Anxious for Nothing Study Guide - kingdomsermons.com

AnxiousforNothingStudyGuide©2017byMaxLucado

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EBOOKINSTRUCTIONS

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CONTENTS

EbookInstructionsAWordfromMaxLucadoHowtoUseThisGuide

Session1:RejoiceintheLordAlwaysSession2:LetYourGentlenessBeEvidenttoAllSession3:PresentYourRequeststoGodSession4:ThePeaceofGodWillGuardYourHeartSession5:MeditateonTheseThings

FinalPersonalStudyAdditionalResourcesforGroupLeadersNotes

A

AWORDFROMMAXLUCADO

nxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. A trepidation. A suspicion. Anapprehension.It’slivinglifeinaminorkeywithmajorconcerns.You’repartChicken Little and part Eeyore. The sky is falling, and it’s falling

disproportionatelyonyou.Everbeentossedandturnedbyanxiety?Ifso,youaren’talone.Accordingto

theNationalInstituteofMentalHealth,anxietydisordersarereachingepidemicproportions.Inagivenyear,nearlyfiftymillionAmericanswillfeeltheeffectsofapanicattack,phobias,orotheranxietydisorders.

TheBibleisthemosthighlightedbookonKindle.AndPhilippians4:6–7isthemosthighlightedpassage.1Why?Readtheseverses(andtheonesoneitherside),andyouwillprobablyunderstanditsappeal:

4RejoiceintheLordalways.Iwillsayitagain:Rejoice!5Letyourgentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxiousabout anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving,presentyourrequests toGod.7And thepeaceofGod,which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and yourmindsinChristJesus.

8Finally,brothersandsisters,whateveristrue,whateverisnoble,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever isadmirable—ifanythingisexcellentorpraiseworthy—thinkaboutsuchthings.

The most highlighted Scripture promises something our anxious worldcraves: peace. Throughout this study, we will talk about how to live in thispromiseofGod’ssupernaturalpeace.Youandyourgroupwillwalkthroughfivesessions,eachonededicatedtohelpingyoufindfreedomfromanxiety.YouwilllearnwhatitlooksliketorejoiceintheLord,howtoexudeaspiritofgentleness,andhowtogiveallyourworriestoGod.YouwillstudythebeautifulwayGod

guardsyourheartandmindwithhispeace.And,finally,youwillbechallengedtoexamineyourpersonalthoughtpatternsanddowhatPaulchargesyoutodoinPhilippians4:8—meditateonthethingsofGod.

N

HOWTOUSETHISGUIDE

eed some more peace in your life? Then you are in the right place. TheAnxiousforNothingvideostudyisdesignedtobeexperiencedinagroupsettingsuchasaBiblestudy,Sundayschoolclass,oranysmallgroupgathering.Eachsessionbeginswithabriefopeningreflectionand“talkaboutit”questionstogetyouandyourgroupthinkingaboutthetopic.YouwillthenwatchavideowithMaxLucadoandjumpintosomedirectedsmall-groupdiscussion.Youwillcloseeachsessionwithagroupactivityandtimeofprayer.

Each person in the group should have his or her own study guide, whichincludesvideoteachingnotes,Biblestudyandgroupdiscussionquestions,andbetween-sessionspersonalstudiestohelpyoureflectonandapplythematerialto your life during the week. You are also encouraged to have a copy of theAnxious forNothing book, as reading it alongside the curriculumwill provideyou with deeper insights and make the journey more meaningful. See the“recommendedreading”sectionattheendofeachsessionforthechaptersinthebookthatcorrespondtomaterialyouandyourgrouparediscussing.

Toget themostoutofyourgroupexperience,keep thefollowingpoints inmind.First, the real growth in this studywill happenduringyour small-grouptime. This is where you will process the content of Max’s message, askquestions,andlearnfromothersasyouhearwhatGodisdoingintheirlives.Forthisreason,itisimportantforyoutobefullycommittedtothegroupandattendeachsessionsoyoucanbuildtrustandrapportwiththeothermembers.Ifyouchoose to only “go through themotions,” or if you refrain fromparticipating,thereisalesserchanceyouwillfindwhatyou’relookingforduringthisstudy.

Second, remember that thegoal ofyour small group is to serve as aplacewherepeoplecanshare,learnaboutGod,andbuildintimacyandfriendship.Forthis reason, seek tomakeyourgroup a “safeplace.”Thismeansbeinghonestabout your thoughts and feelings and listening carefully to everyone else’sopinion. (If you are a group leader, there are additional instructions andresourcesinthebackofthebookforleadingaproductivediscussiongroup.)

Third,resistthetemptationto“fix”someone’sproblemorcorrecthisorhertheology, as that’s not the purpose of your small-group time. Also, keep

everythingyourgroupsharesconfidential.Thiswillfosterarewardingsenseofcommunity in your group and create a place where people can heal, bechallenged,andgrowspiritually.

Inbetweenyourgrouptimes,youcanmaximizetheimpactofthecoursebycheckingouttheC.A.L.M.personalstudyguideactivities.ThisindividualstudywillhelpyoupersonallyreflectandactivelyrespondtothelessonbypracticingtheacronymC.A.L.M.:

CelebrateGod’sGoodnessAskGodforHelpLeaveYourConcernswithGodMeditateonGoodThings

Foreachsession,youmaywishtocompletethepersonalstudyinonesittingorspreaditoverafewdays(forexample,workingonitahalf-hourperdayonfour different days that week). Note that if you are unable to finish (or evenstart!) your between-sessions personal study, you should still attend the groupstudyvideosession.Youarestillwantedandwelcomeatthegroupevenifyoudon’thaveyour“homework”done.

Keepinmindthisstudyisanopportunityforyouto train inanewwayofseeingyourselfandyourwalkwithGod.Thevideos,discussions,andactivitiesaresimplymeanttokick-startyourimaginationsoyouareopennotonlytowhatGodwantsyoutohearbutalsotohowtoapplythatmessagetoyourlife.Asyougothroughthisstudy,watchforwhatGodissayingasitrelatestofightingforyourlife,lookingatyourlifeinanewway,embracingthelifehehasgivenyou,developingyour lifeaccording tohisplan, findingencouragement inyour life,andultimatelychoosingthelifeyouwanttolead.

With God as your helper, after walking through the Anxious for Nothingstudy, youwill sleep better and smilemore.You’ll reframe theway you faceyour fears. You’ll learn how to talk yourself off the ledge, view bad newsthrough the lensof sovereignty, discern the lies ofSatan, and tell yourself thetruth.Youwilldiscovera lifecharacterizedbycalmandwilldeveloptoolsforfacingtheonslaughtsofanxiety.

This much is sure: it is not God’s will that you lead a life of perpetualanxiety.So let’s learnmoreabouthowtostepoutofa life runbyanxietyandstepintohispresence—aliferuledbypeace.

NOTE

If you are a group leader, there are additional instructions andresourcesinthebackofthisguidetohelpyouleadyourgroupmembers through the study. Some of the activities requirematerialsandsetup,sobesuretoreadthissectionaheadoftimeinordertobepreparedforeachweek’sgroupexercise.

SessionOne

REJOICEINTHELORDALWAYS

Wecan’t run theworld,butwecanentrust it toGod.Peace iswithinreach, not for lack of problems, but for the presence of a sovereignLord.Rather than rehearse the chaos of theworld,we can choose torejoiceintheLord’ssovereignty.

MAXLUCADO

WOPENINGREFLECTION

hen I (Jenna) was growing up, my dad had school drop-off duty. Andwithout fail, every morning as he slowed the car to a stop and we hurriedlyunbuckledourseatbelts,grabbedourbackpacks,andthrewopenthedoors,hewouldgivethesameexhortation:“Girls,haveagoodday.Laughalot.Learnalot.Anddon’tforgetwhogaveittoya.”

Ineverthoughtmuchaboutthephrasegrowingup.MysistersandIwouldjust robotically say it with him and then quickly yell, “Okay, Dad!” beforeslammingthecardoorsshut.

Laugh,learn,remember.AsayounggirlInaturallydidjustthat.Laughingcameeasily.Learningwas

fun.RememberingGodas thegiverofmyday?Itwasn’talwaysonmymind,butIneverdoubtedGodwaswithmeandcaredforme.

But then I started to grow up. And with growing up came moreresponsibility.Andwithmoreresponsibilitycameanxiety.Itwasn’tlongbeforehomeworkhourslengthened,friendshurtme,andIhurtthem.PrettysoonIwastaking my SATs, learning how to interview for jobs, paying bills. Marriagebrought deep joy, but also deep struggles.Cancer invaded the family, andmyheroesinlifepassedaway.Babieswereborn—yetanotherlevelofworry.

The older I got, the less I naturally lived my dad’s exhortation to laugh,learn,andremember.Theseriousstrugglesoflifesquelchedlaughter.Thejoyoflearningturnedintopressuretoachieve.AndrememberingGod?Theanxietiesoflifepushedoutthoughtsofhim.

That’s why it’s hard for me to accept Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4,“RejoiceintheLordalways.”Always?Howarewesupposedtodothatwiththepainandanxietyoflife?

Inthissession,wewillseethatrejoicingintheLorddoesnotmeanweareinaconstantstateofexcitement.Wedon’thavetocarryaguitararoundandsingworship songs all day. It’s not about plastering on a fake smile as we walkthrough a dark time. No, rejoicing in the Lord always is about a deepremembering.

RememberingthattheLordishere,always.RememberingthattheLordisincontrol,always.Remembering that theLord is not only the giver of your day but also the

ordainerofeveryminuteinsideofit,always.

Remembering that amidst the pressures, pain, and anxiety in life, he issovereign,always.

Asweremember, Ihavean inklingwemaydiscover thecarefreechildweusedtobe.Laughingalotmore.Learningalotmore.Andnotforgettingwhoiswithusthroughitall.

TALKABOUTITWelcometothefirstsessionofAnxiousforNothing.Ifyouoranyofyourfellowgroup members do not know one another, take a few minutes to introduceyourselves.Next,togetthingsstarted,discussoneofthefollowingquestions:

•Whatinterestedyouaboutthisstudy?Whatdoyouhopetolearn,andhowdoyouhopetochangebecauseofit?

[YourResponseHere]

or

•Describesomeoneinyourlifewhoembodieswhatitmeansto“rejoiceintheLordalways.”WhatdoesthispersondoorsaytoexudeaheartwiththisattitudetowardGod?

[YourResponseHere]

HEARINGTHEWORDReadPhilippians4:4–8aloudasagroup.Thiswillbethethemepassageforthenextfivesessions,sotrytolookatthesewordswithneweyesandanopenheart.Thenreaditagainsilently,circlingorunderliningwordsthatstandouttoyou.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let yourgentlenessbeevidenttoall.TheLordisnear.Donotbeanxiousaboutanything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your

mindsinChristJesus.Finally, brothers and sisters,whatever is true,whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever isadmirable—ifanythingisexcellentorpraiseworthy—thinkaboutsuchthings.

