How Does Jesus Teach Us to Overcome Worry? (Matthew 6:25-34)

Hey, good morning. If you want to go ahead and stand with me. I want to read Psalms 62 before we begin our time of worship this morning. I just invite you. Want to make sure as we begin our time of worship, singing to the Lord, praising the Lord, that our hearts are connected to him. And so I just invite you. Um, you can just take a second, you can close your eyes. You can put your hands out in front of you if you want. Just this posture of receiving from the Lord, posture of of releasing what we have to the Lord. But I just invite you to just take a moment, be still before him. And close your eyes.

Lord, we come into your presence this morning. We want our hearts to be connected with you Lord. Lord, we come to you this morning with all we have. We put it in your hands. We acknowledge that we cannot go through this life on our own strength. We need you, Lord. So, we come to you this morning just with a posture of surrender, surrendering to your will, to your ways.

Reading Psalms 62 3 min mark

For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him? Like a leaning wall, a tottering fence. They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.

For God alone, my soul wait in silence. For my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory, my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, oh people. Pour out your heart before him. For God is a refuge for us.

Those of low estate are but a breath. Those of high estate are a delusion. In the balances, they go up. They are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion. Set no vain hopes on robbery. If riches increase, set not your heart on them. Once God has spoken, twice I have heard this. That power belongs to God. That you, oh Lord, belong steadfast love.

For you will render to a man according to his work. Trust in him at all times, oh people. Pour out your heart before him. For God is a refuge for us. God, you are our refuge. You are our source of strength.

Opening prayer 5 min mark

We come into your presence this morning, Lord, to honor you, to glorify your name. To praise you, to extol you, to lift you high. God, clear our minds of the things that are distracting us, that are keeping us from seeing you, from experiencing you this morning. Set our hearts and our minds on you. In the name of Jesus.

Corporate worship 6 min mark

Let’s worship together this morning. Sing you come. When you come at the right time when I least expect it never behind. So why would I be surprised when you deliver? Yes, God. Every time. On mountain tops you stay same in valleys low. You never change. Come on, you sing.

And I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord. Yes, we will, God. I’m called to watch seasons change. Your faithfulness remains. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. You go before. You go You go before me to prepare a blessing. humanity for it’s all me. More than I could imagine. More than I can comprehend.

On countless times You stay the same. On countless times You never change. For I believe and I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And I’ll confidently I see seasons change. You were faithful then. You will be again.

And God of my present and God of my future You write my story. Yes. You hold it all together. And God of my present and God of my future and You write my story. You hold it all together. I’m singing it God of my present God of my future You write my story. I’m singing it You hold it together. God of my present You write my future. You write my story. You hold God of my present You write my future.

Prayer during worship 9 min mark

God, what an honor and what a joy it is to worship you. Lord, thank you that in every circumstance God in the highs and the lows, that you never change. That we can always turn to you. So, Lord, we just we bring you everything that we have this morning, God. Whatever it is we might be walking in this room with, Lord, we lay it at your feet. God, we say that we look to you, Jesus. The author and perfecter of our faith.

Song: God I Look to You 11 min mark

Now, let’s sing this together. God, I look to you. I won’t be overwhelmed. Give me vision to see things like you do. And God, I look to you. You’re where my help comes from. Yes, God. Give me wisdom. You know just what to do. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, you know just what to do. Let’s sing it again. God, I look to you. God, I look to you. I won’t be overwhelmed. Give me vision to see things like you do. And God, I look to you. You’re where my help comes from. Give me wisdom. You know just to do.

I will and I will love you for all my days. And I will love you for all my days. And I will love you for all my days. Forever all my days. I will love you. And I will love you for all I will And I will Forever all my days. I will love Hallelujah, our God, he reigns. Hallelujah. Hallelujah our God, he reigns over everything. Oh, hallelujah. Our God, he reigns forever all my days. Hallelujah. Yeah, come on with everything. Hallelujah. Our God Yes. Hallelujah. Our God reigns

Song: Love You Lord My Strength 13 min mark

And I will love you, Lord, my strength. I will love you, Lord, my my shield. And I will love you, for my rock forever all my days. I will love you, God. When I feel the fear come, I won’t run away. Even in valleys, your presence is enough. When I feel the shaking, oh, I will stand my ground. Your presence is enough. You are with me. Father, you’re for me. Fear will never conquer me, cuz I belong to Jesus. I’m never alone. I’m never abandoned. Fear will never conquer me, cuz I belong to Jesus.

When I feel the pressure, I won’t run away. Even in tension, your presence is when I’m in the mystery. Oh, I will sing my crown. My God, you are enough. You are with me. Father, you’re for me. Fear will never conquer me. Cuz I belong to Jesus. I’m never alone. I’m never abandoned. Fear will never conquer me. Cuz I belong to Jesus.

When the rain fell, when the floods came, when the wind blew, I was okay. You were right there. You’re in every step. Yes, thank you, Jesus. When the night falls, when my heart aches, if I stumble, I will not break. You’ll be right there. You’re in every step I take. When the rain fell, When the rain fell, when the floods came, when the wind blew, I was okay. You were right there. You’re in every step I take. When the night falls, when my heart aches, if I stumble, I will not break. You’ll be right there. You’re in every step we take.

You’re my savior. You’re my keeper. My provider. My protector. You surround me. You’re in every step I take. the goodness, you’re the constant. You’re my first love and my future. You surround me. You’re in every step You are with me. Father, you’re for me. Fear will never conquer me. Cuz I belong to Jesus. I’ll never go. I’ll never bend. Fear will never conquer me. Cuz I belong to Jesus.

Psalm 23 declaration 19 min mark

You know I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Yeah. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, >> [music] >> I will fear >> [singing] >> no evil. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, >> [music] >> I will fear no evil. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear >> [music] >> no evil. You’re my shepherd, you’re my keeper, my provider, my protector. You surround me. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [music] [singing] [music] [music] [music] >>

Reading Matthew 6:25-34 21 min mark

Please join me as I read God’s word aloud. You can follow along on the screen behind me or in Bible the Bible that you may have, but I would encourage you not those to just close your eyes and and listen. This is from Matthew 6:25-34. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or what your body or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who are you who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin, yet I tell you not even [music] Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes [music] the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith? >> [music] >> So, do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat? Or what shall we eat or drink? Or what shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly [music] father knows that you need them.

But, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. This is the word of the Lord.

