The 4 Relationships: Self
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The 4 Relationships
Matthew 6:19-34 (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Sermon Outline
When God is your Father your “self” is restored and renewed.
1. Where is your heart?
v21 “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
v24 “No one can serve two masters… he will hate the one and love the other...”
vv25-34 (v28 “Why are you anxious…?”)
v33 “But seek first…”
2. How are your eyes?
v22 “The eye is the lamp of the body… if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light…”
3. Who provides for you?
v25 “is not life more than…?”
v32 “Your heavenly Father knows...”
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, you are generous, patient and faithful. Forgive us and help us. We admit we have not sought you first. We have not loved you as we ought. With terrible judgment, we have over-valued the things you have made. With confusion, we acted as if our desires could be satisfied by what the world treasures. With regret, the things we have devoted ourselves to have burned us out. We admit the darkness within us. We ask for forgiveness. We look to you, our Father in heaven, because life is found in you. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Where is your heart? What have you set your heart on? What is your hope, your source of meaning, identity, etc.?
What does it meant to store up treasure in heaven? How do you do it?
How are your eyes? What are some of the main things you see? What words describe how you typically experience the world?
What kinds of difficulties within you are affecting your relationships and experiences? What are you trying to suppress that inevitably comes out?
What about God as our “father” is hard for you to grasp? What is the most helpful title or concept of God for you?
Why does Jesus urge his followers to understand God as a father? How does this change things?
Why can you trust God with the details of your life? What does the Bible teach, or what do you know is true of God that should provide assurance that you can trust God consistently?