – anxious and rushed (Luke 10:41-42)
Paul – burdened by his power and position (2 Corinthians 1:9-10)
How can anxiety manifest in your life:
1. You find it hard to make decisions
2. You are afraid to make mistakes
3. You care a lot about what others think and say about you.
4. You struggle to see your self-worth
The Anxious Generation – Johnathan Haidt
1. This generation has been overprotected from the real world and…
2. This generation has been under protected of the virtual world.
Matthew 6:25-34 Lessons
1. Worry is unnecessary because God is our Provider (verse 25)
That is why I tell you not to 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?
—Matthew 6:25
2. How do we trust this? Look at God’s creation (verses 26, 28, 30)
26 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? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?…28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing…30 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?
—Matthew 6:26,28,30
3. Anxiously worrying does not add value to your life (verse 27)
27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
—Matthew 6:27
4. Live in the present and not in tomorrow’s worries (verse 34)
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
—Matthew 6:34
5. Do not be “merimna” (divided, distracted and pulled apart) from God (verse 32)
32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
—Matthew 6:32