Welcoming the Etheridge family 25 min mark

Hey, can you help me thank Gary and the team for serving this morning? >> [music] >> And uh before you sit down, say hello to somebody next to you, grab a Bible off the communion table if you need one. >> [music] >> All right, good morning. Good morning. Welcome to Ethos. So glad you’re here. If you’re new, really honored that you’re with us this morning. Um as you’re seated, uh I want to invite Amy and Aaron Ethridge and your kids, would you guys help welcome them up to the front if uh >> [applause] >> if if you’re newer to our church family, you may not know um Aaron and Amy and Elijah and Torrance and Dahlia and Cara.

Um they are they are like long long long-term friends and family uh in the Ethos family. Aaron and I go all the way back to high school. We’ve been friends forever. Um years ago, Aaron and Amy, they were serving as church planters in Canada and we rescued them from that place and we we called them to Nashville. I said, “Hey, would you come to Nashville and help Sydney and I um start Onward.”

And so they came years ago, about 15 years ago, to help us um uh in that journey and that process and they became the campus pastors of the Cannery. Aaron was one of our senior pastors, teachers, leaders, serving in all sorts of roles. And then a couple of years ago, almost 3 and 1/2 years ago now, um God put this burden in their heart for unreached people, especially in the Muslim um world. And so, they moved their family from the dangerous streets of Nashville, Tennessee, and they relocated to Egypt, and God has just been doing unbelievable things over the last several years, and uh they’re back.

They come back basically every two summers, and they get some time here, and we’re going to have lots of opportunities. Aaron’s going to preach in a couple of weeks. Going to have opportunities to connect with them and hear what God’s been doing and all of that. But, they’re really sort of on the front end of their time here in the states. And so, what we wanted to do at the beginning of their journey is just pray that God would two things, supernaturally refresh them. Just like we’re praying for like supernatural refreshing.

You know, the the Bible says God takes delight in refreshing those that refresh others, which is a really cool picture. I didn’t mean to get emotional. Um it’s amazing. They gave up so much comfort. They gave up so many good things, and they went to a hard space. They went, “Man, we’re going to bring the refreshing reality of the gospel there.” And it’s been so cool to watch what God is doing. And we’re just praying for supernatural, like from heaven, for all six of them, that God would just do something in their heart.

So, we’re praying for refreshing. And then second, we’re praying for fresh revelation. That that God would give like words and things from his heart and insight and breakthrough and strategy. Sometimes you just need a change of place and a change of pace to get fresh perspective. And so, we’re praying that as they’re back here for a couple of months, that God would give not just refreshed hearts, but revelation of what he has for them in this season and what God is doing.

Prayer for the Etheridge family 29 min mark

So, we’re going to take just a couple of minutes right now, and we’re going to pray over this family like right where you’re sitting seated with two or three people. I just invite you to just pray over the Etheridges for refreshment and for revelation. And then in the coming weeks we’ll we’ll give you more things to lean into, more ways to serve, more ways to pray. But let’s get in groups right now two or three. We’re going to give you just a couple of minutes to pray over them and then I’ll I’ll close that time in prayer. >> Amen. >>

I just invite you to extend your hands out towards the Ethridges and as we keep praying, I’m just going to pray a blessing over them. And so Lord Jesus, we love you and we thank you for this just beautiful family, this amazing amazing picture that you’ve given us, Lord, of what it means to live lives that are marked by the great commandments and the great commission.

Um Lord, we pray that you would do something that would far exceed their imagination for their time at home. God, would you let the days feel feel long and lingering? God, would you let it um seem easy for them to reconnect and to connect? God, would you give them deep sleep? Um God, would you refresh them from the inside out, wherever they’re burdened or weary or um have just felt the demands of the last couple of years, God, would you refresh them deeply?

And Lord, we pray for new dreams, new revelation, fresh insight and strategy, and that God, in just the right time and just the right way that God, you would give that to them for their glo- for your glory and their good and their joy. And so God, we just thank you for this family. We thank you for bringing them home for this season. God, refresh them and send them back out in the name of Jesus we pray and give thanks and God we say Hey, can you help me just one more time just honor the Etheridge family. >> [applause] >>

Teaching on worry and the Sermon on the Mount 31 min mark

Well, as as they are quickly and promptly getting off the stage um glad you’re back and >> [laughter] >> That’d be awesome. I love you, man. Good to see you. Um hey, if you have a Bible, Matthew 6 is where we’re going to be this morning. We’ve been working through the Sermon on the Mount since January just verse by verse and this morning we come to Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 through 34 and I would argue in some ways this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, at least in my life I think it is one of the most difficult scriptures to live out and one of the most life-changing realities when it begins to set in.

Like like there’s something about Jesus’ teaching here that like when I just look at it on the surface I go man, it is hard to live this one out practically. Yeah, when it begins to take root in us, when it begins to really do its work, like God produces unbelievable fruit and and so this morning I just want us to kind of sit in these few verses as we do each week and just hopefully the Holy Spirit will just meet you where you’re at and just kind of maybe unravel some things that have been knotted up maybe in your soul you didn’t even know it was there. Maybe he’ll use this to prepare you for what’s coming but uh but I do think Jesus’ teaching here is is really really relevant.

When I was in my early 30s if you would have just kind of stopped me like in that moment and said Dave, are you a person that deals with worry? Like are you a worrier? Uh you know, I don’t know how you’re wired. I I I would have said like very definitively in my early 30s like no I’m not really a warrior like I don’t I don’t think I stress out easily. I don’t I don’t tend to to get too wound up or or or too too overburdened by things. At least that was my perception of myself. Are you all aware that it’s possible to have a perception of yourself that is absolutely

false? Like, like, if you ever had like one of those moments like you see a picture of yourself you’re like that’s a bad picture. And Sydney’s like no that’s just what you look like. Like that’s, that’s, that’s how you look. I’m like but that’s not how I perceive myself. Like, like, most of us have perceptions of ourselves that aren’t always true and the perception of myself in my early 30s was I am not a warrior. But, but really through a whole variety of circumstances the, the Lord began to reveal it’s like actually the truth is for basically the first 10 or 12 years of my adult life up into that point the majority of that time had been dominated by worry. I just didn’t know that’s what it was.

The awakening to worry 36 min mark

And so he started to kind of unraveling things in me and kind of took me back to this moment I was 21 years old. I was getting ready to enter into my senior year of college and I get this amazing job opportunity. In fact, you know, looking back at this this job I didn’t deserve it. Wasn’t qualified. Didn’t have the gifts for it but, but God opens this door that I, that I did not think I was ready for but I stepped through this door into this amazing job and so suddenly I’m, I’m, I’m working in this job with a ton of responsibility, a ton of opportunity. Um, finishing up my undergraduate degree I had 36 hours left. I’m getting ready to marry Sydney. Um, all of these amazing things are happening in my life and I remember one of my friends and kind of mentors at the time said hey all of this is really good stuff. But have you ever considered just slowing down a little bit?