Turn to the personnext to you and take turns sharing your answers to thefollowingquestions:

Whatwasonethingthatstoodouttoyoufromthepassage?

[YourResponseHere]

Whydothesewordsstandouttoyou,andwhatfreshinsightdotheybring?

[YourResponseHere]

Whatdoes“rejoicingintheLord”mean?Inyourlife,haveyoufounditdifficultornaturaltorejoiceintheLord?Why?

[YourResponseHere]

VIDEOTEACHINGNOTESPlaythevideosegmentforsessionone.Asyouwatch,usethefollowingoutlinetorecordanythoughtsorconceptsthatstandouttoyou.

Anxietyisnotsomuchtheonslaughtofastormasthecontinualthreatthatoneiscoming.It’sabigheapof“whatifs.”

[YourResponseHere]

ThewordanxietyactuallycomesfromaLatinrootthatmeans“tochoke”or“tosqueeze.”Itsstronggripinterruptsyoursleep,chokesyourenergy,andharms

youroverallwell-being.

[YourResponseHere]

Anxietyisaclosecousintofear,butthetwoarenottwins.Fearseesathreat,whileanxietyimaginesone.

[YourResponseHere]

WehavebeentaughttheChristianlifeisoneofpeace.Whenwedon’thavepeace,weassumetheproblemiswithinus,whichleadsustofeelguilty.Butwhilethepresenceofanxietyisunavoidable,theprisonofanxietyisoptional.

[YourResponseHere]

WhenPaulwritesto“beanxiousfornothing,”heisreferringtoanongoingstate.Hiswordscouldbetranslated,“Don’tletanythinginlifeleaveyouperpetuallyinangstandbreathless.”

[YourResponseHere]

Paul’sprescriptionforanxietyisacallto“rejoiceintheLord.”Thisisnotacalltoafeelingbuttoadecision.

[YourResponseHere]

ThesovereigntyofGodreferstohisperfectgoverningoverallthings.Godworksinandthrougheverydetailofhiscreationtoaccomplishhisdivinepurpose.Wehavetheastoundingprivilegetobeapartofthisperfectplan.

[YourResponseHere]

TorejoiceintheLord,wemusthaveadeepbeliefinhissovereigntyoverourlives.Themorewebelieveinhiscontrol,themorewerelinquishourcontrol.

[YourResponseHere]

BIBLESTUDYANDGROUPDISCUSSIONTakeafewminuteswithyourgroupmemberstodiscusswhatyoujustwatchedandexploretheseconceptsinScripture.

1.Beforeeveryonesharesinthelargegroup,turntooneortwopeoplenexttoyouandfinishthissentence:“Afterwatchingthevideo,onequestionInowhaveis...”

[YourResponseHere]

2.Stress-relatedailmentscosttheUnitedStatesbillionsofdollarseveryyear.Whydoyouthinkthenationleadingmuchoftheworldininfrastructure,education,democracy,andmoreisalsoleadingtheworldinanxiety?WhywouldAmericanssufferfromanxietymorethanpeopleoflesserdevelopedcountries?

[YourResponseHere]

3.Scriptureincludesmanyversesthatcanbringcomfortandpeacetotheworriedheart.ReadPsalm56:3;Matthew6:25–34;and1Peter5:6–8.Whatprescriptiondoeseachpassagegiveforanxiety?

[YourResponseHere]

4.Howdoestheworldteachustocopewithanxiety?Howdoestheworld’ssolutionforanxietydifferfromGod’ssolution?

[YourResponseHere]

5.EugenePetersonsays,“[Thefact]thatGodfollowersdon’tgetpreferentialtreatmentinlifealwayscomesasasurprise.”2HaveyoueverexpectedspecialtreatmentfromGod?Ifso,howdiditaffectyourrelationshipwithhimwhen

youexperiencedhardtimes?

[YourResponseHere]

6.Read2Corinthians11:23–28aloud.WhattrialsdidPaulface?

[YourResponseHere]

Nowread2Corinthians12:1–10,wherePaultalksaboutaconstanttrialGodwouldnottakeaway.WhatisGod’sresponsetoPaul’sprayerinverse9?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdoesGoddisplayhisstrengthwhenwearefeelingweakoranxious?

[YourResponseHere]

7.ThefirstprescriptionPaulgivesforanxietyisthis:“RejoiceintheLordalways.”HundredsofyearsbeforePaulwrotehisletter,theprophetHabakkukwrotesimilarwords.ReadHabakkuk3:17–19.HowdoesHabakkukdescribeGodintheseverses?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatnamesdoesHabakkukuseforGod?

[YourResponseHere]

WhydoesHabakkuksayhecanrejoiceinGodthoughthefigtreeswitherandcropsfail?

[YourResponseHere]

8.IfyouwanttorejoiceinGodregardlessofyourcircumstances,itiscrucial

thatyoulearntotrustinhissovereignty.WhatpreventsyoufromtrustinginthesovereigntyofGod?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdoestrustinginGod’ssovereigntyaffectthewayyouperceivelife’strials?

[YourResponseHere]

GROUPACTIVITYFor this activity, each participant will need a sheet of paper, a pen, and anenvelope.

Intoday’ssession,Maxdescribedthedifferencebetweenfearandanxiety.Fearsees a threat, while anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, “Get out!” Anxietyponders, “What if?” Take a minute to write down three “what ifs” that arecausingyouanxiety—threeworries thatareweighingyoudown.Onceyouarefinished,foldupthepieceofpaperandtuckitawayintheenvelope.Writeyournameontheoutsideoftheenvelopeandgiveittoyourgroupleader.Attheendofthisstudy,thegroupleaderwillpassouttheindividualenvelopessoyoucanreevaluate the list and see how God has brought supernatural peace to theseanxiousplacesinyourheart.

CLOSINGPRAYERWrapup this timeby talking to theFather.Yourgroupmaywant tobegin theprayer time by reading aloud Isaiah 45:9–12, a powerful passage about thesovereigntyofGod:

WoetothosewhoquarrelwiththeirMaker,thosewhoarenothingbutpotsherdsamongthepotsherdsontheground.

Doestheclaysaytothepotter,“Whatareyoumaking?”

Doesyourworksay,“Thepotterhasnohands”?

Woetotheonewhosaystoafather,“Whathaveyoubegotten?”

ortoamother,“Whathaveyoubroughttobirth?”

ThisiswhattheLORDsays—theHolyOneofIsrael,anditsMaker:

Concerningthingstocome,doyouquestionmeaboutmychildren,orgivemeordersabouttheworkofmyhands?

ItisIwhomadetheearthandcreatedmankindonit.

Myownhandsstretchedouttheheavens;Imarshaledtheirstarryhosts.

Nowtakesometimetoprayforoneanother.Splitupintogroupsoftwoorthreeorcircleupandprayforthepersonnexttoyou.Hereareafewsuggestionsofwaystoprayforoneanother:

•AsktheLordtogiveyouadeepertrustinhissovereigntysoyoucanrejoiceinhimnomatterwhatcircumstancescomeyourway.

•UsethepassageyoujustreadinIsaiah45:9–12anddeclareitspromisesand/ortruthoverthepersonyouareprayingfor.(Inserttheperson’snameintotheverse,orsimplyaskthatthetruthofthisversewouldbetrueinhisorherlife.)

•AsktheLordtooverwhelmtheanxiousthoughtsyoueachwrotedownearlierwiththesupernaturalpeacehepromisesinPhilippians4:7.

R

BETWEEN-SESSIONSPERSONALSTUDY

SessionOneeflect on the content you’ve covered this week inAnxious forNothing by

engaginginanyorallofthefollowingC.A.L.M.personalstudyguideactivities.Eachpersonalstudyconsistsoffourreflectionactivitiestohelpyouimplementwhat you just learned in the videowhile applyingPaul’swords inPhilippians4:4–8:

C CelebrateGod’sGoodness(Philippians4:4):ThiswillbeatimetorejoiceintheLord,praisinghimforhis goodness and for the new insight he is giving you through this study. Celebratingwhat God isteachingyouandmeditatingonwhoGod iswillhelp shiftyourgaze from theproblemsonearth toyourhopeinheaven.

A AskGodforHelp(Philippians4:6):Duringthisreflectiontime,youwillaskGodtohelpyounotonlyunderstandwhatheisteachingyouthroughthelessonbutalsotosupernaturallytransformyourhearttoliveoutthistruthinyourdailylife.

L LeaveYourConcernswithGod (Philippians4:7):This reflectionactivitywillchallengeyou to leaveyourworries in the hands ofGod and pick up the specificworryweapons you are learning in eachvideosession.Thatway,whenworriesthreatentoreturn,youcanfightthem.

M MeditateonGoodThings(Philippians4:8):AttheendofPaul’sprescriptionagainstanxiety,heurgeshisreaderstomeditateonthingsthatareofGod.Inthisactivity,youwillmeditateonPhilippians4:4–8andmemorizeaportionofit.InthiswayyouwilltakethefirststeptoreplaceanxiousthoughtswiththetruthofGod’sWord.

Thetimeyouinvestwillbewellspent,soletGoduseittodrawyouclosertohim.Atyournextmeeting,sharewithyourgroupanykeypointsorinsightsthatstoodouttoyouasyouspentthistimewiththeLord.

CELEBRATEGOD’SGOODNESS

Duringtheteachingsessionthisweek,youlearnedwhyitisimportanttoalwaysrejoiceintheLord.PutthelessonintopracticetodaybyreadingPsalm145:8–20, a passage that celebrates the goodness ofGod. If you are in a setting thatlends itself to doing so, read the verses aloud. This is not only a time ofreflectionbutalsoatimeofworship!

TheLORDisgraciousandcompassionate,slowtoangerandrichinlove.

TheLORDisgoodtoall;hehascompassiononallhehasmade.

Allyourworkspraiseyou,LORD;yourfaithfulpeopleextolyou.

Theytellofthegloryofyourkingdomandspeakofyourmight,

sothatallpeoplemayknowofyourmightyactsandtheglorioussplendorofyourkingdom.

Yourkingdomisaneverlastingkingdom,andyourdominionenduresthroughallgenerations.

TheLORDistrustworthyinallhepromisesandfaithfulinallhedoes.

TheLORDupholdsallwhofallandliftsupallwhoareboweddown.

Theeyesofalllooktoyou,andyougivethemtheirfoodatthepropertime.

Youopenyourhandandsatisfythedesiresofeverylivingthing.

TheLORDisrighteousinallhiswaysandfaithfulinallhedoes.

TheLORDisneartoallwhocallonhim,toallwhocallonhimintruth.

Hefulfillsthedesiresofthosewhofearhim;hehearstheircryandsavesthem.

TheLORDwatchesoverallwholovehim,butallthewickedhewilldestroy.

