Tag Archives: matthew

Worry – Matthew 6:25-34

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Today I will be doing the talk at Youth Group on Worry.  As always I get nervous before anything like this, so I am going to write a little on what I learnt during my research for on this subject.  Hopefully will give me a little confidence boost.

Jesus asks the following questions about worry:

28 is life not more important than food?  Outlining that some of the things we worry about are insignificant compared to other far more important things that we take for granted.

26 Are not the birds of the air don’t store food and yet are fed?  Highlighting our worry about the future and the things we store up for it.

28 Why worry about clothes when God has dressed the fields with such beauty?  If God clothes them in such beauty, then surely he will clothe His children!

The above questions are highlighting our need to Trust in Him and not to waste time worrying about things that in the grand scheme of life are not that important!

Reasons for not worrying:

v27 – You are not adding any hours to your life by worrying.  In fact you are wasting valuable time!

v28 – When seeking His Kingdom, you will be provided for.

The Activity:

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for

tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I will then be getting the group to make a list of worries they have.  The next step is they will mark any worry classed as a yesterday, then tommorows, then the todays.

For the yesterdays we will put a line through them as we can do nothing about them now

For the tomorrows we will put a line through them as the time to do something about these will come yet the time is not now.

For the today’s we will write one thing next to each that we can do to help us worry less.  For example prayer, talking to someone, making an apology etc.

We will then end in a prayer asking to help to put His Kingdom first, and help to trust Him.  And to also leave our worries with Him.

Conclusion:

The thing you should want most is God’s Kingdom and doing what God desires of us.  Then all the other things we need will be provided.

Others Feelings – Matthew 5:21-26

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22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

This challenged me this morning as I too have been guilty in the past of name calling, and teasing.  One step we can take is to really think about the words we use with people.  Sometimes, without thinking, we can use words that put others down, or can even be offensive.

As Christians, we should be imitating Christ, and building each other up (encouraging on another).  I think it has become culturally acceptable to tease a person “in jest”.  We use the excuse that we are saying these things “as a friends” and “just joking with you!”.  And although people laugh, and the person who is on the receiving end may laugh, they could actually be hurting inside.  Plus the fact you are making fun, even in a “friendly” way, you are still possibly pointing out flaws, or simply putting that person down.

I myself often “poke fun” in a friendly way with friends, but am now challenged to reconsider my approach and to think about what it is I am saying, and how that could affect my brother or sisters feelings.

We can also apply this teaching in situations where someone says something nasty to you.  It is so tempting to want to reply back with something equally as nasty!  Remember all sin is sin.  There is no sin that is more sinful than another.  Of course in human terms we assign categories and levels to Sin and pat ourselves on the back for not committing the “really bad” sins, however this scripture points out that God does not categorise sin in this way.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I have learnt 2 lessons today.  Firstly, no matter how much I am “joking” I need to really consider what I say to people, and continue to imitate Christ.  Secondly not to categorise sin into “good sin” and “bad sin” buckets.  We will be standing before the almighty Father and Judge, who is perfect.  If we go before him without Jesus, we don’t stand a chance!

Turn to Him, seek forgiveness of your sins, and continue to live for Him.

As a result of this reading, I need to go apologise to a few people!