And when I was 21 years old I didn’t even know that you could or should slow down in life. I like those of you that are friends with me I’m like all gas no brake. It’s just like, like, how fast can we go? How hard can we charge? Like what can we do? And, and so I remember my, my friend just saying, “Hey, maybe instead of tackling all this in 12 months, you should do this in 24 or 36 months.” And, and I’m like, “Oh, you have little faith. You, you hard-hearted idiot.” You know, like that’s the stuff that I felt in my heart, you know? And, and I’m like, “No, I can do this.”

The habit of all-night work 37 min mark

And so in that season as I was saying yes to a bunch of new things, I had not learned yet the spiritual gift of saying no to some former things. And everything was beginning to pile on and this habit began creeping into my life in that season that would really dominate me for the next 10 or 11 years. And, and the habit was quite simply this, when I would get to the end of a day and had not finished all of the important things that I thought I needed to get finished in that day um as my friends and roommates were going to sleep, I would pound caffeine and I would literally stay up all night. And I’d work all the way through the night and then I would just charge right into the next day just thinking like man, look at what I’m capable of.

I’m not bragging about this. I’m just saying like this was in that season of life sometimes two or three nights a week I would literally like work all the way through the night. And I did this for years. In fact, when we were first starting Ethos, some of the folks that were on the team they can attest to this. In the early morning hours they would get messages from me like just these strokes of brilliance, which it was never brilliant. But you know, just like I have this thought or I have this idea or I have this proposal or, or check this thing out.

Unaware of what drove the behavior 39 min mark

And, and what I did not realize was, was my life was spinning and spiraling in some areas and I was totally unaware of what was actually driving it. And so if you would have asked me in that season “Dave, what are you driven by?” I would have said, “I’m driven by passion.” I’m driven by responsibility. I thought maybe this is what being an adult feels like. You just never sleep and you feel miserable and you work too hard and make too little. Like, you know, like maybe that’s being responsible. Uh, even worse than that season, I just went, “Oh, maybe this is just what it means to be committed to the mission of Jesus.”

God reveals the source: fear and worry 39 min mark

Have you ever had one of those seasons where the stuff you were trying to do for God was threatening to kill the work of God in you? It was in my early 30s, through a whole variety of circumstances, the Lord just started pinpointing he said, “Dave, this way of living is not driven by responsibility, it is not driven by your passion, it is not driven by the mission of Jesus.” He goes, “It is driven by fear and worry.” And there is something in here that if you don’t let me deal with it, it will not just rob you of your joy, it will steal the very things that I’ve made you for.

And so, over the last 10 or 12 years, I have not defeated this. The war against worry has not been won like definitively in my life, but I have watched the spirit of God just take so much territory. And I, I love Jesus. He goes, “Hey.” He goes, “I want you to live a life of gospel urgency that is free from earthly worry.”

The prevalence of worry in our culture 40 min mark

Did you know it’s possible to live with gospel urgency and to be free of earthly worry? See, I, I don’t know that most of us actually really believe that. In fact, it’s, it’s fascinating, a study came out a couple of years ago that this war of worry that is just waging war against the soul, uh man, it has almost become ubiquitous with the human experience. In fact, it’s fascinating, 2 years ago, this huge global study was done, and a part of that study revealed that although the United States is one of the most affluent countries in the world, statistically, we are one of the most worry-filled anxiety-filled stressed-out cultures.

So, there’s something about our affluence that has not warded off our worry. There’s something about all of our creature comforts that have not warded off our worry. In fact, statistically, 61% of adults in the United States say they spend the majority of their days battling some form of worry. That worry has just become synonymous with human experience.

A neighbor’s story 41 min mark

Earlier this week, I was talking to one of my neighbors, just a, a wonderful woman who has all sorts of hard things going on in her life, and she and I were having this conversation, and she just, she had no idea what I was preaching on this week. She just literally said to me, as she was taking out the trash, she said, “My days are like this. I wake up and I worry about this one grandchild, and then I go to bed.” And she said, “This is my life. I wake up and I worry until I sleep, and sometimes I even worry in my dreams.” And for many of us, like, this is the reality. There’s this war of, of worry that is coming against the human heart. A lot of times, we just diagnose it incorrectly. We don’t see it for what it is.

Jesus and peace 42 min mark

And I love this Jesus. Think about this for just a moment. Jesus, who is called the prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6. Think about that. His jurisdiction is peace. God the Father, who’s called the God of all peace, Romans 15:33. The Holy Spirit, who is the giver of peace, the spirit of peace, who bears the fruit of peace in your life, Galatians 5:22. Jesus comes and he says, “I do not want you to make peace with the absence of peace in your mind.” He says, “I don’t want you to make peace with the absence of peace in your mind.” And he goes, “And if you’re going to live the way that God has made you to live, then you’re going to have to declare war against this thing called worry.”

And I think we have to be careful, cuz sometimes we read these words of Jesus and it’s just easy to go, “Okay, that sounds too good to be true,” but I really do believe that Jesus never calls us to things that he doesn’t want to bring to fruition in the context of your life. And so he gets so, so, so practical.

Jesus addresses worry practically 43 min mark

So he’s been, we’ve been going through the Sermon on the Mount. Last week he, he talked about financial realities and I think it’s intentional that right after he gets done talking about money, he goes, “Let’s talk about worry.” Cuz that thing that you probably worry about all the time. And this is what he says. Look back at Matthew chapter 6 starting in verse 25. He says, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They don’t sow or reap or store away in barns.” I love that. He’s like, “Have you ever seen a stressed out bird? Have you ever seen a bird that’s like biting its fingernails, just like freaked out about work, you know?” Like Jesus, he’s, he’s hilarious. And he’s wise. And he goes, “Hey, slow your roll just a bit. Look at the birds. No bank account, no trust fund, no security as you understand it. He goes, “It seems like they’re doing great.” Those birds are crushing it.

Look at he goes, “Look at the birds.” And then he asks this question that I don’t know if we really believe. He goes, “Are you not more valuable than they are?” “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” I’m like, “Yes, Lord, I think

I can. I’m going to try it.” Have any of you ever tried to prove Jesus wrong? You’re like, “Well, Lord, you’ve never seen anybody worry like this guy.” Like, “I’m going to worry I’m going to worry this into existence.” Okay, maybe I’m the only one. I’m not sure.

