Sermon on the Mount #9 – Study Questions
A Non-anxious Life
Sermon on the Mount (CGS#9) – Matt. 6:25-34
INTRODUCTION: The Bible speaks to every human experience and emotion. When it speaks to anxiety, we need to understand that in our modern experience, there is anxiety that is a clinical diagnosis that requires medical and professional care. And then there is anxiety that everyone feels when we are confronted with our limits – i.e., generalized anxiety.
As a pastor, please let me offer this note of grace – clinically diagnosed anxiety is not a spiritual failure. It’s often a complex mix of biology, environment, and experience. Christians struggling with clinical anxiety should be encouraged to seek professional help without shame while also receiving compassionate pastoral care and ongoing spiritual encouragement.
So, when the Bible speaks to anxiety, it is speaking to a condition familiar to every heart—whether it’s a quiet undercurrent or a strong sense of fear and uncertainty. In our hurried, performance-driven culture, many feel paralyzed by what might happen, what has gone wrong, or what remains out of their control. In the pastoral wisdom of Tim Keller, we are reminded that anxiety, while real and often deeply painful, can be a spiritual invitation—to reorder our hearts, renew our trust, and rest in God’s care.
The Greek word that is translated into English as anxiety has two meanings. The first is “to be troubled with cares.” This is when we are confronted with our limits and come to realize that a situation is too big and we need help. We all experience this in life. The second meaning is “to seek one’s own interests.” This is when we are confronted with our limits, and we become very narrow in our vision and focus. All we can think about is ourselves, our needs, our problems, and ultimately, we lose the forest and only see trees. This is what Jesus is speaking to in the Sermon on the Mount. He addresses the very real concerns and needs of our lives, what we will eat and drink (daily bread), and our physical health and physical provision (bodies and clothing). Jesus isn’t saying that these things aren’t important or that they don’t matter to God. He is saying that allowing anxiety and worry to dominate us over these things won’t help us in any substantial way. Instead, they will only complicate things and make matters worse both physically and spiritually. So, what does Jesus tell us to do instead? Look at the world around us, the lilies and the grass, and be reminded of God’s faithfulness to the physical world and know how much more precious we are to him. He then reiterates something we’ve heard already, our Father knows what we need, and he loves us. So then, what are we to do? Make the priorities of God our priorities (seek first the kingdom), and when we do that, we will begin to have our vision expanded and see how God is providing for us faithfully. That is what faith is, after all. Trusting God for what is unseen ahead, based on what he has already done in the past. Faith is never blind. It is always rooted in God’s past provision. That is what Jesus reminds us of and lifts our eyes up to focus on God. As we do that, our narrow vision dissipates, and we do not have to be dominated by worry.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. How much of our general anxieties and worries as a community are rooted in the world’s values and not the kingdom of God? I.e., The world communicates a certain standard of living and wealth needed for comfort. While money isn’t inherently bad, what value does the kingdom put on it versus the world? And, are we more in line with worldly or kingdom thinking on money?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- Purposefully respond to the limits you’ve been blessed with:
- What are the limits of your personality? Your life station?
- Your marriage/singleness? Your time? Your emotional make-up?
- Your physical abilities? Your spiritual station?
- Take time to consider the questions Jesus asks in the passage.
- 25, “What is the purpose of my life?
- 26, “Where do I find my worth?
- 27, “What does anxiety accomplish?”
- 30, “How does anxiety develop faith?”
- 31-32, “How are Kingdom citizens different?”