Sermon - Worry

Below are the notes from my sermon based upon a chapter within The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith on worry.

The story so far -
1. Triangle + holy spirit.
Personal narrative, spiritual disciplines, community.
2. Anger is wrong, except when it's right(eous).
3. Lying =bad, instead edify. 

It has been said that we live in a culture of fear. A million questions of what if blah blah blah happens? The cumulative effect of 24 hour news, 24 hour internet, 24 hour life. 24 hours to fill, 24 hours to make money. A million what ifs that challenge us, shake us, concern us and fill up our senses.
What if I die tomorrow? Get life insurance so your family will be OK?
What if I don't watch that TV show? Your school friends will think you're a loser and never talk to you again.
What if I don't check out that mole? I'll get cancer and life will be unbearable.
What if I don't meet the right person? I'll die old and alone.
What if God isn't real? Well in that case we're all screwed.
Some what ifs are silly, some are serious,  some are just funny. And some we should pay attention to. However above all of these things First about Jesus? 

Today's reading Matt 6v25-end says do not worry. Now before we go off on one thinking silly Jesus or I can't do that or whatever else it is we might be thinking let's pause and examine this.

One, what is worry?
Definition = Worry is a disproportionate level of concern based on an inappropriate measure of fear.
In other words over thinking about a perceived possible negative outcome.
Now before we move on a quick aside.
Worry vs taking due care or a reasonable level of concern.
Examples - you have an exam next week. You are concerned about it, what is the sensible thing to do?
Pray, yes. Revise, yes. Past papers, yes. Prepare!
That's due care. Something is in front of you, you have the power/capacity to do something, therefore you act upon it.
If you have a sermon to prepare on a book that you've been lent and the church is studying you should read the relevant chapter in advance! And possibly make some notes. Maybe pray about it. Read the bible a bit. Not procrastinate and watch reruns of your fave TV show. Anyone who is interested it's House.

OK, so now we know the difference between due care and worry. So when I'm talking it's about the latter. I'm going to assume that either we have no power or have failed to show due care and that it's all about the worry worry worry.

So a question, who's ever had a message from someone saying call me, it's urgent? Who's freaked out about it? Played over the possibilities and decided it's the worst possible outcome? Just me?! Indeed not.

Two. The author of the book talks about false narratives, eg things in our life, beliefs, fears, patterns of behaviour etc that have an effect upon our behaviour and the way we react to things as life goes by. So what are the false narratives which make us worry?
He identifies this as the major false narrative in this area that worrying prevents pain. This is obviously a lie.
How does worrying about something prevent pain?
Now pain could be physical, emotional, spiritual.
There is a wonderful clip in another of my favourite tv shows (HIMYM) about fear. The fear of being slapped.
Worrying prevents pain = lie!
It is worth noting here that it is rarely as bad as we fear!

So, enough about the negative, what's the positive. What does jesus say about all this? As christians, ie those who are followers of Christ (if you love me, you will obey me...!)
He says don't worry instead seek first God's kingdom.
Jesus understands how your mind works, two things - one he made it and two he lived just like you and i. he knows!
The passage earlier he takes time to address various things we might worry about, he pokes fun at peoples perceived expectations of what wise people say - grass and flowers were seen as fleeting not beautiful. He turns all of this on it's head and says don't worry. Why. Cos God knows. He knows what you need.

Elsewhere in the new testament the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

So the question for us becomes what about giving everything back to God and allowing him to be God. We've done our bits in taking our due care. And we've done our bit by praying and handing situations etc over to God.

So what next? Ultimately God wants better things for us than to be worrying. In James it says that "good and perfect gifts" come from God. Another key scripture following on in our the passage in philipians says Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are  noble, whatever things are  just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are  lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there  is any virtue and if there  is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Why cos he loves us AND he understands what happens when we worry.
He knows that our minds love to think, so they'll think. And that they often like to dwell on negative things, like those annoying songs that get stuck in our heads! So he says think on good things, think on pure things, think on what is holy and righteous, what is uplifting./ I'll be honest i struggle here. a lot. And im sure i am not alone.

Doctors say in regards to stress - a little is good, a lot is bad. We need challenges and stimulation but too much and too often is not helpful.
That's why Jesus talks about TODAY. He knows it's best to take it one day at a time.

The author asks these two questions - 
Who are you and where are you? (child of god and Kingdom of god = safe!

Soul training = prayer.
Regular
Specific
Write it down