The Matthew 6 passage on worry 44 min mark

Verse 28. He goes, “Why do you worry about your clothes? See the flowers of the field how they grow. They don’t labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor, was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith? So, don’t worry saying, “What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear?” For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. I love this. But, seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Defining worry 45 min mark

So, if we’re going to talk about worry, I want to take just a moment and let’s just define what it is that we’re actually talking about, because it’s really easy to miss what Jesus is saying, because we think of it incorrectly. And if you just get into the kind of the baseline root understanding of of what this word worry, translated worry in the New Testament, actually means, here’s sort of my working definition of worry from the New Testament. It’s quite simply this: to become overly concerned with an important matter. Worry is to become overly concerned or disproportionately concerned with something that is important, something that matters.

Jesus is going to talk about fear, he’s going to talk about anxiety, he’s going to talk about all types of different things, but I really believe what he’s honing in here in the Sermon on the Mount is not irrational fear. He’s not talking about just like crazy, like out there, like things that drive you crazy. He goes, “Have you ever found yourself thinking about something really important, and over time you went from just thinking about it to obsessing on it, to suddenly being paralyzed by it?”

It It’s interesting, as he talks about worry, he’s going to say your tendency is to worry about things that actually matter. Look back at verse 25 with me. I love this. He says, “Don’t worry about your life.” How’s that for a big bucket there? I’m like, Jesus, that’s the only thing I’m worried about. Like, I only worry about my life. He’s like, “Don’t worry about your life.” And then he gets into categories. He’s like, “Food and clothing and your body and your finances and all these things.”

Jesus is going to say your tendency is going to be to take important things and make them primary things. To take good things and make them God things. And the more you focus on important things of your life, the harder it becomes to see the most important one in your life. And he goes, “Worry is usually the product of you paying attention and you being concerned about things that actually matter.” So, Jesus is going to say, “Hey, I’m I I don’t want you to become overly concerned with important things.”

Three important truths about worry 47 min mark

There’s a few important truths about worry that I just want to name very quickly. Um the first is this is that worry is not a part of God’s will for your life. And I know this I know this sounds really simple and mundane, but until you acknowledge that worry is actually sin. Like, it is not in congruence with what God’s made you for, you will be tempted to nurse it, to protect it, to um uh to go, “Oh, it’s not that big of a deal.” You kind of downplay it. And so, you have to kind of acknowledge Jesus is saying, “Do not do this thing.” Do not give room for this thing. Don’t dress up this thing and call it responsibility or passion or missional faithfulness or whatever your thing is. So, worry, number one, is not a part of your life.

Secondly, worry takes all different shapes and sizes, so sometimes it’s tough to notice. Sometimes worry shows up like fear. Sometimes worry shows up like responsibility. You’re like, “I’m not worried about my kids. I’m just being responsible.” Sometimes worry looks a lot like and feels a lot like love. I’m not worried. I just really love them. I just really care about them. Sometimes worry feels like responsibility. I’m not worried about money. I’m just being a good steward. We have this tendency to reclassify and recategorize worry and we miss what’s happening. Jesus is going to say, “This is not God’s will for your life.” It comes in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s tough to spot.

Last but Last but not least, number three is is worry. What we worry about most often reveals where we trust God the least. I’m not saying always. But a lot of times there’s this There’s this thing in us that goes, “Okay, God, you can have all of these areas of my life, but this one needs more of my attention.” And at the end of the day, what we’re saying is, “Okay, Lord, I think I’m in charge of this area and I’m more capable than you.” I doubt any of you have ever prayed that before. Hey God, take all these areas, but I’ve got my children because I’m better at this than you. I doubt you’ve ever prayed, “Hey God, take all the areas of my life. I’ll get my finances cuz I’m better at that than you.” You may not pray it. But man, it’s the way I’ve lived. I bet you there’s a few of you that have lived this way as well. And Jesus is going to say, “Hey, this is not what God has made you for.” And it will steal your joy and it will rob you of the mission that Jesus has put in your hand.

The root of worry 50 min mark

So, if we’re going to tackle this idea of worry, of being overly concerned about things that are really important, even things that are important to God, you have to understand, what is the actual root of worry? I think a lot of times when we talk about worry, we look at the symptoms. Oh, you’re stressed out, you’re not patient, you’re kind of irritable, whatever the thing is. A lot of times we name the symptoms of worry and we never get to the root of worry. And And here’s what I think Jesus is going to teach in Matthew chapter six, is that the primary root of worry is a relational reality, not a circumstantial reality. Jesus is going to say that the root issue with worry is relational, not circumstantial. And this is really important because most of us, when we think about worry, we think about our circumstances. And so we say things like, “Man, I’m so worried that my prodigal kid is not going to come home. I’m so worried that I’m going to get fired from my job because of AI. I’m so worried that I’m not going to have enough resource for this. I’m I’m so worried that my marriage won’t get healed. I’m so worried about the test results from the doctor. I’m so worried.” Fill in the blank, and we tend to think about circumstances.

Jesus is going to say your circumstances matter, but your circumstances are not the root of your worry. Your circumstances are just where the fruit of your worry appears. He’s going to say the root of your worry is relational. He goes, “What’s happened when worry begins to produce in your life is there’s some aspect of your relationship with the heavenly Father that has gotten distorted.” This is the reason Jesus is going to say, “Hey, do not worry about your life.” And notice he doesn’t say, “And here are four hacks to make sure no bad circumstances happen.” Wouldn’t it be amazing? He’s like, “Don’t worry about your life and do these four things and all of your circumstances will be incredible.” It’s not what he says. He says, “Don’t worry about your life.” And then he immediately begins talking about relationship.

Focus on your relationship with the Father 52 min mark

Look at verse 26. I love this. He goes, “Your father.” He goes, “Why don’t you worry?” He goes, “Look at the birds and look at how your father feeds them.” Hey, don’t worry. Look at your father. Notice your father. Pay attention to your father. See your father. He’s going to say, “Hey, if worry, if the fruit of worry is growing like wildfire in your life,” he goes, “chances are it’s not just a circumstantial issue, but there is a relational issue. The bigger your problems have gotten, the smaller your view of the Father has become. And he goes, “I want you to see worry first and foremost as a relational issue.”

You see this again, look down in verse 32. He says, “Don’t chase things the way the pagans chase things.” I love this. There’s that phrase again. He goes, “Your heavenly what?” Help me out. “Your heavenly Come on. Your heavenly Your heavenly Father.” I love this. “Knows that you need these things.” Jesus doesn’t say, “Hey, don’t worry. Those things are just so waste It’s just a waste. Don’t worry about it.” That’s not what Jesus says. Jesus wasn’t taking a page out of Plato’s teachings. Jesus was not a gnostic. Jesus did not teach that the spiritual is good and the physical is bad. And if you were more spiritual, you could forget the

physical. That’s not what Jesus taught. Jesus goes, “Oh, your dad is clued into the fact that you need these things.” And Jesus is going to say the root of our issues with worry is usually relational, not circumstantial. And if you only see the circumstance, you’ll miss the root and it will keep growing worry all across the context of your life.

