Week of October 24th, 2021

All Nations Church
Life Group Study
“The Bounty, The Burden, The Blessing”
Week of October 24^th, 2021

Study by Wayne Arcand

 

There is a saying I heard some years ago that I have never forgotten, “If you worry and it comes to pass you have lived it twice; if you worry and it does not come to pass, you have lived the stress for nothing.” Worry is a futile undertaking, and yet it is so prevalent in our world. Today, we will study what the Bible says about worry, learn the alternative, and the blessing that is ours when we trust in God and leave things in his hands.

 

Matthew 6:²⁵ “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? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 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.

 

1. What does Matthew 6 tell us:
   1. About worry?
   2. Our priorities?

• What is the promise when we get our priorities straight?

1. Take a moment to reflect on worry and, if you feel comfortable discuss:
   1. Are there things you are worried about?
   2. Can you change the outcome by worrying?

• What can you do to release the worry?

 

2. Let’s consider Philippians 4:

 

Philippians 4: (NLT)⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ,^[d] who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. ¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

1. In Philippians 4, Paul talks about worry and about concern. Lets look at the difference between the two.
   1. Worry:
      1. Define worry.
      2. What are some of the things we worry about?

• Why is worry futile?

1. How would you use Matthew 6:27 to support your answer?

1. Concern:
   1. Define concern.
   2. What are some things we might be concerned about?

• Does concern motivate you to act?

1. Can you express in a sentence or two the difference between worry and concern?

 

2. Is there a connection between what Paul is telling us in verse 5 and what we learn about the Philippian church is verse 10?
   1. Is the concern in verse 10 a natural extension of being considerate in verse 5? Explain.
   2. In this passage from Philippians,
      1. What is the antidote for worry?
      2. What is the promise?

 

3. Consider the following verses. I feel there are some very important life lessons in them. If you are a worrier, please give the verses some careful thought and put the principles into practice.   ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
   1. What is the command in the first sentence?
   2. Note the last phrase, “pray about everything”. How often have you not prayed about something because you felt it was too small to bring before our God? Does this way of thinking fit with the last phrase?

• “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
  1. What are a couple of things that obeying this command will help us recognize?

1. What is the promise? What does this mean to you?
2. How do you think God’s peace guards our hearts and our minds?

 

4. There is a blessing in not worrying, a burden our God is willing to carry for us if we will give it to him, and a way in which we show our appreciation for all he has done.
   1. How does Paul describe our gifts in verse 18?
   2. Consider verse 18b in light of 2 Corinthians 9:7.
      1. What does this suggest about the attitude of our heart and how God views our gift?
      2. How does practising Philippians 4:6 help us to be generous, give with a cheerful heart and give a gift that is “a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.”?

 

For Reflection:

The phrase that is often used is “let go and let God”. I googled the phrase to see where it might have originated. I found some very interesting lyrics that fit so perfectly with today’s study. You’ve been waiting a long time, For God to bless you. You ought to let go and let God have His way. If you want to be blessed, you want God to move, Here’s a little something that you must do. Don’t wait for tomorrow, tomorrow may be too late. Let go and let God, let God have His way.

As we face our worries, or perhaps great personal challenges or an uncertain future, Philippians 4:13 “I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me”, is one to cling to as you struggle to release your worry. Don’t put it off – you have everything to gain and nothing to loose by turning your troubles over to the Lord. Let go and let God have his way in your life and in your situation. You may be surprised at the blessing and peace you will enjoy. God’s promise!