Look back at the passage and underline all the character attributes of God.Whichoneoftheseattributesdoyouhavethehardesttimetrusting?

[YourResponseHere]

WhydoyouthinkyouhaveahardertimetrustingthisparticularcharacteristicofGod’sheart?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatdescriptionofGodinthispassagebringsyouthemostcomforttoday?Whydoesitbringyoucomfortinthisseasonofyourlife?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

TakesometimetothankGodforthespecificcharactertraityoujustwroteabout.Youmightpraywordstothiseffect:

Thank you, God, for your _________. Help me not only to remember yourgoodnessonadailybasisbutalsototrustinit.Maythegoodnessofyoubringoutyourgoodnessinme.Amen.

Don’t drown in the bilge of your own condemnation. There is a reason thewindshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. your future matters more thanyourpast.God’sgraceisgreaterthanyoursin.Whatyoudidwasnotgood.ButyourGodisgood.Andhewillforgiveyou.Heisreadytowriteanewchapterinyourlife.SaywithPaul,“Forgettingthepastandlookingforwardtowhatliesahead,IstraintoreachtheendoftheraceandreceivetheprizeforwhichGodiscallingus”(Philippians3:13–14TLB).

—AnxiousforNothing,page45

ASKGODFORHELP

WhatpreventsyoufromrejoicingintheLordalways?Takeaminutetoexamineyourheartandwritedownyourthoughts.

[YourResponseHere]

ReadLuke1:26–55.WhatfearsoranxiousthoughtscouldhavefloodedMary’smindwhenshereceivedtheangel’smessage?

[YourResponseHere]

Insteadofstewinginanxiety,howdidMaryrespondinverse38?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdidMary’spostureofservanthoodenablehertorejoiceintheLord?

[YourResponseHere]

WhenweseeourselvesasGod’sservantsinsteadofGod’sadvisors,weareinabetterpositiontotrustinhissovereignty.ThroughMary’sstory,wecaninferthatoneofthebiggesthindrancestorejoicingintheLordisafailuretosubmittohisauthorityoverourlives.Marycanfreelyrejoicebecauseshehumblysubmits,andherrejoicingoverflowsintoasongofworship(verses46–55).Lookatthesongagain.Inverse48,whydoesMarysayherspiritrejoicesintheLord?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

Ask theLord tospecificallyhelpyou rejoice inhim thewayMary rejoiced inhim.Askhimtohelpyousubmittohissovereignty.Andfinally,asktheLordtohelpyoudeeplybelieveinMary’swordsfoundinverse48—thatheismindfulof you.He sees yourworries and iswith you through it all.What a beautifulreasontorejoice!

you can’t run the world, but you can entrust it to God. This is the messagebehindPaul’sadmonitionto“rejoiceintheLord.”Peaceiswithinreach,notforlackofproblems,butbecauseofthepresenceofasovereignLord.Ratherthanrehearse thechaosof theworld,rejoice in theLord’ssovereignty,asPauldid.“Thethingswhichhappenedtomehaveactuallyturnedoutforthefurtheranceofthegospel,sothatithasbecomeevidenttothewholepalaceguard,andtoalltherest,thatmychainsareinChrist”(Philippians1:12–13NKJV).


LEAVEYOURCONCERNSWITHGOD

What specific concerns are cloudingyour thoughts thesedays?Write themonthe“Worries”columnbelow.This is a time togetwhat’son the insideon theoutside,toletGod’slightshineonthedarknessthat’sweighingonyourheart.

Worries Worship

In this session, we have been discussing a powerful tool to fight anxiety:rejoicingintheLord.Whenwedo this, itchangesourperspective,shrinks theanxiety,andmagnifiesGod’sglory.Under the“Worship”column,next toeachworryyouwrote,writeareasonyouhavetorejoiceintheLord.(YoumaywanttorefertothePsalm45passageusedinthefirstactivity.)

TakeAction!

Take this activity a step further by encouraging a friend with what you arelearning.Text, call, and/or email a friend inyourgroupor any friendonyourmind.Askthefriendtoshareaworryyoucanprayfor,andthenassurethemofGod’sgoodness,perhapsusingaverseyouhavereadduringthisstudyorjustasimple reminder thatGod is sovereignover their life.Rejoicing in theLord isevenmoremeaningfulwhenshared!

We have a choice. We can wear our hurt or wear our hope. We can outfitourselvesinourmisfortune,orwecanclotheourselvesinGod’sprovidence.Wecancaveintothepandemoniumoflife,orwecanleanintotheperfectplanofGod.Andwecanbelievethispromise:“InallthingsGodworksforthegoodofthosewholovehim,whohavebeencalledaccordingtohispurpose”(Romans8:28).


MEDITATEONGOODTHINGS

Study Philippians 4:4 (ESV)—“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say,rejoice”—until you can recite it frommemory. Don’t forget to memorize theverse reference as well. In case you need some help, here are a fewmemorizationtechniques:

•Writedowntheversemultipletimes.•Saytheversealoudmultipletimes.•Breakuptheverseintosmallerpartsandmemorizeonesectionatatime.•Writedowntheverseonnotecardsandplacethemwhereyouwillseethemoften—yourbathroommirror,yourrefrigerator,yourcomputer,yourcar.

AfteryoumemorizetheScripture,asktheLordtobringittomindanytimeananxiousthoughtsurfaces.

RECOMMENDEDREADING

WanttolearnmoreaboutwhatitmeanstorejoiceintheLord?Reviewchapters2–4inAnxiousforNothingandusethespacebelowtowriteanykeypointsorquestionsyouwanttobringtothenextgroupmeeting.Toprepareforthenext

session,readchapter5.

SessionTwo

LETYOURGENTLENESSBEEVIDENTTOALLWhenthestormsoflifeareragingandtheshipisbreakingapart,theothersonboardmayfreakout,butthegentlepersonissober-mindedandclear-thinking.LikePaul,theylooktoGodforthesolutionandremaincontagiouslycalm.ThecontagiouslycalmpersonistheonewhoremindsothersthatGodisincontrol.

MAXLUCADO

NOPENINGREFLECTION

ottoolongaftermydaughterwasborn,I(Jenna)reachedouttomycousinDana forparentingadvice.With fourkidsallgrownandoutof thehouse, shehadyearsofparentingexperience.Ihaddays.Iwasdesperateforherwisdom.

Shesentmeanemail listingmorselsofwisdomthat Iquicklygobbledup.Shetoldmetobesilly,getdirty,andplaydressup.She toldmetopray,pray,pray.ShetoldmetosleepanytimeIcouldandspendquality,uninterruptedtimewithmydaughter.

Andthentherewasthisone:Findyourpokerface.Whenmydaughterfallsdownandhurtsherself,shewillcryalotlessifIrespondwithacalmfaceratherthanonethatshowsfear.Fast-forwardfifteenyears.Shemaywalkinthedoor,tearsrunningdownherface,confessingsomethingIthoughtmyinnocentbabygirl could never do. If I respondwith calmness, shemay sharemore.But if Ireactinfear,shemayretract.

Findyourpokerfaceandpracticeit,Danawrote.I have to admit Iwasonce that fifteen-year-oldgirl, confessing something

myparentsneverimaginedIwoulddo.AndI’llneverforgetmydad’sresponse.Hedidn’treactwithyellingorinstantpunishment.Instead,hecalmlyheldmeasI cried. He reassured me of his love for me. And then he did somethinginteresting.He toldme topromisehim that if Iever foundmyself inasimilarsituationagain, tocallhimandhewouldcomeandpickmeup.Dadknewthetrialwouldprobablyresurface,andwhenitdid,hewantedtobewithme.

Thecalmnessofmydad’sresponsewascontagious.Myfifteen-year-oldselfcalmeddown.IknewIcouldshareanythingwithhimandstillbeloved.

WehaveaheavenlyFatherwhoiswithusthrougheverytrial.Andheinvitesyouandme to talk tohimabouteachone.So thenext timeyou look into theface of a problem, look into the face of yourFather.Hewill never reactwithimpatienceorcondemnation.Onlygentleness.

TALKABOUTITTokickoffthissecondsession,discussoneofthefollowingquestions:

•Thinkofsomeoneinyourlifewhoiscontagiouslycalm.Howdoesthatpersondisplaygentlenessevenduringtensetimes?

or

•Whatchallengeistestingyourgentlenessrightnow?Whatstrategieshaveyouusedtostaycalmduringthischallenge?Havetheyworked?

Iftimepermits,discussthefollowingquestionsrelatedtothelastsession:

•Lasttime,wediscussedPaul’sfirstprescriptionforanxiety:rejoicingintheLordalways.Howhasthisantidotebroughtyoumorepeacesincethelasttimeyourgroupmet?

•IfyouparticipatedintheC.A.L.M.personalstudy,whatweresomethingsyoulearnedaboutyourself?Maybeyouengagedinthe“TakeAction!”portionofthepersonalstudy.Ifso,howdiditgo?Takeaminutetoshare.

HEARINGTHEWORDReadJohn6:1–13aloudasagroup(oraskavolunteertodoso).Trytolookatthesewordswithneweyesandanopenheart.Thenreaditagainsilently,circlingorunderliningwordsthatstandouttoyou.

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea ofGalilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of peoplefollowedhimbecausetheysawthesignshehadperformedbyhealingthesick.ThenJesuswentuponamountainsideandsatdownwithhisdisciples.TheJewishPassoverFestivalwasnear.

WhenJesuslookedupandsawagreatcrowdcomingtowardhim,hesaidtoPhilip,“Whereshallwebuybreadforthesepeopletoeat?”Heaskedthisonlytotesthim,forhealreadyhadinmindwhathewasgoingtodo.

Philipansweredhim,“Itwouldtakemorethanhalfayear’swagestobuyenoughbreadforeachonetohaveabite!”

Anotherofhisdisciples,Andrew,SimonPeter’sbrother,spokeup,“Here is aboywith five small barley loaves and two small fish, buthowfarwilltheygoamongsomany?”

Jesussaid,“Havethepeoplesitdown.”Therewasplentyofgrassinthatplace,andtheysatdown(aboutfivethousandmenwerethere).

Jesusthentooktheloaves,gavethanks,anddistributedtothosewhowereseatedasmuchastheywanted.Hedidthesamewiththefish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,“Gatherthepiecesthatareleftover.Letnothingbewasted.”Sotheygathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the fivebarleyloavesleftoverbythosewhohadeaten.


WhatwasonethingthatstoodouttoyoufromtheScripture?

[YourResponseHere]


[YourResponseHere]

Inverse6,JesustestedPhilipbyaskingwheretobuybreadforallthepeople.WhatwasJesustesting?DoesJesusstilltestourheartstodaybyputtinglargetasksinfrontofus?Explainyourthoughts.

[YourResponseHere]

VIDEOTEACHINGNOTESPlaythevideosegmentforsessiontwo.Asyouwatch,usethefollowingoutlinetorecordanythoughtsorconceptsthatstandouttoyou.