A son’s rejection 53 min mark

Remember, years ago, one of my sons, who will not be named because they charge me royalty when I say their names in sermons now that they’ve gotten older. So, I found workarounds. So, I’m not going I’m not going to say his name, but he’s currently 11 years old. And he has a broken arm and he’s in kids class. So, um So, he’s like, “I’m getting paid a dollar for this cuz I don’t charge them rent and I feed them for free every single day.” And so, years ago, this unnamed child with a broken arm who’s in the kids class, he comes running into our house and he was hurt. Like, I mean, you see a trend here. I can’t remember what had happened, but he had hurt himself doing something and Sydney was off running an errand and he was just like beside himself.

And I’m like trying to calm him down. I’m like, “Buddy, what What I do?” I’m loving him, I’m to kiss him, I’m fix it. Trying to bandage it. I go, “What do you want me to do?” And he goes, “I want you to call Mom right now cuz she’ll know what to do.” And then I I made the mistake of asking a question that I didn’t want an answer to. Like, um that should be a rule in life. Never ask a question you don’t want an honest answer to. And so, I said “Buddy I said, “Do you think that I’m capable of helping you?” And he said, “No, I do not.”

He said, “But Mom will know what to do. She’s a doctor. Tell her to come home. Tell her to help.” I was dead to him. I was trash to him. And And it was just like one of those moments, you know, where I don’t I don’t think that unnamed unnamed son woke up and said, “I’m going to attack my father’s character and capabilities today.” But man, that moment, it was an open assault. It was an open assault on my character. Dad, you can’t do it. You won’t do it.

Worry as assault on God’s character 55 min mark

And man, what I’m so what I was so offended about in him, I miss in me all the time. Worry, is this not so subtle assault on the father’s character? Almost every area of worry in my life can be traced back to a place where I think God doesn’t see me. God doesn’t know me. God doesn’t have it under control. God doesn’t care enough. And Jesus is going to say, “Hey, this is not my will for your life. It comes in different shapes and sizes. It typically reveals an area where trust is broken down. And don’t make peace with the absence of peace in your life.”

And so, Jesus is going to say, “I want you to take this seriously because God’s mission in your joy really depends on it.” And here’s what I love about Jesus and the way that he teaches. So often he’ll call us to things that feel impossible, and then he just gets really practical in it. Like, he doesn’t just say, “Don’t do this thing that feels impossible.” And then just leave us there to The question is like, “How do you do it?” How do you win the war against worry?

Relational practices and nearness to the Father 56 min mark

And I think the Bible teaches a lot on this. This is not a comprehensive teaching on overcoming worry and anxiety. I just want to look at this one moment from Jesus’ life, but I think very briefly he’s just going to give us a few I want you to hear this language a few relational practices that are designed to bring our hearts back into the truth of who God is because the antidote to worry is not the management of your circumstances, but it’s nearness to the Father.

And so these practices are not about managing circumstances or keeping worry at bay. The practices that Jesus gives are designed to bring you back into nearness with the Father. Those of you that are married, it’s like what a date night is to marriage. Going on a date doesn’t make you married. Going on a date reminds you why you got married. It brings you back into practice that brings you back into a place of intimacy.

And Jesus is going to say, “Hey, you weren’t designed to carry worry and just think that this is what you’re made for.” He goes, “No, I want you to be free from this. You get free from this by walking closely with the Father. Life is complicated. The bills are coming. Things are pressing. You might need some things to help you do this.”

The day of testing 57 min mark

You know, it’s interesting literally on Thursday as I sat down to write this sermon on worry just you know, happenstance that was the day that my oldest son got his driver’s license. And so he drops me off to write my message on worry and then he leaves for the first time by himself and I’m like, “Well, there’s something to worry about.” He’s killing. He’s doing great by the way. Um and then literally right after he drops me off I get a call from the mechanic. The day before my Jeep had broken down and I get a call from the mechanic and I’ve never had a call like this.

He goes he goes, “Hey, I think I’m calling you with the worst possible news.” I’m like, “Ooh, you should not probably not be the phone call guy. Like, that’s a That’s a bad way to start a sentence. Like, he goes, “I think I’m calling you with the worst possible news.” He goes, “We think your engine is totaled. It’s It’s bad. I think it’s going to be pretty much unfixable. But, we don’t know. I’ll let you know later.”

True story. It’s like somebody just dances in and goes, “Here’s something scary. Your kids driving. Your Jeep is ruined. Your head has fallen out.” It’s just like just terrible. And it’s like, “Okay, Lord. Here Here we are. Here we are. Jeep’s fine. Don’t worry about the Jeep. It’s It’s good. And the dude was wrong. I found out 7 hours later he’s wrong. Praise God. But, all day long it was just like just this assault this open assault on my heart, which ultimately at the end of the day was an open assault on the character of who? Character of God.

The Father’s like, “Do you think I see? Do you think I’m watching?” And Jesus goes, “Hey, there’s There’s some things that will help bring you back into the truth of who the Father is and when he is close, worry begins to subside.”

Recognizing the Father’s goodness 59 min mark

Couple things very quickly. The first is this. Jesus going to say, “If you want to walk in nearness with the Father,” he goes, “I want you to recognize the Father’s goodness.” He goes, “You need to practice this on a regular basis, recognizing the Father’s goodness.” I’m just going to highlight a few of these spaces where he says is in verse 26. He’s going to say, “Look at the birds. Pay attention to the birds. Watch the birds. Think about the birds.” Jesus like, you’re like, “Jesus, what is it with all these birds?” He’s like, “I want you to pay attention to what the Father is doing for them. Watch how he takes care of them.” He goes, “Look at the flowers.” He goes, “Watch how God takes care of them. Watch what God is doing in their life.”

Look down in verse 30. I love verse 30. What he’s going to say here is so is so beautiful. He’s going to say, “If that’s what God does for them, how much more for you?” And so Jesus is going to say, “Hey, if in the midst of all the tyranny of your life, if you want to win the war and worry, it’s relational nature. It’s close to the Father.” He goes, “You’re going to have to practice paying attention, recognizing where the Father is at work in your life. Sometimes when you can’t see him working in your life, you have to see him working in somebody else’s life.” And you see him working over there and it gives you insight into what he’s doing right here.

