What if we all had an Anxiety First Aid Kit ready at hand full of great passages of Scripture to pull out at a moments notice when we feel the first pangs of anxiety in our hearts? Today, we unpack a powerful passage: 1 Peter 5:5-8. Verse 7 is one of my personal go-to verses for anxiety: "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." But the verses surrounding it are also great too. Hope you are able to use them as much as I have. As mentioned in this episode, here is a link to my Anxiety First Aid Kit.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or watch here: ⁠Sermon Videos⁠For more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: ⁠hopecanebay.com

As so many are searching for Black Friday deals, I bring to you a 2700 year old passage of Holy Scripture which is still as powerful as the day the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to write it down. Isaiah 43:1-5 is potent medicine and should be used often to combat your anxiety. In this episode, we walk through the passage verse-by-verse, unpacking the wonderful promises contained within. 

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or watch here: ⁠Sermon Videos⁠For more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: ⁠hopecanebay.com

A trigger for anxiety can be worry about what we will say in conflict. Jesus' words in Luke 12:11-12 that the Holy Spirit will give us what to say can help calm our nerves as we think about the next time we will interact with the person we are in conflict with. Another aspect is that for many of us, we idolize relationships which only adds to the anxiety when that idolized relationship is in conflict. This final episode on conflict & anxiety ends with the encouragement of Revelation 21:4 that all conflicts with other Christians will be resolved and we will be perfectly reconciled in the New Heavens & The New Earth.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or watch here: ⁠Sermon Videos⁠For more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: ⁠hopecanebay.com

We continue looking at how conflict so often triggers anxiety and perspectives that can help us address that anxiety. One of those perspectives is remembering, if we have surrendered our life to Christ in faith and repentance, we are no longer estranged from God; we have been reconciled with God. Remembering this can help us have peace about conflicts with other people which are inedible because every relationship and friendship is composed of two sinners.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or watch here: ⁠Sermon Videos⁠For more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: ⁠hopecanebay.com

Conflict is a huge trigger for anxiety for so many people. In this episode we begin to address our own hearts and minds that contribute to our anxiety. We look at the importance of being okay with yourself even when someone else is angry or upset with you. Otherwise, we will end up being controlled to some extent by our felt "need" for people to be happy with us. But even Jesus, who was perfect, did not make everyone happy. He had much conflict that wasn't really resolved. We look at Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." This verse can greatly help us in conflict.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ or watch here: ⁠Sermon Videos⁠For more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: ⁠hopecanebay.com

What if you had a friend that spoke to you the way you speak to yourself? In this episode, we look at how powerful Scripture can be used to transform how we think. Rather than allowing our mind to control our thoughts and passively listen to ourselves, we must speak truth to ourselves. There is a great example of this in Psalm 42:5–6, "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." The psalm writer is speaking to himself rather than listening to himself. As mentioned in this episode, here is a list of Bible Verses to Help with Anxiety.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on Spotify | Apple Podcast or watch here: Sermon VideosFor more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: hopecanebay.com

In continuation of our last episode, we begin by looking at ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ which is another great verse that addresses our motivations for what we do in general, but we can specifically apply this to public speaking as well. Another important aspect of motives when public speaking is out of love for those you will speak to. It is so easy for us to be so consumed in focusing on ourselves, we become anxious about their approval. But when we are motivated by love for our hearers, it frees us up to love them rather than being so worried about our performance. These two things can make a huge difference (when applied consistently over a period of time) to our fear of public speaking.

For sermons by Rev. Nathan Francis, listen here to Sermons Podcast on Spotify | Apple Podcast or watch here: Sermon VideosFor more information about Hope Community Church PCA or to contact Rev. Nathan Francis, go to: hopecanebay.com

A continuation from last week of looking at the common struggle of the fear of public speaking. This week, we look at the wonderfully helpful verse: ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ which says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” It is critical that we seek God's approval rather than man's approval. This shift can dramatically help us in not fearing public speaking because we are not speaking to get approval from other people, but rather God.

Many estimate that 75% of people fear public speaking. Are you one of them? Do you get stressed before meetings, or interviews or presentations? In this episode, we look beyond conventional advice on how to face your fear of public speaking because the reality is that you can use all those strategies and still be eaten up with anxiety. 

Do you ever struggle with condemning thoughts about yourself? Since our hearts are so tempted to condemn us and the Evil One constantly accuses believers, on today's episode we will look at a number of great passages that can provide wonderful encouragement in your battle to not find your identity in your anxiety, but rather in Christ.