Wecanchoosetopickupeverydisappointment,stress,orfrustrationthatistossedourway,orwecanchoosetonotpickupthatgarbageinthefirstplace.

[YourResponseHere]

Wenotonlyhavethechoiceofhowwewillperceivetrials,butwealsohavea

choiceastohowwewillreacttothem.

[YourResponseHere]

TheGreekwordforgentlenessinPhilippians4:5describesatemperamentthatisseasonedandmature.Agentlepersonislevel-headedandreactstostresswithsteadinessandfairness.

[YourResponseHere]

ContagiouslycalmpeopletrustthatGodisalwaysincontrolandencourageothersaroundthemthateverythingwillbeokay.

[YourResponseHere]

Howcanweexudegentlenessintoughtimes?BylookingatPaul’spromiseinPhilippians4:5:“TheLordisnear.”

[YourResponseHere]

WhenwebelievetheliethatGodhasleftus,ourlonelinessamplifiestheproblem.That’swhywehavetoclutchthetruthofGod’snearnesswithbothhands.

[YourResponseHere]

InthestoryofJesusfeedingthefivethousand,hisdisciplesneveraskedhimforhelp.Instead,theydecidedtheproblemwastoobigandtoldtheCreatoroftheworldwhattodo.

[YourResponseHere]

Whenwefaceaproblem,insteadofstartingwithwhatwehave,let’srememberwhatJesushas.Heiswithusandwillgiveuseverythingweneed

toovercomeourdifficulties.

[YourResponseHere]


1.Beforeeveryonesharesinthelargegroup,turntooneortwopeoplenexttoyouandfinish thissentence:“Afterwatching thevideo,onequestionInowhaveis...”

[YourResponseHere]

2.Read aloudExodus3:7–12.What fear doesMoses express toGod in verse11?HowdoesGodrespondinverse12?

[YourResponseHere]

DoesGod’s response answerMoses’s questiondirectly, or is there a deeperfearGodisaddressing?Explain.

[YourResponseHere]

3. Have different people in your group read aloud the following passages:Genesis15:1;Deuteronomy31:8;Joshua1:9;andIsaiah43:2.WhatisGod’spromise in each verse? What common theme do you see running throughtheseverses?

[YourResponseHere]

4. Again and again throughout hisWord, God promises to bewith us. ThinkaboutatimewhenGod’spresencecalmedyouinthemiddleofastorm.How

didGod’spresencechangeyouemotionally,spiritually,and/orphysically?

[YourResponseHere]

5.PaulsaysthekeytofindinggentlenessisbelievingthatGodisnear.However,justlikeJesus’disciples,weeasilyforgetheiswithusandwaitingtohelpus.What are some things that prevent you from not only knowing but alsobelievingGodisnear?

[YourResponseHere]

Whenhaveyou,likethedisciples,facedatrialandtookactionsintoyourownhandsbeforeturningtotheLord?

[YourResponseHere]

6. Have three group members read passages aloud: Galatians 5:22–25;Philippians 2:13; and 2 Peter 1:3.What promise is given in each of theseverses?

[YourResponseHere]

According to these promises,where is your source of calmness?Howdoesthisalleviatetheburdentoconjureupcalmnessonyourown?

[YourResponseHere]

7.Jesustellsustherewillalwaysbetroublesinlife.Butwehavethechoicetorespondtothosetroubleswithgentlenessorwithfrustration.Consideringthebiblicalpromisesjustread,whatspecificstepscanyoutaketorespondcalmlyinsteadofreactsharplywhenanxietiesweighheavilyonyourshoulders?

[YourResponseHere]

8.InJohn16:33,Jesussays,“Takeheart!Ihaveovercometheworld.”HowdidJesusovercometheentireworld?WhathasJesusovercomeinyourpersonalworld?

[YourResponseHere]

GROUPACTIVITYForthisactivity,eachparticipantwillneedhisorhersmartphone/cellphoneorastickynote.

In today’s session, you saw how your reaction to worry can be so deeplyengrainedwithinyouthatitmighttaketimetoretrainyourmindandattitudes.To help you do this, set a daily reminder on your smartphone or cell phone:somethingassimpleas,“Godiswithme,”orapromisefromScripturesuchasPhilippians4:5,“TheLordisnear.”

Ifyoudonothave thiscapabilityonyoursmartphone/cellphone, that’sallright!TrywritingdownaBibleverseaboutGod’spresenceonastickynoteandplaceitsomewhereyou’llseeitfrequently.ThegoalistofindanywaytodailyremindyourselfthatGodisnear.

Whenyourgroupreconvenes, talkabouttheremindersyousetforyourselfandwhetherornottheyhelpedyoufaceyourdaydifferently.

CLOSINGPRAYERWrapup this timeby talking to theFather.Yourgroupmaywant tobegin theprayertimebyreadingaloudthecomfortingwordsofIsaiah41:10:

Sodonot fear, for Iamwithyou;donotbedismayed, for IamyourGod. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold youwithmyrighteousrighthand.

Nowprayforoneanother.Splitupintogroupsof twoor threeorcircleupandprayforthepersonnexttoyou.Nomatterhowyoustructureit,hereareafewsuggestionsofwaystoprayforoneanother:

•Confessatrialyoutendtoreacttowithfearorfrustration.Prayspecifically

thatGod’sfruitofgentlenesswillovercomethisnegativetendency.•AskGodtohelpyourememberhisnearnessandtosquelchtheenemy’sliethathehasforsakenyou.

•UsetheIsaiahpassageyoujustreadtodeclareitspromisesand/ortruthoverthepersonyouareprayingfor.(Youcaninserttheperson’snameintotheverseorsimplyaskthatthetruthofthisversewouldbetrueinhisorherlife.)

R


SessionTwoeflect on the content you’ve covered this week inAnxious forNothing by

engaginginanyorallofthefollowingC.A.L.M.personalstudyguideactivities.Thetimeyouinvestwillbewellspent,soletGoduseit todrawyouclosertohim.Atyournextmeeting,sharewithyourgroupanykeypointsorinsightsthatstoodoutduringthistimespentwiththeLord.


During this week’s teaching, Max reminded the group about the constantclosenessofGod.Whatacomfortingpromise!ReadthefollowingpassagesthatreassureyouserveaGodwhogoesbeforeyou,comesbehindyou,andstandsbesideyouineverymomentofeveryday.Ifyouareinasettingthatlendsitselftodoingso, feel free to read theversesaloudasaproclamation.Celebrate thetruththattheFatherlovesyouandiswithyou!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nordemons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neitherheight nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able toseparate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans8:38–39)

AndIwillasktheFather,andhewillgiveyouanotheradvocatetohelpyou and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannotaccepthim,becauseitneitherseeshimnorknowshim.Butyouknowhim,forheliveswithyouandwillbeinyou.(John14:16–17)WherecanIgofromyourSpirit?WherecanIfleefromyourpresence?IfIgouptotheheavens,youarethere;ifImakemybedinthedepths,youare

there.IfIriseonthewingsofthedawn,ifIsettleonthefarsideofthesea,eventhereyourhandwillguideme,yourrighthandwillholdmefast. (Psalm139:7–10) InRomans 8:38–39Paulmakes a list ofwhatwill never separate us fromGod. Take amoment to create your ownversionofthispassagebyfillingintheblanksbelow.Usetheblankstonote any decisions you havemade,words you have said, or thoughtsyouhavehadthatshouldhavekeptGodaway—butactuallycannotandwillneverkeepGodfromlovingyou.

ForIamconvincedthatneithernor ,neithernor ,nor...noranythingelseinallcreation,willbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGodthatisinChristJesusourLord.

Underlineapromisefromoneoftheaboveversesthatparticularlyencouragesyoutoday.Writedownwhyyouchosetounderlinethosewords.Howdotheybringyoucomfort?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

ThanktheLordforthepromiseyouunderlinedabove.Thankhimforbeingneartoyounomatterwhatyoudo—andnomatterifyounotice.Thenjustsitinhispresence.Bestillandrestinthepromisethatheisnear.

youwillbetemptedtopressthebuttonandrelease...angryoutbursts,arashofaccusations,afieryretaliationofhurtfulwords.UncheckedanxietyunleashesanEnolaGayofdestruction.Howmanypeoplehavebeenwoundedasaresultofunbridled stress? And how many disasters have been averted because one

person refused to buckle under the strain? It is this composure Paul issummoning in the first of a triad of proclamations. “Let your gentleness beevidenttoall.TheLordisnear.Donotbeanxiousaboutanything”(Philippians4:5–6).


ASKGODFORHELP

HaveyoueverdoubtedGod’snearness?WriteaboutatimeyouthoughtGodwastoofarawayorhadforgottenaboutyou.

[YourResponseHere]

ReadDaniel2:1–23.Whatdidthekingrequestoftheseers?Whatdidhethreateniftherequestwasnotfulfilled?

[YourResponseHere]

Howdidtheastrologersrespondtotheking’srequest(verses10–11)?

[YourResponseHere]

Theastrologersreactedoutoffearandleanedontheirownunderstanding.WhoorwhatdoyouusuallyleanonbeforeleaningontheLordinastressfulsituation?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdoesDaniel’sresponsetotheking’srequest(verses16–18)differfromtheastrologers’?

[YourResponseHere]

Theastrologersreactedtotheunthinkabletask,whileDanielrespondedwithgentleness,askingfortimeandthengoingtoGodinprayer.Althoughyoudonothaveakingthreateningyourhead,lifethrowsalotofrequestsandproblemsyourway.WhatdoyoulearnfromDaniel’sresponseabouthowtohandlethosedemands?Howcanyoufollowhisexampleineverydaylife?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatpromisecanyoutakeawayfromDaniel’sworshipofGodinverse23?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

Nomatterwhatworrisome taskyou’re facing,God isalwaysnear togiveyouwisdomineverysituation,justashegavetoDaniel.Youonlyneedtoask.Whatagift!ConcludeyourtimebyaskingforaheartlikeDaniel’s—onethatisquickto turn to the Lord for wisdom in every circumstance. Review Daniel’sproclamationinverses20–23,soakinginthosebeautifulwords.ThanktheLordformakinghispowerandwisdomavailableinyourlife.

DonotassumeGodiswatchingfromadistance.Avoidthequicksandthatbearsthemarker“Godhasleftyou!”Donotindulgethislie.Ifyoudo,yourproblemwillbeamplifiedbyasenseofloneliness.It’sonethingtofaceachallenge,buttofaceitallalone?Isolationcreatesadownwardcycleoffret.ChooseinsteadtobethepersonwhoclutchesthepresenceofGodwithbothhands.“TheLordiswithme;Iwillnotbeafraid.Whatcanmeremortalsdotome?”(Psalm118:6).BecausetheLordisnear,wecanbeanxiousfornothing.

—AnxiousforNothing,pages70–71


Whatspecificanxietiesareweighingonyoutoday?Writeeachworryintheleftcolumnbelow.

Worries HowICanFaceItwithCalmness

Inthissession,wehavebeenstudyingGod’snearness.Becauseheisnear,thereisnoreasontobeanxious.Becauseheisnear,wecanfaceeveryworrywithgentleness.AsktheLordhowyoumightdemonstratecalmnessineachofthestrugglesyoulistedaboveandthenrecordyourthoughtsintherightcolumn.

TakeAction!

Whatdoesanaverageweekdaylooklikeforyou?Inthespacebelow,brieflylistyour typical schedule. (If you don’t have a typical schedule, just use today asyourexample.)Morning:

[YourResponseHere]

Afternoon:

[YourResponseHere]

Evening:

[YourResponseHere]

Focusonthescheduleyoujustjotteddown.Linebyline,pictureGodbeingwithyou.Withyouasyougrabyourcoffee.Withyouasyousitintraffic.Withyouatyourworkdeskorthekitchensink.Justwithyou.Howdoesthismentalexercisechangethewayyouviewyourdayandfaceeverydaytrials?

[YourResponseHere]

Pra

Ask the Lord to help you sense his presence anytime one of these anxietiesthreatensyourpeace.Layeachworryathis feet, rememberinghe iswithyou.Thank him for being there even when you don’t acknowledge him in thebusynessoflife.

Insteadofstartingwithwhatyouhave,startwithJesus.Startwithhiswealth,hisresources,andhisstrength.Beforeyouopentheledger,openyourheart.Beforeyoucountcoinsorcountheads,countthenumberoftimesJesushashelpedyoufacetheimpossible.. . .PresentthechallengetoyourFatherandaskforhelp.Will he solve the issue? yes, hewill.Will he solve it immediately?Maybe.Ormaybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. Thismuch is sure:contagiouscalmwillhappentothedegreethatweturntohim.

—AnxiousforNothing,pages75–76


Study Philippians 4:5—“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord isnear”—untilyoucanreciteitfrommemory.Don’tforgettomemorizetheversereferenceaswell.AfteryoumemorizetheScripture,asktheLordtobringittomindanytimeananxiousthoughtsurfaces.

RECOMMENDEDREADING

Wanttolearnmoreaboutwhatitmeanstoletyourgentlenessbemadeknowntoall?Reviewchapter5inAnxiousforNothingandusethespacebelowtowriteany key points or questions youwant to bring to the next groupmeeting. Toprepareforthenextsession,readchapters6–7.

SessionThree

PRESENTYOURREQUESTSTOGOD

The power of prayer is not in chanting the right formula or quotingsome secret code but in the heart of the one praying. God is notmanipulatedorimpressedbyformulasoreloquence,butheismovedbysincererequests.Ashischildren,wehonorhimwhenwetellhimexactlywhatweneed.

MAXLUCADO

IOPENINGREFLECTIONn every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your

requeststoGod”(Philippians4:6,emphasisadded).Really?Ineverysituationpraywiththanksgiving?Evenwhenthatpunktakesyourparkingspot?Evenwhenthereisnomore

creamerinthefridge,yourtoddlerisscreamingbloodymurder,andallyouwantisacupofcoffee?

Evenwhenshesays,“Ihavecancer,”orheleavesafterdecadesofmarriage?Surelynot!SurelytheoriginalGreektranslationofthisversemeans“inmost

situationspraywiththanksgiving.”In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells a remarkable story

about gratitude.DuringWorldWar II, she and her sister Betsie lived in threedifferentconcentrationcamps.TheentiretenBoomfamilyhadbeenarrestedforprovidingasafehaventoJewsandNazirebels.It’sestimatedtheysavedeighthundredlivesbeforebeingcaughtandsentaway.

CorriedescribeshowthebarracksoftheRavensbruckconcentrationcampinGermanywas infestedwith fleas.The sisterswere forced to sleep onwoodenplatformswithstrawontop,butthestrawwasdirty,smelly,andcrawlingwiththeskin-bitingpests.Corriewrites:

Isatupquicklyandbumpedmyheadontheplatformabove.“Fleas!”Ijumped down to the floor. “The place is crawlingwith fleas! I . . . Idon’tknowhowIcancopewithlivinginsuchaterribleplace!”

“Corrie, I think God has already given us the answer,” my sisterBetsie said. “What was that verse we read from the Bible thismorning?”

IpulledoutmyBible from thebag Iworeon a string aroundmyneck.Inthedimlight,Ireadfrom1Thessalonians5:16–18:“‘Rejoiceevermore.Praywithoutceasing. Inevery thinggive thanks: for this isthewillofGod inChristJesusconcerningyou.’Oh,Betsie, that’s toohardinaplacelikethis!”

“No, come on, Corrie—let’s try. What are we thankful for?” mysisterasked.

“Well...ifwemustbeinthisawfulplace,I’mthankfulthatwe’re

together.”...“That’sright!”Betsie’seyesdanced.“Andthankyou,God,forthe

fleas—”3

Corrie goes on to say that the flea infestation kept the guards out of theirbarracks,allowingCorrieandBetsietoreadtheBiblealoudtwiceadayforanywomanwhowantedtohear.MoreandmorewomenfoundthelightofChristinthedarkestofplacesbecauseoffleas.

Yes,thereisareasontobegratefulineverycircumstance.

TALKABOUTITTokickoffthisthirdsession,discussoneofthefollowingquestions:

•CorrietenBoomfamouslyaskedthequestion,“Isprayeryoursteeringwheeloryoursparetire?”Whatdoyouthinkthisquestionmeans?Howwouldyoupersonallyanswerit?or

•Howdoesagratefulheartaffectyourattitudetowardanxiety?Shareatimewhenchoosinggratitudechangedthewayyouviewedadifficultsituation.


•Lasttime,wediscussedhowweneedtoletourgentlenessbemadeknowntoall.Duringthegroupactivity,yousetanalarmtodailyremindyouofGod’spresence.Ifyoufollowedthroughwiththisdailyreminder,sharehowitencouragedyou.Howdiditbringmorecalmnesstoyourdayorchangethewayyoufacedyouranxieties?


HEARINGTHEWORDReadJames5:13–16aloudasagroup.Trytolookatthesewordswithneweyesandanopenheart.Thenreaditagainsilently,circlingorunderliningwordsthatstandouttoyou.

Isanyoneamongyouintrouble?Letthempray.Isanyonehappy?Letthemsingsongsofpraise.Isanyoneamongyousick?Letthemcalltheeldersofthechurchtoprayoverthemandanointthemwithoil inthename of theLord.And the prayer offered in faithwillmake the sickpersonwell;theLordwillraisethemup.Iftheyhavesinned,theywillbeforgiven.Thereforeconfessyoursinstoeachotherandprayforeachother so that youmay be healed. The prayer of a righteous person ispowerfulandeffective.



[YourResponseHere]


[YourResponseHere]

Jamessaystheprayersofarighteouspersonarepowerfulandeffective.Whenyoupray,doyoubelieveyourwordsarepowerfulandeffective?Ordoyoustrugglewithbelievingtheymakeadifference?Whatisastumblingblocktobelievingyourprayersarepowerful?

[YourResponseHere]

VIDEOTEACHINGNOTES

Playthevideosegmentforsessionthree.Asyouwatch,usethefollowingoutlinetorecordanythoughtsorconceptsthatstandouttoyou.

Ourprimarycalltoactioninthefightagainstanxietyisprayer.

[YourResponseHere]

WhenPaulcallsustoprayinPhilippians4:6,heusesthewordsprayer,supplication,andrequest.Thewordsaresimilar,butnotthesame.PrayerisadevotiontoGod.SupplicationishumilitytowardGod.ArequestisasimplepetitiontoGod.

[YourResponseHere]

InMatthew14:22–36,weseethataslongasPeterkepthiseyesonJesus,hedidtheimpossible...butassoonashelookedatthewaves,hebegantosink.WhenweshiftoureyesoffofChristandontoouranxieties,we,likePeter,begintodrowninworryordespair.

[YourResponseHere]

Peter’sprayertoJesuswasn’teloquent(seeverse30).Itwassimpleandspecific.Godcaresmoreabouttheheartbehindourprayersthanthewordsweuseinourprayers.

[YourResponseHere]

Therearethreereasonswhyit’simportanttobespecificwithourrequeststoGod:(1)aspecificprayerisaseriousprayer,(2)aspecificprayeropensthedoortoseeingGodatwork,and(3)specificprayerscreatealighterload.

[YourResponseHere]

PaulalsocallsustopraywithgratitudeinPhilippians4:6.GratitudeisamindfulawarenessofthebenefitsGodhasprovidedtousinlife.

[YourResponseHere]

Christ-basedcontentmentisthekeytofindingjoy.Sincenoonecantakeour

Christaway,noonecantakeawayourjoy.

[YourResponseHere]

WhatwehaveinChristisgreaterthananythingwedon’thaveinlife.

[YourResponseHere]



[YourResponseHere]

2.ReadaloudthebeginningofthestoryofPeterwalkingonthewaterinMatthew14:22–24.WhydoyouthinkJesusdidn’tgowithhisdisciplesintheboat?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatwasJesusdoingwhilethedisciplesweregone(verse23)?Whatdoesthisverseteachabouttheimportanceofprayer?

[YourResponseHere]

3.Peter’sprayertoJesusasthewavestossedtheboatwasnoteloquent.Itwassimple,direct,evendesperate.ReadLuke18:9–14.Accordingtothisparable,whatkindofprayerisheart-honoringtoGod?

[YourResponseHere]

4.Inthevideoteaching,MaxstressedtheimportanceofbeingspecificwithourrequeststoGod.Whenyoupray,doyoutendtobedetailedorvague?Whydoyouthinkyouhavethistendency?

[YourResponseHere]

5.Readthefollowingpassagesaloud:Matthew7:7–8;John14:13–14;andPsalm91:14–16.Whatisthepromiseofprayerineachverse?

[YourResponseHere]

6.InPhilippians4:6,Paultellsustopray“withthanksgiving.”ThroughouthisNewTestamentletters,hecontinuallylistsblessingafterblessingGodhaslavisheduponus,givingusreasonstoalwaysbethankful.Readthefollowingversesaloud:1Corinthians15:51–56;Ephesians2:1–7;and1John3:1–2.Accordingtotheseverses,whycanwebethankfulinanycircumstance?

[YourResponseHere]

7.ReadPhilippians4:11–13.HowdoesPaulsayheisabletofindcontentmentinallthings(verse13)?

[YourResponseHere]

Whatareaorcircumstanceinyourlifedoyoufindyourselfcomplainingaboutmost?

[YourResponseHere]

HowcanyouapplyPhilippians4:13toyourlifesothatyou,likePaul,canfindareasontobegratefulineverycircumstance?

