We each have many legitimate reasons to worry and be anxious. Added to that, there are plenty of unrealistic fears and worries that we can succumb to. In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to not give in to anxiety, but to live out faithful trust in the Father.

Discussion Questions

What are areas of worry and anxiety that repeatedly come up for you?
Why do you think you worry about those things?
What underlying expectations or desires explain your worry / anxiety?
How does having “faith like a child” challenge our worrying?
How has worrying interfered with your living a faithful Christ-following life?
What are ways that you see God’s heart of love and care for you and others?
How can you know that God knows your needs and desires to meet them?
How can you know that God has the power to meet any need or situation you encounter?
What does it look like to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first?
How do worries and fears show the priorities of our hearts and lives?
Who is an example of seeking first the kingdom of God that inspires you?
What are some steps you feel led to take to combat worry in your life?

Prayer Points

Ask God to show you how you indulge in worry.
Ask God to help you see his loving heart and all the ways that he cares for you.
Thank God for all the ways that he has provided for you and met your needs.
Pray for God to put your needs in perspective with his power and ability to meet those needs.
Pray for the faith to trust God and to seek his kingdom first.

Additional Resources

An example of great faith! George Mueller’s life story told by John Piper.
Blog: “What Does it Mean to Take Every Thought Captive?”
Trusting God in the worst of circumstances! The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Gospel Hope for Anxious Hearts: Trading Fear and Worry for the Peace of God by Charles Spurgeon