FALL QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2011
THEME: TRADITION AND WISDOM
UNIT TWO: JESUS’ EXPOSITION OF GOD’S WISDOM (FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT)
“JESUS EXPOSES GOD’S WISDOM CONCERNING HIS KINGDOM’S CONSTITUENTS, PART 5” (Faith Over Worry)
Sunday School Lesson No. XIII
November 27, 2011
Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III, Pastor-Teacher
Lesson Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Required Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Memory Text: Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- ness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ”
Reliable Resources: Precepts for Living by UMI; Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; Children’s Ministry Resource Bible by Child Evangelism Fellowship; Expository Outlines on the New Testament (W. Wiersbe); Tim Lahaye Prophecy Study Bible; Prayer, the Great Adventure by David Jeremiah; Dakes Annotated Reference Bible
INTRODUCTION
There is a familiar saying, “If you are going to worry, don’t pray, and if you are going to pray, don’t worry.” Jesus has been laying a sure foundation for God’s Kingdom’s constituents. He declared the importance of “Living as God’s People,” “Living and Forgiving as God’s People,” “Living and Loving as God’s People” and “Praying According to Christ’s Conditions for Successful Prayers.” Now we will consider the importance of exercising “Faith Over Worry.” Now faith is no greater than the object to which someone trusts. As God’s Kingdom’s constituents, our faith should totally rest in the Person of our Lord. He sees, knows, and cares about all that His people need and desire.
Anticipated Power Points:
· Christ’s Announcement Concerning Faith over Worry. Matthew 6:25
· Christ’s Analysis Concerning Faith over Worry. Matthew 6:26-30
· Christ’s Assurance Concerning Faith over Worry. Matthew 6:31-34
LESSON OUTLINE
I. Christ’s Announcement Concerning Faith over Worry. Matthew 6:25
Verse 25 opens with the word “Therefore” and we who study the Bible know that when you see a “therefore,” you ask the question, “What is it there for?” So Christ’s announcement about faith over worry is established by His previous teaching. Note:
A. Don’t trust in your money. vss. 19-21
Many people of Jesus’ day stored up treasures for a rainy day that were totally physical. Clothes, jewels and precious metals were among them, but Jesus says, “don’t put your faith in these things of monetary value.” Saving for one’s future is not a crime but trusting solely in money and its ability without having full trust in Christ in like trying to serve two masters. What thieves do not steal, time and elements such as rust and moths will eventually destroy. Have faith in God while we look to the future.
B. Don’t trust in the wrong master. vss. 22-24
The kingdom constituent must be careful at what they focus on with their eyes. Why? Because the eyes are windows to the soul. They will cause one to focus on the wrong master to guide and lead their lives. In this materialistic world, Jesus declared in the past as well as in the present, “You cannot serve both God and money.” vs. 24 (NLT). So this leads us to verse 25, which declares…
C. Determine to trust the Master. vs. 25
The Message Translation expresses this verse with simple commentary: “If you decide for God, living a life of God- worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.” Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
II. Christ’s Analysis Concerning Faith Over Worry. Matthew 6:26-30
God’s people have been given far more and are of greater value to Him than any of the delights or dainties of His creation.
A. The Father cares for the fowls of the air. vs. 26. They just trust Him day by day and do what they were created to do. They practice faith over worry. (Read Psalm 147:8-9)
B. The Father has already predetermined our time, place and abilities in this life. vs. 27
Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
C. Why do we worry about what we are going to wear or the style or “keeping up with the Smiths or Williams, etc.?” That is not our responsibility. Our duty is that we should trust and totally rely upon God for everything. Remember Psalm 139:5, “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.” Beloved, as we analyze the issue, our total responsibility as kingdom constituents can be summed up in these few simple words, “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22. Beloved, remember this, “…God has built into His creation the means by which all things are cared for.”
III. Christ’s Assurance Concerning Faith Over Worry. Matthew 6:31-34
The assurance that Christ commands is based on the true God who is not like the heathen’s God, but is the God of the universe who has demonstrated in every way that He can be positively trusted because of His proven stewardship over all creation! So instead of seeking the perishing things of the cosmos, “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
CLOSING
My concluding thoughts are undergirded by verse 34 and noted theologian Finis Dakes. “Do not fret about tomorrow, for the morrow will have its own troubles. The care of each day is enough to master. Thoughtful preparation for the future is not rebuked, but fretting about it is condemned.”
Recapping: Dakes reminds us why faith is superior to worrying with eight reasons:
“1. Life is more than meat. vs. 25
2. Body more than clothing (raiment). vs. 25
3. Men greater than material. vs. 25
4. Men greater than fowls (birds) whom God feeds without their labor. vs. 26
5. Worry cannot change body. vs. 27
6. Men better than plants that do not worry about clothing. vss. 28-30
7. God’s providence is over all creation, not only birds and plants that never buy, sell, manufacture, or labor. vss. 26-32
8. Worry is useless and sinful, and must not be tolerated. vss. 33-34”
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LOOKING AHEAD: December 4, 2011 Genesis 12:1-9
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“Yesterday’s victory is now a memory. Today’s will come as we presently perform, and tomorrow’s is based on our consistency from day to day!” Pastor Frank Davis, III