October 25, 2020
This week we’ll discuss “Jesus and Anxiety” in our ongoing Matthew series. It’s week seven of Part Two, and week 21 overall (not counting all the times we’ve taken an additional week to expand on something awesome from a previous week!). We’re enjoying spending tons of time in this book—re-listen or re-watch any Matthew sermon here.
Here’s how you can prepare for this Sunday at Park Church:
1. Read our text, Matthew 6:25–34.
“Therefore I tell you, fdo not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Jesus teaches that those who treasure God and live for His heavenly Kingdom are not only liberated from the bondage of materialism and consumerism (6:19–24), they can also experience freedom from the anxiety that is caused by living for material things. When we are preoccupied with accumulating more and better food or clothing—or any of the things that we often think we need for life—we’ve lost sight of what constitutes true life. True life comes from a relationship with your sovereign Father who loves you and welcomes you into His eternal and incorruptible Kingdom. When you get your heart aligned with the nature of the Kingdom of God, then you are freed from the anxiety of needing to secure and improve your own future. For you have a heavenly Father who is paying attention to your life and who will provide all that you really need to experience the life that is truly life.
2. Read, pray, and sing through the service:
Don’t use Spotify? Click the song title below to see song on YouTube.
CALL TO WORSHIP: From Psalm 91:1–2:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Joachim Neander, Catherine Winkworth arr. Citizens, Page CXVI)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook:
God of love and justice,
we long for peace within and peace without.
We long for harmony in our families,
for serenity in the midst of struggle.
We long for the day when our homes
will be a dwelling place for Your love.
Yet we confess that we are often anxious,
we do not trust each other,
and we harbor violence.
We are not willing to take the risks
and make the sacrifices that love requires.
Look upon us with kindness and grace.
Rule in our homes and in all the world;
show us how to walk in Your paths,
through the mercy of our Savior. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 8:14–17
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
King Of Kings (Jason Ingram, Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood) / This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Davenport Babcock arr. Gungor)
PASSING THE PEACE
(Click to Read)
When we’ve met as a large group on Sundays, we’ve always had a time of greeting one another after singing. Many churches call this time “passing the peace.” In some church traditions, one person will say to another, “The peace of Christ be with you” to which the other person responds, “And also with you.”
While potentially unfamiliar for some, we felt that “passing the peace” during greeting times at home could be a powerful act in this age marked by very little external peace. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace. He wants His kingdom to be marked by this very peace! We want to “pass” to one another this peace that only Jesus can give, especially at a time like this.
It might feel a bit cheesy, but we encourage you to actually pray the peace of God over each other during our times. We encourage you to look into each other’s eyes as you say, “The peace of Christ be with you!” and have others respond with, “And also with you.” Be open-hearted to Jesus, asking Him to fill you with His peace.
SERMON & COMMUNION
Through And Through (Will Reagan) / Stand In Your Love (Baldwin, Harris, Hulse, Springer)