Jude 21

Worry is often the focus of light-hearted conversation. We excuse our worrying by blaming it on our ancestors; “If you had known my grandmother and how she worried…”. Sometimes we just joke about our nature as being that of a worrywart. Other times we take it too seriously by saying, “Somebody needs to worry about it.” But, worry is a significant issue in our lives. It can consume our thoughts, crush our hearts and even cause physical symptoms.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus didn’t take worry lightly. In fact, He commands us not to participate in it. Worry is much more than a healthy concern. When it takes over our thoughts, it becomes a substitute for faith and an obstacle between us and our Heavenly Father.

Our study today will continue in Matthew 6 of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus lays out a compelling teaching on worry and its futility in His Kingdom.

In a land that seems so clearly and evenly divided over so many issues and worldviews, it is refreshing to see the overt displays of patriotism on the 4th of July. To see our flag waved unashamedly, to streets lined with people watching hometown parades, to standing to salute the flag and the honor guard as they pass is a welcome piece of American pie.

The focus of the holiday and our heritage as a nation compels us to consider the role of the nations in God’s plan. The nations are created, established and sustained by God as part of His purpose in history.

Today, we’ll take a brief survey of the nations in salvation history. What is their purpose, their role in God’s plan? How does our heritage as a nation fit into God’s eternal plan?

Many of us have a fear of praying in public. As Jesus continues His teaching on the Kingdom of God and how we are to live in it, He turns to the topic of prayer. His first warning to us is not a prohibition of public praying, but rather a warning to examine our hearts and our motives when we do pray – wherever that is or whoever is with us.

As Jesus lays out the warnings and teachings on prayer, He leads us into a rich study of how to approach God in prayer and how we, as Citizens of the Kingdom of God, are to live a life of communion with God through prayer.

In this first of two teachings, we will focus on the warnings and teaching on prayer. Part II of this series will be directed at the Lord’s prayer.

What does it mean to be citizen of the kingdom of heaven? That is the great question and teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins by teaching us how to “be” citizens of the kingdom As we turn to Matthew 6, Jesus has some stern warnings for us. It seems, as one church father has said, there is a great monster lying in wait in our hearts. Pride and our need to draw attention to our acts of godliness are always temptations confronting us.

It shows up in our finances, especially our giving. Jesus warns that giving only to impress people leaves only a short-term reward. If you want God’s attention and blessing, your giving needs to be directed to His glory.

Tablets of Stone vs. Tablets of the Heart

2 Corinthians 3