How many of you woke up this morning and you took a deep breath and you’re like, “Oh my goodness, God, thank you that the universe is still intact. Thank you that it’s perfectly dialed in oxygen and carbon dioxide and all like, “Lord, thank you. Lord, thank you that the the earth didn’t get knocked off track just an inch last night and melt our faces off.” And God, thank you for keeping the stars in place. And Lord, thank you that the earth didn’t open up and swallow my family. Like Do any of you start your day this way?” Probably not. If you’re like me, you wake up and it’s just like the tyranny of the day is on you.

And Jesus is going to going to say, “Hey, listen. I want you to start by just recognizing what your Father is currently managing and just how great he’s doing it managing it.” He goes, “When you recognize the Father’s goodness, you start going, ‘Wow, God, look at what you did. Father, look at what you did last night. Father, look at what you’re doing right now.’ Guys, whether you thought about it, you are literally sitting in a miracle in this second.” You’re existing in a miracle. The way your body is working right now is a miracle and it’s a representation of the Father’s goodness. God’s amazing. And Jesus goes, “Hey, life is going to knock you off track. You’re going to lose sight of what the Father’s doing. You’re going to get overrun by worry. You’re going to be dominated by some of

Starting the day with gratitude 62 min mark

These thoughts. You’re getting overly concerned with important things.” He goes, “I want you to breathe. I want you to recognize your Father’s goodness.” One of the ways that I try to practice this, I’ve been doing this since I was in my early 30s, at that season I told you about earlier. One of the ways I practice this is I try to start each day by just literally giving God thanks for the good things in my life that have come from His hand. Which is everything, because the Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from who? Your heavenly Father. I dare you to just take it seriously each day to start the day before you’ve done anything. God God, what have you done? Where are you at work? God, thank you.

When the weather’s good, every day I try to take a prayer walk outside. And like I think this is one of the challenges of our modern moment is it’s easy to get through a whole day and never be outside. And I think Jesus is literally saying something like, “Hey, get out into the wild. Watch what God is doing and see what happens in your soul.” Non-Christians are discovering this truth that when a person has been stressed to the point of almost mental breakdown, 48 hours in nature without technology resets something in the heart. That there’s something about recognizing the bigness of God that makes the problems of today just feel a little bit smaller. And Jesus is going to say, “This is a relational, not a circumstantial issue.” And he goes, “And if you want to get in right relationship or get restored in that relationship,” he goes, “you’re going to need to recognize the Father’s goodness.”

Rehearsing the truth 63 min mark

Second thing is, he goes, “I want you to practice rehearsing the truth.” So, it’s not just recognizing the Father’s goodness. It’s taking time to rehearse the truth. I love verse 26. Jesus asked a question that most of us, I don’t know that we wrestle with this deeply enough. He goes, “Look at the birds. Look at what God does for them. Aren’t more valuable than they are? Like really. Like do you think God pays more attention to you than them? And I think when I’m battling worry, when I’m losing the war against worry, I’m really tempted to think that God has taken his eye off the ball, that God isn’t paying attention, that God doesn’t see, that God doesn’t understand, that God’s not in the details, that God’s not moving. And And Jesus goes, “No, no, no, no, no.” He goes, “I want you to rehearse the truth.” The truth is that you’re more valuable to God than you understand. He goes, “Speak that.” Speak that.

Every morning, every evening in our house, we’ve got a phrase that we say out loud. It is a rehearsing of the truth. It is calling up of the truth. It is a declaration of the truth. Like this is who God has made you to be. And Jesus is going to say, “Hey, recognize where God is at work. Rehearse the truth of your value.” He goes, “Rehearse the truth.” Look at verse 27. Uh I love this. He goes, “Rehearse the truth about worry.” He goes, “Worry is worthless.” He goes, “Have you ever added any any time to your life by worrying? Have you ever made your hair grow back? Have you ever gotten taller? Like whatever your thing is. Like has worry ever helped you with the thing? Worry by its nature is passive. It makes you feel like you’re doing something, but all you’re doing is being paralyzed in fear.” And Jesus goes, “Rehearse the truth. Rehearse the truth about who you are in God. Re- Rehearse the truth about this thing that is dominating your heart.”

Last but not least, verse 32, I love this. He goes, “And rehearse the truth that your heavenly Father knows.” Your heavenly Father knows you need. Your heavenly Father knows what’s going on in your life. But one of the practices that I’ve put in place, so I’m just gratitude journals and prayer walking, as I think about rehearsing the truth, when I read through the Bible each day, when I see a promise or I see a scripture that grabs my heart, I literally write it on a little index card. And I’ll keep that index card in my pocket and I’ll pray it throughout the day. I’ll speak it throughout the day. I’ll think it throughout the day. I’ll turn it into a declaration of faith throughout the day.

If you come over to my house, you’ll see literally by my bed, I have this little easel and I have a stack of these prayer cards. And one of my sons recently was asking me, he said, he goes, “How come you keep those by your bed?” And I said, “Because that’s where I need them most.” Because worry tends to pounce on me in the middle of the night. And so I keep them readily available. Worry will pounce on me in the middle of the night. I’ll wake up and I’ll look like a psychopath trying to not wake up Sydney and get a little flashlight and look at my little prayer cards, you know. And man, I just I just pray them and pray them and pray them and pray them and pray them. I rehearse the truth. Faith often starts with a choice, not a feeling. And when I feel dominated by worry, I make the choice to say, “God, I remember. God, I remember who you are. God, I remember who I am. I remember. I remember.” And I rehearse it out loud.

Redirecting energy toward God’s kingdom 67 min mark

Jesus is going to say, “This is a relational reality.” And if you’re going to live into it, if you’re going to walk this out, recognize your father’s work. Rehearse the truth. Number three, redirect your energy towards things that matter to the Lord. Redirect your energy towards things that matter towards the Lord. See, worry has this way of stirring you up and then you want to give all of your attention to that circumstance that you’re stirred up about. And Jesus is going to say that’s actually not going to solve the thing that you’re most worried about. Look at verse 32. It’s very fascinating to me. He’s talking about all these worries, the cares of life, and he’s going to say, “Hey, pagans run after these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them.” Verse 33, listen to this compare and contrast. He says, “But you, you man of God, you one of God, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.”

And so Jesus compares and contrasts two things here. He’s going say, “The way of the world is this. You get worried.” And he says, “So, you run after these things.” You should underline that phrase in your Bible, run after these things. In the original language, it literally means to strive frantically with an unfocused, divided heart towards a bunch of different things. He’s going to say, “This is what people in the world do. They get worried, and they become frantic and unfocused, and they work hard in a lot of directions, and they don’t see much breakthrough.” Jesus is going to say, “That’s what the world does.” He says, “But you, man of God, you woman of God, you child of God.” He goes, “You seek first His kingdom.”

