Gathering Question:
What is one way you have experienced God at work in your life this week?
Gathering Prayer.
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Opening Questions
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
- What insights did you gain?
- What questions did it raise?
Read Matthew 6:25-34
- What stands out in these verses?
- What is most challenging to you about these verses?
- James Bryan Smith defined worry as, “what we do after we have planned, prepared, and acted properly, when we continue to stew about something.” Additionally, he differentiated worry from caution or being cautious. How do you see the difference between caution and worry? And on a scale of 1-10, where would you say you land with an amount of worry in your life?
- Read Acts 27, the story of Paul and the trip to Rome aboard a ship. What is the impact of worry on the sailors? How is Paul able to remain calm in the storm? How does Paul’s experience speak to you?
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer said of this teaching; “Jesus does not tell us what we ought to do but cannot; he tells us what God has given us and promises still to give.” The encouragement to not worry is less a command, and more of a gift. How can you receive it as a gift?
- Please use the following for a closing prayer:
For Those We Love
Almighty God, we entrust to you all who are dear to us
to Your never-failing care and love
For this life and the life to come,
Knowing that You are doing for them better things
than we can desire or pray for;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen