Sunday Worship: Finding Peace Amidst Worry

Devotional

Day 1: Reorienting Worry to Trust in God’s Presence

Worry is a universal human experience, but Jesus invites us not to be consumed by anxiety about the future; instead, He calls us to focus on today and trust that God is with us in every moment. Even Jesus Himself experienced worry in the Garden of Gethsemane, showing that concern is not a sin but an opportunity to reorient our hearts toward what truly matters. Rather than letting worry drive us to store up earthly security, we are encouraged to remember that God knows our needs and is present with us, offering peace in the midst of uncertainty. [28:52]

Matthew 6:25-27 (NRSV)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?”

Reflection: What is one specific worry you are carrying today, and how might you invite God into that concern, trusting Him to be present with you right now?

Day 2: Seeking First—and Only—the Kingdom of God

Jesus teaches that what we seek first will soon become what we seek only, so He urges us to make the kingdom of God and His righteousness our primary pursuit. When we focus our hearts on God’s kingdom, we are kept on a path that leads away from anxiety and toward trust, knowing that God will provide for all our needs. This single-minded devotion helps us resist the temptation to chase after security, wealth, or status, and instead anchors us in God’s faithful care. [32:12]

Matthew 6:33-34 (NRSV)
“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally seek God’s kingdom first in your decisions or priorities today?

Day 3: Living with a Generous Eye

To have a healthy, generous eye is to see others as God sees them—giving the benefit of the doubt, assuming the best, and extending grace rather than judgment. Generosity is not limited to finances; it is a way of life that shapes how we view and treat others, especially those with whom we disagree. When we live generously, we reflect God’s own character and open ourselves to the light and joy that come from seeing the world through His eyes. [35:59]

Matthew 6:22-23 (NRSV)
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Reflection: Who is someone you find difficult to understand or love? How can you practice seeing them with a generous eye today?

Day 4: Thanking Worry and Reframing “What If”

Worry often prompts us to prepare and plan, but it can also blind us to God’s goodness and abundance. By thanking our worry for its protective intent and then reframing our “what if” questions—asking, “What if good things happen?”—we open ourselves to hope and the possibility of God’s surprising provision. This shift in perspective allows us to lower our defenses, engage with others, and trust that God’s promises are true for us. [41:48]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: What is one area where you tend to expect the worst? How can you reframe your thinking today to ask, “What if God brings something good here?”

Day 5: Surrendering to God’s Provision and Readiness for the Spirit

True generosity and trust in God lead us to surrender—not just our worries, but our very lives—so that we are ready for the Holy Spirit to move in and through us. God’s provision is not an excuse for passivity, but an invitation to let go of our need for control and to be open to the good things God wants to do. The question is not just, “What if God shows up?” but, “Will we be ready to follow when He does?” [45:51]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of control and trust God’s provision? What step can you take today to surrender that area to Him?

Sermon Summary

Worry is a universal human experience—no one is immune to it. Whether it’s about money, health, family, or the future, worry can easily take over our hearts and minds. Even in Jesus’ time, people were anxious about many of the same things we face today. Yet, Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount don’t simply command us to stop worrying altogether. Instead, he invites us to reorient our focus: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” This isn’t a call to ignore our concerns, but rather to live fully in the present, trusting that God is with us in each moment.

Jesus also challenges the ways we try to manage our anxieties—by storing up treasures, seeking security, or striving for control. He warns that what we seek first will soon become what we seek only. If we chase after security, wealth, or even happiness, those pursuits can quickly consume us. But if we seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, we are kept on a path that leads to life, generosity, and trust. God knows our needs and promises to care for us, just as he cares for the birds and the lilies.

A key part of this teaching is the call to have a “healthy” or “generous” eye—a single-minded focus on God’s kingdom that shapes how we see others and ourselves. Generosity isn’t just about money; it’s a way of living that assumes the best in others, gives the benefit of the doubt, and sees everyone as beloved by God. Living generously is a remedy for worry, because it shifts our posture from scarcity and self-protection to openness and trust.

When worry arises, we can even thank it for its role in helping us prepare and plan, but we don’t have to let it rule us. We can reframe our “what ifs” from fear to hope: What if good things happen? What if God shows up? Are we ready to receive the blessings and surprises God has in store? True trust in God means being willing to let go, to surrender, and to live with open hands and hearts—ready for the Spirit to move, ready for the good thing to happen.

Key Takeaways

1. Worry is a natural part of life, but Jesus invites us to focus on today rather than being consumed by anxieties about tomorrow. This present-mindedness allows us to experience God’s presence and provision in the here and now, rather than being paralyzed by what might come. Trusting God with today’s troubles frees us from the endless cycle of “what ifs” about the future. [28:52]
2. What we seek first will soon become what we seek only. If our hearts are set on security, wealth, or status, those things will eventually dominate our lives and decisions. But if we seek the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness above all else, our lives are shaped by God’s priorities, and we are kept on a path that leads to true fulfillment and peace. [32:12]
3. Having a “generous eye” means more than financial giving—it’s a way of seeing the world and others through God’s lens of grace. Generosity is about giving people the benefit of the doubt, assuming the best, and refusing to compare their worst moments to our best. This posture of generosity opens us to deeper relationships and reflects the heart of God to those around us. [35:59]
4. Generosity is a powerful antidote to worry. When we live with open hands—sharing our resources, our time, and our compassion—we push back against the fear that there won’t be enough. Generosity shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance, from self-protection to trust, and from anxiety to hope. [39:29]
5. We can reframe our worries by thanking them for their role in our lives, but then releasing them to God. Instead of letting worry keep us stuck, we can ask, “What if the good thing happens? What if God shows up?” This hopeful posture prepares us to receive God’s blessings and to respond when the Holy Spirit calls us into new opportunities and relationships. [43:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:56] - Announcements and Gathering
[11:17] - Opening Prayer and Children’s Time
[13:49] - Understanding Worry
[26:58] - Common Worries We Share
[27:50] - Jesus’ Words on Worry
[28:29] - Living in the Present
[31:06] - Storing Up Treasures and Seeking Security
[32:12] - Seek First the Kingdom of God
[34:10] - Exploring “Healthy” and “Generous” Eyes
[35:59] - Generosity as a Way of Life
[37:58] - Regret and the Joy of Generosity
[39:29] - Generosity as the Remedy for Worry
[40:52] - Thanking and Reframing Worry
[43:29] - What If Good Things Happen?
[45:51] - Surrender and Readiness for God’s Blessings
[47:42] - Closing and Sending Forth
[63:20] - Pumpkin Patch and Final Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) — > “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 6, what are some of the things people commonly worry about? ([27:50])
What does Jesus say about worrying for tomorrow versus focusing on today? ([28:29])
In the sermon, what does it mean to have a “healthy” or “generous” eye? ([34:45])
What does Jesus promise about God’s care for our needs, as seen in the examples of the birds and lilies? ([42:54])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus doesn’t simply command us to stop worrying, but instead invites us to focus on today and trust God with tomorrow? ([28:52])
The sermon says, “What we seek first will soon become what we seek only.” How does this idea challenge the way people usually try to manage their anxieties? ([32:12])
How does having a “generous eye” change the way we see and treat others, especially those we disagree with? ([35:59])
The pastor mentions thanking our worries for their role, but then releasing them to God. What does this process look like in real life? ([40:52])

Application Questions

Think about a specific worry you’ve had recently. How did it affect your day-to-day life? Did it keep you from being present or trusting God? ([28:52])
The sermon says that seeking security, wealth, or happiness can end up consuming us. Are there things in your life you tend to seek first, and how do they shape your decisions or priorities? ([32:12])
When you hear the phrase “seek first the kingdom of God,” what does that look like for you this week? Is there a practical step you can take to put God’s priorities first? ([32:12])
The idea of a “generous eye” goes beyond money. Can you think of a recent situation where you could have given someone the benefit of the doubt or assumed the best in them? How might you respond differently next time? ([35:59])
The sermon suggests that generosity is a remedy for worry. Is there a way you can practice generosity this week—with your time, resources, or attitude—especially in a situation where you feel anxious or protective? ([39:29])
When worry pops up, the pastor suggests thanking it for helping you prepare, but then letting it go. What would it look like for you to “thank and release” a worry to God this week? ([40:52])
The pastor asks, “What if the good thing happens? What if God shows up?” How can you shift your “what ifs” from fear to hope in a specific area of your life right now? ([43:29])