In my early 20s, when I felt like I was consistently losing the war war with worry, my temptation was to take the energy that I used to give to the world and just redirect that energy straight to the Lord. I’m like, “So, instead of being frantic and worried about the world, I’m going to be frantic and worried about the kingdom.” And Jesus goes, “No, that’s not the way.” This language, seek first the kingdom, the the the original language, it’s literally like this slow, purposeful walk in a long direction towards the kingdom that is coming when Jesus returns. He says, “So, the world is frantic and unfocused and fighting and grasping and doing all that.” He goes, “But you are like a person in the middle of a burning building, and everybody is screaming and running, and you are steadily walking towards the exit, and you’re saying, ‘Hey, come and follow me.'” Jesus says, “Don’t be like the world. They give first-place energy to second-place pursuits.”

He goes, “When you are bogged down and overwhelmed,” he goes, “give your first-place energy to the coming kingdom of God and His righteousness. And when the future kingdom becomes your present concern, God makes your problems begin to erode.” He says, “You walk that way and watch what God will do. He’ll He’ll take care of the things that you need because your father’s paying attention and he sees. He knows. He understands.”

Think about what this looks like in practice. Think about an amazing woman who’s a part of our church family and served faithfully for years in our kids ministry. And years ago she went through a really tough season. She was in the middle of a bunch of circumstantial circumstantial challenges that would make the best of us worry. And I remember that season we’re like, “Hey, if you need to take a break and take care of you and like you’ve got permission.” Which is true. Like like we want to walk in Sabbath rest and confidence and trust with the Lord. But I’ll never forget what she said to me. She said, “Me prioritizing the things of God is the way I take care of me.” She said, “This is the way I take care of me.” She said, “I put God’s ways first and God makes it his

business to take care of the things I can’t control.” Jesus goes, “This is relational. Recognize your father’s work. Rehearse the truth. Redirect your energy towards the things of the kingdom. And last but not least, I love this. Release the fear of the future into God’s hands. Release the fear of the future into God’s hands. I love the way Eugene Peterson translates verse 34 in the message. Listen to this. This is what he says. He says, “Give your entire attention to God and what he’s doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes up.” Isn’t that beautiful? It says, “Give your full attention to God and don’t worry about tomorrow because when the hard things come tomorrow the father that was with you today, he’ll be with you tomorrow. He’ll help you tomorrow. He’ll be in the mix tomorrow.”

I love how Jesus tells the truth. And the truth I believe should make Christians the most honest and hope-filled people on the face of the planet. Jesus does not look at us and say, “Don’t worry about tomorrow cuz nothing bad’s happening tomorrow.” I wish that’s what he said. What does he say? He’s like, “Don’t worry about tomorrow cuz tomorrow is going to kick your teeth in.” He’s like that’s my paraphrase. That’s Dave’s message. He’s like, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow’s going to have enough worry of its own. Enough challenge of its own. And the way you win against worry has never been mitigating the challenges and circumstances.”

He says, “Your confidence in the face of worry is that your father who sees you, knows you, loves you, and is paying attention, the one who’s with you right now, is going to be with you tomorrow. And whatever comes, hell or high water, God’s in the midst of it.” And he goes, “And that is an act of trust. It is defiant trust in a world that says control it, control it, control it.”

Personal testimony of trust 72 min mark

Earlier this week Sydney and I were on a double date with some of our friends and uh dear friends, part of our church family, and she didn’t know what I was teaching on this week and one of our friends, she just made the statement, she said, “Every morning,” she said, “I try to start my morning by giving back to God the things that matter to me most. God, here’s my husband. Here’s my marriage. Here’s my children. Here’s my grandchildren. Here’s my career. Here’s my coming retirement. God, I I put these things in your hands. And God, would you CEO these things? Would you lead these things in ways that I never could? And it’s just this simple acknowledgement, God, I’ve never been in charge and that’s great news. And you are close, closer than my breath. God, would you take these things that are driving me into the ground?”

See, this is the hope of Psalm 23. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Why? Because you’re with me. Cuz you’re with me. And Jesus is going to say, life is filled with challenge, worry, suffering, heartache, and hardship. All of that is going to happen until Jesus returns, rules on the earth, establishes a kingdom, and does away with all of it. And Jesus goes, “And until then, you can still live free of worry if you’re walking in relationship with the Father.”

Worry and peace as growth patterns 74 min mark

We’re going to We’re going to end here and then we’ll receive communion. And I just want to acknowledge something pastorally. You notice Jesus here in this teaching on worry, he never gives us a time frame. And this is what’s tripped me up a lot of times. Jesus doesn’t say, “Hey, if you do these things, worry immediately disappears and you feel good today.” That’s not the promise. I found that worry tends to grow in my heart like weeds, and peace grows like a garden. Worry grows like weeds, peace grows like a garden.

Worry doesn’t need any fertilizer, water, sunlight, tender loving care. Worry will grow everywhere like weeds. It It grows up in the sidewalks of my house, in the middle of the driveway. No matter what I do, worry grows quickly overnight all the time. Peace is like a garden that has to be cultivated, paid attention to, cared for, watered. I don’t understand in my heart why God made it like that. But I believe the witness of the Bible is true to that. And that worry will spring up on you fast, and worry will take and and peace will take root slowly. But the word of God is true. That if you draw near to God, God will draw near to you. And when God draws near to you, the things you fear the most find themselves in different slots of your heart your heart’s priorities.

Invitation to communion and surrender 75 min mark

And so maybe this morning there’s stuff that you carry and you’re bringing in. 1 Peter 5:7, Jesus through Peter says, “Cast all your cares on the Lord because he cares for you.” This morning, maybe to the communion table as you take the bread and you take the body, there’s an area of repentance. Maybe you just need to say, “Hey, God, there’s areas where I have allowed worry to become the rhythm of my life.” And I thought it was for good things. God, I give that back to you. Would you help me to trust you in all areas of my life?

For those of you that follow us Jesus, come receive communion, confess sin, get in circles, pray, and ask that the peace that surpasses all understanding would guard your hearts and minds in Jesus. That’s Philippians 4:6.

Invitation to non-believers 76 min mark

Some of you are here this morning and you’re not followers of Jesus. I say this with so much love. You got to hear this. Some of you are here this morning and you are not children of God yet. You’re not children of God yet. But the family is wide open to you. In John chapter 1:12, verses 12 and 13, he says to anyone who believes in Christ and calls on his name, they’ve been given the right to become children of God. There’s something about transferring your trust into Christ, following him in obedience, being baptized, being filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in a life of forgiveness.