[YourResponseHere]

GROUPACTIVITYThis group activity is simple. Take some time to “count your blessings,”focusingyourmindsonGod’sgoodgiftsinsteadofyourworries.HaveeveryoneinthegroupshareaparticularblessingthatGodhasgiventohimorher.

CLOSINGPRAYEREndyourtimetogetherbytalkingwiththeFather.YourgroupmaywanttobegintheprayertimebyreadingaloudPsalm136:1–9(ESV),apassageaboutgivingthankstotheLord:

GivethankstotheLORD,forheisgood,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever.

GivethankstotheGodofgods,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever.GivethankstotheLordoflords,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever;tohimwhoalonedoesgreatwonders,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever;tohimwhobyunderstandingmadetheheavens,forhissteadfastlove

enduresforever;tohimwhospreadouttheearthabovethewaters,forhissteadfastlove

enduresforever;tohimwhomadethegreatlights,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever;thesuntoruleovertheday,forhissteadfastloveenduresforever;themoonandstarstoruleoverthenight,forhissteadfastloveendures

forever.

Now,takesometimetoprayforoneanother,eitheringroupsoftwoorthreeorwiththepersonsittingnexttoyou.Nomatterhowyoustructureit,hereareafewsuggestionsofwaystoprayforoneanother:

•Shareatryingcircumstanceyouarenotthankfulfor.AsktheLordtobringaboutgratitudeandevenjoywhenfacingthisdifficulty.

•Prayaboutprayer!ConfesstotheLordanydoubtyouhaveaboutprayeroranylieyouhavebelievedaboutitslackofimportance.AskGodtogive

youadeeperdesiretotalktohim,andaskhimtoshowyouthepowerandeffectivenessofyourprayers.

•AsktheLordtogiveyoucontentmentinallcircumstances.ThanktheLordforhisgoodnessandtheblessingshehasgenerouslygiven.

R


SessionThreeeflect on the content you’ve covered this week inAnxious forNothing by

engaginginanyorallofthefollowingC.A.L.M.personalstudyguideactivities.Thetimeyouinvestwillbewellspent,soletGoduseit todrawyouclosertohim.Atyournextmeeting,sharewithyourgroupanykeypointsorinsightsthatstoodoutduringthistimespentwiththeLord.


Duringtheteachingsessionthisweek,Maxfocusedonpresentingourrequeststo God with thankfulness. Read the following passages about some of theundeserved gifts God has given to his children. Underline the gifts that hepromisesyouineachoftheversesbelow.

AndmyGodwillmeet all your needs according to the riches of hisgloryinChristJesus.(Philippians4:19)

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and hedeliversthem.(Psalm34:7)

MyFather’shousehasmanyrooms; if thatwerenotso,wouldIhavetoldyouthatIamgoingtheretoprepareaplaceforyou?(John14:2–3)

But theAdvocate, theHoly Spirit, whom the Fatherwill send inmyname,willteachyouallthingsandwillremindyouofeverythingIhavesaidtoyou.(John14:26)

Considerthegiftsyouunderlined.Whichblessingstirsthemostgratitudeinyourhearttoday?Why?

[YourResponseHere]

Often,weforgetthattalkingtotheCreatoroftheuniverseisanimmeasurableprivilege.ReadHebrews4:14–16.WhydowehavefreeandlimitlessaccesstothethroneroomofGod?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

Closeyourtimebyrememberingthegiftofprayer.AlthoughGodisakindandpatientFatherwho alwayswants to hear our concerns, dedicate this particularprayertimetopuregratitude,rejoicinginwhoheis.Thankhimforwhathehasgivenyou.Thankhimformakingawayforhischildrentopersonallytalktohimanytime,anyday,aboutanyproblem.

Gratitudeis . . . thegreatestofvirtues.Studieshavelinkedtheemotionwithavariety of positive effects. Grateful people tend to be more empathetic andforgivingofothers.Peoplewhokeepagratitudejournalaremorelikelytohavea positive outlook on life. Grateful individuals demonstrate less envy,materialism, and self-centeredness. Gratitude improves self-esteem andenhances relationships, quality of sleep, and longevity. If it came in pill form,gratitude would be deemed themiracle cure. It’s no wonder, then, that God’sanxietytherapyincludesalarge,delightfuldollopofgratitude.


ASKGODFORHELP

Whenyouarefacingaproblem,whathurdlestendtokeepyoufromtakingittoGodfirst?

[YourResponseHere]

JesussettheperfectexampleoftakingeveryrequesttoGod.AgainandagainthroughouttheGospels,weseehimgoingtoasecludedplacetopray.TakeacoupleofminutestoreadhisprayertotheFatheronthenightofhisarrestrecordedinMatthew26:36–46.WhatwasJesus’postureasheprayed?WhatdoesthisposturesayabouthisattitudetowardtheFather?

[YourResponseHere]

Rereadverse39.WhatspecificwordsofJesusprickyourheart?Whydothesewordsespeciallytouchyoutoday?

[YourResponseHere]

AfterreadingJesus’conversationwiththeFather—hisfaceinthedirtoftheGardenofGethsemane—whatdoyouthinktheLordwantstoteachyouthroughJesus’example?WhataboutJesus’prayerdoyouwanttoincorporateinyourownprayerlife?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatdoesJesustellhisdisciplestodoinverse41?

[YourResponseHere]

Jesuswarnshisdisciplesthatwhenitcomestotemptation,thespiritiswillingbutthefleshisweak.Whenitcomestoprayer,isn’tthesametrue?TheHolySpiritwithinuswantsustoremainclosetotheFather,whileourfleshwantstorelyonourownstrength.Ourprideoftenkeepsusfromprayerbut,asPaulwrote,theSpiritinsideofusactuallyhelpsustopray:

Inthesameway,theSpirithelpsusinourweakness.Wedonotknowwhatweought topray for,but theSpirithimself intercedes forus throughwordlessgroans.Andhewhosearchesourheartsknowsthemindof theSpirit,becausethe Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.(Romans8:26–27)

BasedonthispassagefromRomans,writedownwhattheSpiritisactivelydoinginyouevenwhenyoudon’tknowthewordstopray.

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

There is a spiritual battle warring over your prayer life, because the enemyknows how powerful prayer is. So today, askGod to help you overcome anyfleshlyattitudeyouhavetowardprayer.AskhimtohelpyouwalkintheSpirit,pressintoprayer,andbelievethatithaspower.

[YourResponseHere]

Goddoesn’tdelay.Heneverplacesyouonholdortellsyoutocallagainlater.Godloves thesoundofyourvoice.Always.Hedoesn’thidewhenyoucall.Hehearsyourprayers.Forthatreason“beanxiousfornothing,butineverythingbyprayerandsupplication,withthanksgiving,letyourrequestsbemadeknownto God” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV).With this verse the apostle calls us to takeaction against anxiety. Until this point he has been assuring us of God’scharacter:hissovereignty,mercy,andpresence.Nowitisourturntoactonthisbelief.Wechooseprayeroverdespair.Peacehappenswhenpeoplepray.



Haveyoueverstartedasentencewiththephraseifonly?

IfonlyIcoulddriveanewcarinsteadofthisoldclunker,thenIwouldbelessstressed.

IfonlyIcouldbemarried,thenIwouldn’tfeellonely.IfonlyIhadmoremoney,thenIwouldbehappy.

Theifonlysyndromecanleadyoutoconcludethatthegoodlifeisonlyonepurchase away, one romance away, or one promotion away. It’s a lie that canleadyoutoborrowmoremoney,worklonghours,andtakeunnecessaryrisks.

The antidote to the ifonly syndrome is gratitude.Why?Because gratitudeforcesyoutorecognizewhatGodhasalreadygiventoyou.While theanxiousheart says, “Lord, if only I had this, that, or the other, I’d be okay . . .,” thegratefulheartsays,“Lord,you’vealreadygivenmethis,that,andtheother,andIthankyou.”

What are the ifonlys inyour life today?Write each ifonly in the left columnbelow.

IfOnlys Alreadys

Afterlistingyourifonlys,practicewhatwestudiedinthissession—thepowerfulheart-changingmedicineofgratitude.Intherightcolumnabove,listyouralreadys.Howdoesnotingthesethingschangeyourperspectiveaboutyourfirstlist?

[YourResponseHere]

TakeAction!

Take this activity a step further by encouraging someone else.Reach out to apersoninyourlifewhoisanalready—someonewhohasalreadylovedyouorhelpedyouinthepast.Letthatpersonknowthatyouarethankfulforhimorher

today.

Pra

For this prayer time, use thewordsofPaul inPhilippians4:12–13.Fill in theblankswithcircumstancesordesiresthathavecausedyoutobeungratefulandanxious.

Iknowwhatitistobeinneed,andIknowwhatitistohaveplenty.Ihavelearnedthesecretofbeingcontentinanyandeverysituation,whether

or,whetheror.Icando

allthisthroughhimwhogivesmestrength.

LeavethesecircumstancesatthefeetoftheFatherandconcludeyourprayertimebythankinghimforyouralreadys.

WhatyouhaveinChristisgreaterthananythingyoudon’thaveinlife.youhaveGod,who iscrazyaboutyou,and the forcesofheaven tomonitorandprotectyou. you have the living presence of Jesus within you. In Christ you haveeverythinghecangiveyou,ahappiness that canneverbe taken,agrace thatwillneverexpire,andawisdomthatwilleverincrease.Heisafountainoflivinghopethatwillneverbeexhausted.



Study Philippians 4:6—“But in every situation, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requests to God”—until you can recite it frommemory. Don’t forget to memorize the verse reference as well. After you

memorize the Scripture, ask the Lord to bring it tomind anytime an anxiousthoughtsurfaces.

RECOMMENDEDREADING

Wanttolearnmoreaboutwhatitmeanstoletyourgentlenessbemadeknowntoall? Review chapters 6–7 inAnxious for Nothing and use the space below towriteanykeypointsorquestionsyouwanttobringtothenextgroupmeeting.Toprepareforthenextsession,readchapter8.

SessionFour

THEPEACEOFGODWILLGUARDYOURHEART

Our Father gives us the very peace of God. He downloads thetranquility of the throne room into our world, resulting in aninexplicablecalm.Weshouldbeworried,butwearen’t.Weshouldbeupset, but we are comforted. The peace of God transcends all logic,scheming,andeffortstoexplainit.

MAXLUCADO

WOPENINGREFLECTION

henstrollingthestreetsofIstanbul,Turkey,thereisnosightmoremajesticthantheHagiaSophia.Itscentraldome,standing105feettallandsurroundedbyfourpencil-shapedminaretsstretchingmorethan200feetintotheheavens,canbe spotted frommiles away. The dome often serves as a “north star” for losttourists.

