Supplemental Sermon Notes: Luke 12:22-34

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Supplemental Sermon Notes: Luke 12:22-34

Intro / review:

- Jesus has been teaching a large crowd

- theme is put your focus on God & eternity, follow Jesus

- faith is not a blind leap towards the unbelievable

- it finds its strength in its object… what are you trusting?

- Jesus uses a teachable moment with a guy who isn’t paying attention

- possessions are not the focus of life, they don’t define you

- invest in treasure that lasts, use what you have for God’s kingdom

v. 22-23

- Jesus is now turning from the crowd and addressing his disciples

- disciple: those who have committed to following Jesus

- focus for the crowd: don’t chase after this life, don’t be foolish

- focus is different for disciples, who already understood the principle

"See, we have left everything and followed you." – Peter, in Mark 10:28

- they were more likely to worry about how they would make it today

- the word translated “life” is the same as the word translated “soul”

- principle is the same, but applied according to our situation in life

- cultural views of wealth: blessing, better than poverty, etc.

- Jesus’ argument is from lesser to greater

- food & clothing are not more important than life & body!

v. 24

- ravens are likely used because they are unclean

And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, the falcon of any kind, every raven of any kind…

Leviticus 11:13-15

- Ravens were of very little value to the Jewish people

- yet God cares for them

- lesser to greater: people are more valuable than ravens

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalms 8:3-9

v. 25-26

- lesser to greater: an hour is only part of life

- we can’t lengthen our life through worry

- if we can’t secure an hour, how will we secure more than that?

v. 27-28

- one more lesser to greater

- flowers are beautiful, but they are short-lived

- the beauty of flowers is totally in the hand of our Creator God

- Solomon had vast resources, authority, and position… greater!

- he still couldn’t outdo flowers

- if God takes such care & creativity with flowers, what about us?

Psalms 8:3-9

v. 29-30

- the world around us is preoccupied with how to get what they want

- “money can’t buy happiness & love, but no money can buy nothing”

- “I just want a chance to prove money can’t buy happiness”

- plenty of cultural evidence that wealth doesn’t solve the problems

- plenty of cultural evidence that wealth creates other problems

- when this becomes the goal of life, we miss the Creator’s intent

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Luke 12:29-30 The Message

- God is not an arbitrary, fickle being with more power than us…

- He is not a force to be struggled with, appeased, or manipulated

- He is our loving Creator and Father

- He is passing on all that He has to us through His Son!

- Jesus knows we are bent toward a wrong view

- He reminds us who the Father really is

- a good father desires well-being and maturity for his children

- a good father both provides and trains his children

v. 31-32

- when we walk in trust & obedience, our good Father will provide

- He delights in giving us his kingdom!

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10

If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life!

Romans 5:10 The Message

v. 33

- wise investments!

v. 34

- our actions reveal what our hearts are set on

- where we store our treasure is what we trust

- how we invest our lives reveals what we think about eternity

Closing

- are you using what you have wisely?

- are you worried what you have won’t be enough?

- are you spending an unnecessary amount of time plotting to get more?

- God values you, so much that He sent Jesus to die in your place!

- God wants to be your loving Father!

- God delights in blessing you!

Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, 'God? Who needs him?' If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:8-9, The Message

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13, New Living Translation

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

– Jesus, in John 5:39-40

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

– Jesus, in John 10:10

Will you come to Jesus?

project: Deeper

USE THIS GUIDE to help encourage your friends to respond to this week’s message with actions!

This is an exercise in becoming more like Christ!

Here’s how it works:

During the message: Take notes on the next page to help you process and remember what you’re hearing.

At home: During the week, work through the Study Guide alone or with a partner. It won’t take long, but in order to be useful you must think about it sincerely, and not just try to get the work done.

With your Life Group, Family, Spouse, or Friends: Talk through the highlights of what has been especially relevant or important to you in the study guide. Depending on the week’s material and size of the group, you may not have time to talk about all the questions, so focus on the highlights!

Caution: Some of these questions may require a lot of trust to answer. Start where you’re comfortable, and each week work towards deeper and more trusting relationships, which will help you to better love, support, encourage, and pray for those you’re meeting with.

Additional Help:

We publish a 5-10 min. weekly audio segment for Life Group leaders with advice on running small groups and information to clarify and expand on the study guide. You’re welcome to listen in! You’ll find them linked with each sermon in our archive at or search the iTunes store for “Extra Dirt” (a free podcast).

The pastoral staff and elders at Bethel are more than willing to help you work through any difficult questions that may arise during the course of your study. If your group can’t help you fully understand the ideas you’re studying, please give us a call at 308.532.7040.

Bethel ChurchSeptember 14, 2014

project: DeeperPastor Brett Terry

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Luke 12:22-34

Background: teachings on faith and posessions

Lesser to Greater: food and clothing vs. life and body

Ravens

Flowers

The way the world works: preoccupation with getting what we want

The way God works: as a good father

Do you worry, or look to the Father?

Homework and Discussion Guide

Knowing Each Other

What was the last thing you really, truly worried about? What was the net effect that worry had on you?

Understanding the Word

Do the examples of ravens and flowers ‘work’ for you, or are they hard to empathize with? (Why/why not?) If you can, try to think of a modern example where God’s provision does much more good than man’s efforts.

What images come to your mind when Jesus says “seek his kingdom” (v. 31)? Hint: Try to think beyond “read your Bible and pray more”!

Re-read verse 32-34. Do you think God’s best rewards are wealth and success, or something else? Why?

Was there anything in this week’s message that struck you as particularly important or challenging?

Connecting with Scripture: Not what I signed up for!

Read Acts 6:8-8:1 carefully, jotting down any important notes or thoughts below. Once you finish, go back and read it again. (Read the passage in another translation if possible.)

When you read this account, how do you feel for Stephen?

How does your answer to the previous question reflect your feelings about God’s kingdom and heavenly treasures?

If God is good, and provides for our needs, how might you explain this story’s seemingly tragic outcome?

Imagine that God asked you to do what Stephen did. What would go through your head? Why?

Bring it to Life

Many preachers today say things like ‘you must give to get,’ as if your obedience to God’s command for generosity could make you rich. How do you think God would view it if you used obedience to his rules only as a means for attaining wealth?

What have you done this week that clearly put God’s kingdom ahead of your own wants and desires? Where have your own ‘needs’ taken precedence over God’s call to live out His kingdom?

What do you think it would take to transform your life to the point where you could honestly willingly endure what Stephen did in Acts 6-7 for the sake of God’s kingdom?

For the Bold

What it my life gets the most time and attention?

What in my life do I worry most about?

What do these two answers say about my understanding of God as a good Father?

Memorize Acts 7:59-60

Pray Together

Praise God for however He provided for you this week. Ask God to teach you to trust in him without worry.