He says, “You’re worried about a lot of things. Pay first and foremost attention to, are you right with God?” Don’t play games with that one. If you’re here this morning and you’re like, “I don’t know if I’m right with God.” We’d love to talk with you this morning. Some men and women in the response banner.

Prayer before communion 77 min mark

So, let’s let’s stand together and let me let me pray for us as we get ready to receive communion and then we’ll end with worship. And so, Lord, we thank you. We thank you. We thank you. We thank you, Lord, that you love us enough to address the real tension of our real lives and our real hearts. God, would you come in and would you restore our relationship with the Father who loves us and sees us and knows us. Jesus, we come to relationship through your cross and your resurrection, through your blood, through through faithfulness. God, thank you for bringing us into your family.

God, this morning would you meet us in the greatest pressure points and fears of our lives. Lord, for those this morning who are not living as your children. They’ve been born onto this earth, but they have not been born again by the power of your Holy Spirit. God, would you bring them face to face with the invitation in your family through your blood, Jesus. It’s in your name I pray and give thanks. Together we say, “Amen.”

Communion and worship 77 min mark

Hey, I love you. Let’s come receive communion as all around the room. Come circle back up, take communion uh with those that you came with today. Pray for each other, encourage each other. If you want to receive prayer, you can at the response banner, and then we’ll end in a few minutes with worship.

If you have kids in upper elementary, if you want to go ahead and get them from the back room behind the kids banner, we have an event after this. So, we’ll need to go ahead and get them. Take your time. Communion. We’re going to go ahead and begin a time of worship just to wrap up this morning. Just before we leave.

And you will never Your love sustaining Before I even knew What love was You’ve brought me here to rest And given me space to breathe So I’ll stay still until It sinks in And I will lean dark in the loving arms of a beautiful father And I will breathe deep and know that he is good He’s a love like no other. And you will never leave. Your love’s sustaining me. Before I even knew what love was. You’ve brought me here to rest. And given me space to breathe. So I’ll stay still. And speak, sing. And I will lean back in the loving arms of a beautiful Father. And I will breathe deep and know that

He is good. He’s a love like [music] no other. Oh yeah. And I will >> [music and singing] >> lean back in the loving arms of a beautiful Father. [music and singing] Oh yeah. I will [music] breathe deep and know that He is good. He’s a [music and singing] love like no other. >> [music] >> Now I [music and singing] can see that your love is better [music] than all [singing] the others that I’ve seen. And I’m breathing [music] deep of your goodness [singing] and your loving kindness to [music and singing] me. >> Now I can see your love >> [music] >> is better than all the others that I’ve seen. I’m breathing [music] deep of your goodness [singing] and your loving kindness to me. Now I can see your [music] love is than all the others that >> [music] >> I’ve seen. I’m breathing [music] deep of your goodness >> [music] >> and your loving kindness to me. And I will live back in [music] the loving arms of the beautiful Father. >> [music] >> I will Oh. Oh. Oh. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> And I will lean back >> [music] >> in the loving [singing] arms of a beautiful Oh. And I will breathe Thee, >> [music] >> and know that He is good. He’s a love like no other. >> There will be a [music] day when all [singing] will bow before Him. There will be a day when death [music] will be no >> [singing] >> more. Standing face to face [music] with He that died and rose >> [singing] >> again. Holy, holy >> [music] >> is the Lord. There will be a day when >> [music] [singing] >> all will bow stand Him. There will be a day when death will be no more, standing face to face [music] with the undivided >> [music and singing] >> host again. Holy, holy is the Lord. >> [music] >> Holy, >> [singing] >> holy is the Lord. Holy, >> [singing] >> holy is the Lord. >> [music] >> And on that [music] day we join the resurrection [singing] and stand beside [music] the heroes [singing] of the faith. And with one voice a thousand [music] generations sing, “Worthy [music and singing] is the Lamb who was slain.” And [music] on that day we join the resurrection and stand beside >> [music] >> the heroes of the faith. And with one voice a thousand generations >> [music] >> sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.” >> [music] >> Forever >> [music] >> he shall reign. And let it be >> [music] >> that we shout to him the faith to believe. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >>

Prayer 87 min mark

Let’s pray together. [music] Yahweh, God of all creation, you have invited us to call you Father. [music] Like you hold all things together and in you all things was made and you adopt us as your children [music] and ask you to call us Father. And so I just declare God that you are the perfect Father. [music] That you are the one we need, you are the one we long for. God, in all of your ways you are trustworthy and true. [music] And so every worry, every anxious thought, everything that plagues our minds [music] and hearts, we can trust you. We can place them in your hands and at your feet and on your altar and because there [music] is no shadow in you. That you are trustworthy, you are loving and kind towards your children. And so God, we just come to you saying like forgive us when we cling to the worry and we build up little kingdoms and protections [music] around ourselves. God, break those down in your presence and in your love so that we can encounter you as you are and [music] as you want to be seen as our good, loving, shepherding father. Um God, we just thank you [music] for the time together here. We thank you for your presence among us. Um God, I just pray over everyone in this room who has worry that feels like it cannot [music] leave in the name of Jesus. God, we we just proclaim your power and your love and your mercy over those people [music] in our midst. Um God, would you set us free from our worries and your loving kindness? And it’s in your name I pray. Amen.

Church announcements and mission 91 min mark

We’re so glad you were here with us today. >> [music] >> Um here at Ethos Church, our mission is to love God, love people, and awaken a movement. And so, everything [music] we do touches that mission. Our time together this morning in worship, um and everything we do throughout the week. And there are ways that [music] we invite you to jump in with us.

Volunteer opportunities 92 min mark

Um there is a way that we need some help in a volunteer role. Um we’re [music] still looking for five more volunteers to help fill some gaps in our kids ministry this summer. So, if you can do that, serve in a classroom [music] two to three times this summer, visit the kids table in the back and speak with one of our leaders there.

Upcoming events 93 min mark

Um this Wednesday is [music] the first Wednesday of the month, which means we are praying and fasting as a church family. Um you can access a prayer guide that’s been prepared for you, as well as [music] a link to a morning Zoom call where you can start your day in prayer in community. And so, we just invite you to lean in in the ways that you can [music] on Wednesday. And then tonight, as always, we have our prayer gathering at our office in Berry Hill, 5:00 p.m. >> [music] >> Um it’s a great time to gather in a smaller group for worship and prayer and encouragement. So, we’d love for you to join [music] us there. Um and as we prepare for our 11:00 gathering, we just ask that you would help us like straighten the chairs, pick up any trash, and um yeah, that’s it. We [music] love you guys. We hope you have a great week. >> [music] >> That’s it.