InAD532,EmperorJustinianImade theHagiaSophiawhat it is today. ItservedasaChristiancathedralformorethanamillennium,untilAD1453.Thatyear, theOttomanEmpire tookoverConstantinople(moderndayIstanbul)anddeclaredtheHagiaSophiatobeamosque.Today,itisamuseum.

WhenI(Jenna)steppedintotheHagiaSophia,Icouldimmediatelyseethelayersofhistorywithinitswalls.MuchrestorationandrepairhavepeeledbacktheyellowpainttheOttomansusedtocoverupChristiansymbolsandmosaics.One particularmosaic that caughtmy attention stood over the ImperialDoor,whichwasusedonlybytheemperors.

The mosaic depicts Jesus sitting on a throne of jewels. Some people arearoundhim,butIdidn’tpaymuchattentiontothem.Myfocuswasdrawntohishands.Jesus isholdingwhat looks likeanopenscrollorbook. Icouldn’t readthewords,butafterdoingalittleresearchIlearnedtheysay,“Peacebewithyou.Iamthelightoftheworld.”

Peacebewithyou.Writtenhighoverthetwenty-three-foot-talloakdoorsarethewords,“Peace

bewithyou.”Writtenabovethedoorsthatmorethanthreemilliontouristswalkthroughayeararethewords,“Peacebewithyou.”Writtenabovethedoorsthatwelcomed emperors who worshiped themselves and sultans who prayed to adifferentgodarethewords,“Peacebewithyou.”

Iwonderhowmanypeopleoverthecenturieshaveactuallylookedatthosewords and received the invitation.Peace.Not just any peace.God’s peace.Apeace that surpasses all understanding. And just as this peace frames thedoorwayof theHagiaSophia,so it framesourhearts ifwewillallowit. It’sapeacethatguardsourheartsandmindsinChrist.

Thispeaceisaconstantinvitationinourlivesaswewalkthroughthedoorsofdecisions,ofrelationships,ofdailytasks.Buthowmanytimesdowestoptoacceptit?

“AndthepeaceofGod,whichtranscendsallunderstanding,willguardyour

heartsandyourmindsinChristJesus”(Philippians4:7).Today,let’slookupandsayyestotheinvitationofthisbeautifulpromise.

TALKABOUTITTokickoffthisfourthsession,discussoneofthefollowingquestions:

•Haveyoueverenduredatorrential(physical)storm?Describethefiercenessofthestormandhowyouwithstooditsstrength.

or

•Haveyoueverenduredaperfectstormofbadevents?Whathappened?Howdidyouspirituallyandemotionallyfacethestorm?


•Lasttime,wediscussedleavingourrequestswithGod.Howhasthistruthbroughtyoumorepeacesincethelasttimewemet?


HEARINGTHEWORDReadaloud2Chronicles20:1–12asagroup(oraskavolunteertodoso).Trytolookatthesewordswithneweyesandanopenheart.Thenreaditagainsilently,circlingorunderliningwordsthatstandouttoyou.

Afterthis,theMoabitesandAmmoniteswithsomeoftheMeunitescametowagewaragainstJehoshaphat.

Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is comingagainstyoufromEdom,fromtheothersideoftheDeadSea.ItisalreadyinHazezonTamar”(thatis,EnGedi).Alarmed,JehoshaphatresolvedtoinquireoftheLord,andheproclaimedafastforallJudah.ThepeopleofJudahcametogethertoseekhelpfromtheLORD;indeed,theycamefromeverytowninJudahtoseekhim.

ThenJehoshaphatstoodupintheassemblyofJudahandJerusalematthetempleoftheLORDinthefrontofthenewcourtyardandsaid:

“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is inheaven?Youruleoverallthekingdomsofthenations.Powerandmightare inyourhand,andnoonecanwithstandyou.OurGod,didyounotdriveouttheinhabitantsofthislandbeforeyourpeopleIsraelandgiveitforevertothedescendantsofAbrahamyourfriend?Theyhavelivedinitand have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamitycomesuponus,whethertheswordofjudgment,orplagueorfamine,wewillstandinyourpresencebeforethistemplethatbearsyourNameandwillcryouttoyouinourdistress,andyouwillhearusandsaveus.’

“ButnowherearemenfromAmmon,MoabandMountSeir,whoseterritory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came fromEgypt;sotheyturnedawayfromthemanddidnotdestroythem.Seehowthey are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession yougave us as an inheritance.OurGod,will you not judge them? Forwehavenopowertofacethisvastarmythatisattackingus.Wedonotknowwhattodo,butoureyesareonyou.”



[YourResponseHere]


[YourResponseHere]

WhatwasJehoshaphat’sresponsetotheperfectstormofarmiesthatwerepreparingtoattack(seeverses3and12)?Whentheperfectstormofanxietyisloominginyourownlife,howcanyourespondlikeJehoshaphat?

[YourResponseHere]

VIDEOTEACHINGNOTESPlaythevideosegmentforsessionfour.Asyouwatch,usethefollowingoutlinetorecordanythoughtsorconceptsthatstandouttoyou.

“WhereisGod?”isoneofthefirstandmostcommonquestionsweaskwhenfacinglife’sstorms.

[YourResponseHere]

ThedisciplesmusthaveaskedthisquestionastheyweretossedaboutbytheGalileanSea,noJesusinsight,aloneinthestormforninehours.

[YourResponseHere]

Whenwefacethetempestuousstormsoflife,PaulencouragesuswiththesewordsfromPhilippians4:7(ESV):“AndthepeaceofGod,whichsurpassesallunderstanding,willguardyourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus.”

[YourResponseHere]

Aswedoourpart—rejoiceintheLord,pursueagentlespirit,prayabouteverything,andclingtogratitude—Goddoeshispart.HebestowsonusthepeaceofGod.

[YourResponseHere]

ThispeaceofGodthatPaulpromisesisnotjustfromGod,it’sofGod.

[YourResponseHere]

AswerejoiceinGod,continuetopray,andcastourworriesonhim,hebuildsafortressofpeacearoundourheartsandourminds.

[YourResponseHere]

When Paul and his fellow shipmateswere tossed at sea for fourteen days, anangel of theLord appeared toPaul and gave him three promiseswe can holdontointhestorm:

Wearenotalone.Godsendshisheavenlyhelperstoguardus.

[YourResponseHere]

WebelongtoGod.Heavenhasaplaceforus.

[YourResponseHere]

WeareintheLord’sservice.Godwillneverletyouliveonedayshortofthemissionhehasgivenyou.

[YourResponseHere]

Godneverpromisedalifewithoutstorms.Buthepromisedtobewithuswhenwefacethem.

[YourResponseHere]



[YourResponseHere]

2.ReadJohn14:27aloud.Whatisthedifferencebetweenthe“peace”theworldgivesandthepeaceGodgives?

[YourResponseHere]

3.Godneverpromiseswewillliveastorm-freeexistence.TheBibleisfullofstoriesaboutstormsandhowtofacethem.TakeamomenttoreadMatthew8:23–27.HowdoesMatthewdescribetheferocityofthisstorminverse24?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatisJesusdoingduringthestorm?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatisJesus’responsetothedisciples’fear(verse26)?

[YourResponseHere]

4.InMatthew8:26,Jesussaystohisdisciples,“Youoflittlefaith,whyareyousoafraid?”Aftersayingthis,Jesus“gotupandrebukedthewindsandthewaves,anditwascompletelycalm.”CouldJesusbetellingyouthesamethingtoday?Whatareaofyourlifeisdominatedtoomuchbyfearandnotenoughbyfaith?

[YourResponseHere]

Jesusrebukedthewindsandthewaves.WhenwasatimeyousawJesusrebukethe“windsandthewaves”ofyourlife’sstorm?

[YourResponseHere]

5.ReadPsalm119:75andHebrews12:6,11.Manytimes,the“windsandwaves”inourstormarecausedbyourownpoordecisions.AndtheLord,

justasherebukedthewindsandwavesinGalilee,rebukesusfordisobeyinghisword.Accordingtotheversesyoujustread,whydoesGoddisciplineus?

[YourResponseHere]

TowhattypeofrelationshipdotheseversescompareourrelationshipwithGod?HowcanGod’srebukebringcalmtoourstorm?

[YourResponseHere]

6.InActs27:23,Paultellshisfellowshipmates,“LastnightanangeloftheGodtowhomIbelongandwhomIservestoodbesideme.”Therearethreepromiseswecangainfromthesewords.ThefirstpromiseisthatGodwillsendhisangelstohelpyouduringlife’sstorms.ReadPsalm91:11–12;Matthew18:10;andHebrews1:14.Whatisthepromiseofeachoftheseverses?

[YourResponseHere]

Howdotheseversesbringyoupeace?Howdotheyinfluenceyourawarenessofthesupernaturalrealitythatsurroundsyou?

[YourResponseHere]

7.ThesecondpromiseisthatyoubelongtoGod.PauldescribesGodastheOne“towhomIbelong.”ReadPsalm100:3;Isaiah43:1;and1John3:1.Whatisthekeypromiseofeachoftheseverses?

[YourResponseHere]

Howdoesrememberingthispromisebringyoucomfortwhenyouconsiderthestormsoflife?

[YourResponseHere]

8.ThefinalpromiseisthatGodhasaheavenlymissionforyourlife.ReadMatthew22:37–39;28:19;John15:16;andEphesians2:10.Accordingtotheseverses,whathasGodcalledyoutodo?

[YourResponseHere]

Intheversesyoujustread,theheavenlyassignmentswerebroaderinnature,butGodputsspecificassignmentsonourheartsaswell.WhatspecificministryhasGodassignedtoyouduringthisseasonoflife?

[YourResponseHere]

GROUPACTIVITYForthisactivity,youwillneedasmartphone, laptop,oranydevicecontainingspeakers,alongwithaccesstoplaythehymn,“ItIsWellwithMySoul.”

GodpromisestoguardourheartsandourmindsinChristJesus.Whenwebringour requests before Christ, entrusting our cares into his hands, he serves as astrongwallofprotectionaroundour thoughtsandouremotions.Hegivesusapeacewe can’t comprehend, nomatter howbig the storm.Tomeditateon thepromiseofthispeace,playtheoldandbelovedhymn“ItIsWellwithMySoul.”Soakinthewords.Singalongifyouwish.Pullupthelyricsonyoursmartphoneifyouwant toreadalong.Howeveryouchoose to listen,allowthepromiseofthesewordstobringyoudeeppeace.

CLOSINGPRAYERWrapup this timeby talking to theFather.Yourgroupmaywant tobegin theprayertimebyreadingthecomfortingwordsofPsalm29:10–11:

TheLORDsitsenthronedovertheflood;theLORDisenthronedasKingforever.

TheLORDgivesstrengthtohispeople;

theLORDblesseshispeoplewithpeace.