Sermon Clips

If we're seeking, however, the kingdom of God and God's righteousness, what happens if we turn to only seeking the kingdom of God? If we turn to only seeking God's righteousness? Well, we can't go wrong, we can't be led astray, we can't fall into sin to seeking the kingdom of God, because the kingdom of God and God's righteousness are going to keep us on a fairly narrow path. [00:32:42] (29 seconds) #singlemindedfaith

And so what Jesus is saying in the Sermon on the Mount is be single minded, be focused, seek the kingdom of God only. That is what it is. To have a healthy eye is to be focused in on the kingdom of God, is to be focused in on the righteousness of God, is to be focused in on, on the generosity of God. [00:35:42] (30 seconds) #generositybeyondmoney

To be generous isn't just to pile on a financial offering. To be generous is a particular way of living life. Is to see our brothers and sisters out in the world as God's beloved children. [00:37:02] (16 seconds) #nogenerosityregrets

When we Talk about being generous. There's not a whole lot to regret with being generous. I have regretted many things that I have bought. We have a word for it. We call it buyer's remorse. Has anybody here ever experienced buyer's remorse? I have never regretted being generous. I have never regretted giving financially. I have never regretted seeing someone or trying to see someone in a better light. I have never regretted being generous. [00:37:58] (36 seconds) #thankyourworry

And that generosity that Jesus talks about. Is part of the remedy, part of the prescription for combating worry, for pushing worry aside. Because worry says, I don't have enough. Worry says, I need to store up more worry says, everybody else is wrong and I am right and I need to make sure their wrongness doesn't affect me. Worry puts us into a defensive position where we don't want to see the world that God has created. And Jesus says to be generous is to push back on that worry. To be generous is to see the world as God sees the world. To be generous is to see our brothers and sisters as God sees our brothers and sisters. [00:39:29] (60 seconds) #whatifgoodthings

What if worry asks us the question, what if this bad thing happens? What if I don't have enough money? What if someone gets sick? What if this happens? We can reframe that question. What if we have enough? What if we don't get sick? What if the exam goes well? What if good things happen? Because that's what Jesus is saying at the end of this section is if the birds of the sky who don't store up grain in barns have enough to eat, and the lilies of the field, look at how beautiful they are in their clothing. If God's going to take care of them, God's going to take care of you. God's going to take care of us. [00:42:28] (56 seconds)

And if that's true, then the question what if good things happen? What if God shows up? Isn't so ridiculous because we know that this is the promise of Jesus Christ. We know that this is the promise of God. What if a good thing happens? Are we ready for a good thing to happen? Or are we so worried that a bad thing might happen someday that we don't know what to do when the Holy Spirit plops down right on top of us and says, follow me. What if a good thing happens? [00:43:23] (35 seconds)

``God will provide. Yes, and that provision comes out of a spirit of generosity, comes out of us being willing to let go, comes out of us being willing to let God. Comes out of us surrendering to the will of God. And to the question, what if God shows up? What if the good thing happens? What if seeking the kingdom of God first becomes seeking the kingdom of God only? What if we live out our lives fully embodying this generous spirit, seeing our neighbors as God sees them, seeing the world as God sees it, seeing ourselves as God sees us. What if we surrender to God and God's there? [00:45:34] (70 seconds)

You know, thank you. Worry you've gotten me here, but you're not going to keep me here. That's the promise. And the threat of worry is that it keeps us here and not where. Not where God is taking you. What if God shows up? Will we be ready? Will our spirits be. Will we go when we are called? [00:47:07] (40 seconds)

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