While some people worry much more than others, we all suffer from this non-productive malady. Worry comes almost as naturally to us as breathing.
Whether we are concerned about more bills than money at the end of the month, or a wayward child, or the plight of a very sick loved one, or a ferocious dog that is racing toward us - all of us struggle with worry.
Fortunately, Jesus has spoken clearly about this issue. In Matthew 6:25-34, He exposes worry for what it is and the flawed thinking behind it. He further shows us a better way that would work toward our good and God's glory. This sermon focuses on Jesus' words on this matter.
To access online notes for this sermon, click here.
To access the sermon video, click here or view the video below.
It's wonderful to be recognized and rewarded for our performance in school or an achievement in the realm of athletics or our job. Yet, when we think about following Jesus, some folks may believe that it is wrong to be motivated by an award. Jesus doesn't think so, though. In Matthew 6:19-24, after Jesus has talked about how some eternal rewards are achieved (giving to the needy [Matt. 6:2-4], praying [Matt. 6:5-6], fasting [Matt. 6:16-18]), He tells us to make sure that we aren't living so that we are awarded for our godly behavior in this life. Instead, we are to live so that we are awarded in Heaven.
As I will show in this sermon, Jesus' words make it very clear that our eternal awards/rewards are intended to motivate us to live our life with purpose - for Him.
To access online notes for this sermon, click here.
To access the sermon video, click here or view the video below.
If you are prepared to embark on a potentially exciting and rewarding journey through fasting, let me provide you with some names of resources that I have found to be very helpful.
Bill Bright, who was the founder and revered leader of Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) for many years was an avid proponent of fasting. CRU's website continues to provide easy to digest information on this topic. You can begin your research by clicking here.
I have also found a few books to be very helpful:
"God's Chosen Fast" by Arthur Wallis is very helpful. It is a short book that answers most of the questions that someone who is new to fasting would ask.
I found that doing the Daniel Fast (think "vegetarian") was much easier than a normal fast but also brought with it many benefits. The book I used was "The Daniel Fast" by Susan Gregory.
Fasting has fallen on hard times in our current Christian culture. In a time when waistlines are growing, any talk of denying ourselves a meal(s) is anathema. Yet, what initially seems so repulsive can be one of the most empowering and liberating practices we could ever engage in. There is spiritual power and freedom that awaits those who will take Jesus' words serious when He begins, "When you fast..." (Matthew 6:16). This sermon seeks to unpack the topic of fasting by answering some of the most basic questions, namely: 1) What is fasting? 2) Why should I fast? 3) How should I fast? To access online notes for this sermon, click here. To access the sermon video, click here or view the video below.
I began yesterday's sermon with the story of an incident I had as a teenager on a backhoe. (Watch sermon here.) I revealed that my lack of knowledge and experience had some very troubling consequences. I quickly exited the operator's seat and let the "professional" do the job.
Prayer is not like that at all. Sure, we all struggle with how prayer works and we may lack knowledge and experience. But, the only way to learn to pray is to just do it. If your heart joins with the disciples' request as they said, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1), then God will enable you to become more proficient in it. But, that will only happen as you spend time each day in prayer.
So, as you are spending time in prayer, here are some other helpful ways to grow in your understanding of prayer:
Do your own exciting Bible study on prayer.
All you need is a Bible, a pad of paper and a pen. Begin by reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) and then the book of Acts citing every place that prayer is mentioned or engaged in. Write down every little bit of information that you can glean from each of those references. This may take you a few days or a few months but don't rush. You will be surprised (and overjoyed) at what God shows you as you study His Word with the intention of engaging with Him in prayer. He wants you to talk to Him so He is more than ready for you to learn from Him.
Watch or read "War Room."
This movie (and book) has been written and produced by solid Bible-believers. The prayer principles they reveal in the movie (book) are sound and are intended to inform and motivate a Christian populace to engage God in prayer.
Read "How to Pray" by R.A. Torrey.
This is a short, easy to read classic that I have enjoyed many, many times. Buy it and read it.
One of the many mishandled passages of Scripture is Matthew 6:9-15, commonly called "The Lord's Prayer." However, the Lord is never recorded as using this "prayer" when He talked with the Father (see His prayer in John 17) nor are any other New Testament prayers seen to recite this prayer.
So one has to wonder why so many contemporary Christians believe there is merit in mindlessly reciting these verses thus violating Jesus' command a few verses earlier when He said not to heap up empty (mindless) phrases when we pray (Matthew 6:7). What did Jesus intended for Matthew 6:9-15 to be? Simply put, it is a basic outline of prayer with the major themes we should address in prayer. It is intended to only be a skeleton and we are required to flesh it out when we talk to our Heavenly Father. This sermon discovers those themes and explains them. To access online notes for this sermon, click here.
To access the sermon video, click here or view the video below.