Now,takesometimetoprayforoneanother,eitheringroupsoftwoorthreeorwiththepersonsittingnexttoyou.Nomatterhowyoustructureit,hereareafewsuggestionsofwaystoprayforoneanother:

•ShareanareainyourlifewhereGod’speacefeelsfaint.ThentaketurnsaskingforGod’speacetofilltheheartofoneofyourfellowgroupmembers.

•ThankGodforhispeace.Thankhimforthepromisesyoudiscussedtoday—thathesendshisangelsregardingyou,thatyoubelongtohim,andthatheissovereignoveryourcallinginthislife.

•Usethepassageyoujustreadanddeclareitspromisesand/ortruthoverthepersonyouareprayingfor.(Youcaninserttheperson’snameintotheverseorsimplyaskthatthetruthofthisversewouldbetrueinhisorherlife.)

R


SessionFoureflect on the content you’ve covered this week inAnxious forNothing by

engaginginanyorallofthefollowingC.A.L.M.personalstudyguideactivities.Thetimeyouinvestwillbewellspent,soletGoduseit todrawyouclosertohim.Atyournextmeeting,sharewithyourgroupanykeypointsorinsightsthatstoodouttoyouasyouspentthistimewiththeLord.


Duringtheteachingsessionthisweek,MaxremindedusaboutthesupernaturalpeaceofGod.TheLorddoesn’tjustpromiseusanypeace,buthispeace!Whatagift!ReadthefollowingpassagesaboutthispeacethatGodusestoguardyourheartandmindinhim.Ifyouare inasetting that lends itself todoingso,feelfree to read the verses aloud as a proclamation. Celebrate the truth that thePrince of Peace is in you and filling you with his peace that surpasses allunderstanding.

Youwillkeepinperfectpeacethosewhosemindsaresteadfast,becausetheytrustinyou.(Isaiah26:3)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentlenessandself-control.Againstsuchthingsthere is no law. Thosewho belong to Christ Jesus have crucified thefleshwith its passions and desires. Sincewe live by the Spirit, let uskeepinstepwiththeSpirit.(Galatians5:22–25)

Greatpeacehavethosewholoveyourlaw,andnothingcanmakethemstumble.(Psalm119:165)

Fortousachildisborn,tousasonisgiven,andthegovernmentwillbe on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,MightyGod,EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.(Isaiah9:6)

Rereadthepassagesandunderlinethepromiseineachverse.Whatparticularpromisebringsyouthemostcomforttoday?

[YourResponseHere]

Whydoesthispromisespeaksopersonallytoyou?

[YourResponseHere]

Pray

For this prayer time, write a thank-you note to God. You can thank him foranything,butifyouneedsuggestions,herearesomeideas:

•Thankhimforhispeacethatdwellsinyoubecausehehimselfdwellsinyou.

•ThankGodfortheparticularpromisethatencouragedyoutoday.•ThankhimfortherefreshingpromisesofPhilippians4:4–8andforallhehasbeenteachingyouthroughthisstudy.

As we do our part (rejoice in the Lord, pursue a gentle spirit, pray abouteverything,andclingtogratitude),Goddoeshispart.HebestowsuponusthepeaceofGod.Note,thisisnotapeacefromGod.OurFathergivesustheverypeaceofGod.Hedownloadsthetranquilityofthethroneroomintoourworld,resulting in an inexplicable calm. We should be worried, but we aren’t. Weshouldbeupset,butwearecomforted.ThepeaceofGod transcendsall logic,scheming,andeffortstoexplainit.


ASKGODFORHELP

Jesuspromisestogiveusapeacethatcomesdirectlyfromhimandsurpassesanythingwecanevercomprehend.Unfortunately,attimeswemaytrytofindpeaceinwhattheworldhastoofferinsteadofwhatGodhaspromised.Readthestorytoldin1Samuel15aboutwhathappenswhenweseekpeacefromtheworldinsteadoffromGod.WhatwasGod’sspecificcommandtoSaulinverse3?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdidSauldisobeyGod’scommand(seeverse9)?

[YourResponseHere]

SamuelconfrontedSaulwithGod’sanger,rebukinghimforkeepingsomeofthespoilsinsteadofcompletelydestroyingtheAmalekitesastheLordhadcommanded.WhatwasSaul’sinitialresponsetothisrebuke(seeverses20–21)?

[YourResponseHere]

Saulfinallyconfessedinverse24thathehaddisobeyedGodbyfearingthepeopleinsteadoftheLordandhadallowedtheIsraelitestotakedesiredspoilsfromtheAmalekites.We,likeSaul,areoftenlikewiseguiltyoffearingmanmorethanGod.Deepdown,webelievethatpleasingotherswillgiveusthepeaceoursoulslongfor.RecallatimeyoudecidedtopleaseothersinsteadofGod,seekingpeaceinthewrongplace.

[YourResponseHere]

Initially,SaulcametoSamuelwithavictorioussmile.Hewasatpeacebecauseeveryonewashappy.Butthis“peace”thatcamefrompleasingthepeopleof

Israelsoonfaded,foritwasn’ttruepeace.Itwasafaçade,atemporaryfeelingofpleasure.SaulquicklyfoundthatpleasingtheLordwastheonlysourceoftruepeace.Howhaveyoufoundthistobetrueinyourlife?

[YourResponseHere]

Weareallguiltyofseekingpeaceinthewrongplaces.Whenwedothis,werobGodofhispromisetoguardourheartsandourmindswithhispeacebeyondourunderstanding.

Pray

EndthistimebyaskingGodtohelpyoufindpeaceinhimandhimalone.AsktheLord tosurfaceanythingoranyoneyouare leaningonforpeace,and thenconfessthosethingstohim.Askhimtohelpyouturntohimforpeaceinsteadofthecounterfeit“peace”theworldoffers.

Whenyougaveyourlifeto[God],hetookresponsibilityforyou.Heguaranteesyour safe arrival into his port. you are his sheep; he is your shepherd. Jesussaid,“Iamthegoodshepherd;Iknowmysheepandmysheepknowme”(John10:14).youareabride;heisyourbridegroom.Thechurchisbeing“preparedasabrideadornedforherhusband”(Revelation21:2ESV).youarehischild;heisyourfather.“youarenolongeraslavebutGod’sownchild.Andsinceyouarehischild,Godhasmadeyouhisheir” (Galatians4:7NLT).youcanhavepeaceinthemidstofthestormbecauseyouarenotalone,youbelongtoGod.



Whatspecificanxietiesareweighingonyoutoday?Writedownanyworryonyourheart.Beasspecificasyoucanbe.YourFatherwantstohearfromyou.

[YourResponseHere]

Inthissession,wehavebeenstudyinghowtheLordpromisestoguardourhearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Picture him in military uniform, marchingaroundyourheartandmind,protectingyoufromtheenemy’sschemesandtheworriesofthisworld.Hebuildsafortressofpeacearoundthoseheloves.WhenyouleaveyourrequestswithGod,youare,inasense,handingovertheenemytotheCommander.

AlexanderMacLaren,anEnglishministerinthe1800s,calledthispeacethatispromised inPhilippians4:7God’s“WarriorPeace.”Hewrote,“ThisDivinepeacetakesuponitselfwarlikefunctions,andgarrisonstheheartandmind.. .howeverprofoundandrealthatDivinepeaceis,itistobeenjoyedinthemidstofwarfare.”4

Though oxymoronic, “Warrior Peace,” could not be a better title forwhatGodoffers tous.Theworries of thisworldwill not stop attackingus, butwehaveaGodwhofightsforus—whofightsforthepeaceofourhearts.Let’sdoour part by handing over ourworries to theCommander, entrusting our caresintohishands.

TakeAction!

Inthespacebelow,drawasquare.Insidethesquare,drawaheart.Now,taketheworry orworries you listed above andwrite themdownon the outside of thesquare.

[YourResponseHere]

ReadthispromisefromPsalm18:2:

TheLORDismyrock,myfortressandmydeliverer;myGodismyrock, inwhomI takerefuge,myshieldandthehornofmysalvation,mystronghold.

When you rejoice in the Lord, remember that he is near, and leave yourrequestsathisfeet,hesetsupwallsofprotectionaroundyou.HeguardsyouinChrist andkeeps theworriesof thisworld fromsettingupcamp inyourheartand mind. What you drew above is a tiny glimpse of the spiritual battle of

supernaturalpeaceforyourheart.

Pray

For this prayer time,meditate on thewords of Psalm18:2.Then take anotherlookattheworriesyoulisted.AsktheLordforcontinualprotectionfromtheseanxieties.

Northeasters bear down on the best of us. Contrary winds. Crashing waves.Theycome.ButJesusstillcatcheshischildren.Hestillextendshisarms.Hestillsendshisangels.Becauseyoubelongtohim,youcanhavepeaceinthemidstofthestorm.ThesameJesuswhosenttheangeltoPaulsendsthismessagetoyou:“Whenyoupassthroughthewaters,Iwillbewithyou”(Isaiah43:2).youmaybefacingtheperfectstorm,butJesusofferstheperfectpeace.



Study Philippians 4:7—“And the peace of God, which transcends allunderstanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”—untilyoucanreciteitfrommemory.Don’tforgettomemorizetheversereferenceaswell.AfteryoumemorizetheScripture,asktheLordtobringittomindanytimeananxiousthoughtsurfaces.

RECOMMENDEDREADING

Want to learn more about the supernatural peace from God that guards yourheart?Reviewchapter8inAnxiousforNothingandusethespacebelowtowriteany key points or questions youwant to bring to the next groupmeeting. Toprepareforthenextsession,readchapters9–11.

SessionFiveMEDITATEONTHESETHINGS

Satan loves to fill our minds with comparisons. He wants to fill ourheads with a swarm of anxious and negative thoughts. But the goodnewsisthatwhiletherearemanythingsinlifeoverwhichwehavenocontrol,wegettochoosewhatwethinkabout.Wegettoselectourownthoughtpatterns.

MAXLUCADO

M

OPENINGREFLECTION

artha.She’salwayshadabadrap.Probablybecauseshestuckherfootinhermouth at times. She was judgmental, demanding, and maybe a little tooopinionated.

ButMarthahadanotherside.Shewasaservantandanurturer,andboycouldshethrowadinnerparty.EveryoneinhervillageofBethanyprobablycalledherthe“hostesswiththemostest.”

Luke’sGospeltellsusofoneoccasionwhenMarthadiscoveredJesuswasintown.Immediatelysheopenedthefrontdoorandwelcomedhiminfordinner...andpossiblysomestinky,sweatydisciplestoo.

Soon the aromas of the kitchen filled the entire house.The ovenwas full,potswereboiling,Marthawaschopping,andtimewasticking.“Harrumph!”shemutteredwithtightlips.“Ifmysisterwouldcomeinhereandhelpmewithallthis,maybedinnerwouldmakeittothetablebeforebreakfast.”

WhileMarthawasstewing,Marywas listening.ShehadstartedoutacrosstheroomfromJesus,butasJesusspoke,shecouldn’tstoplistening.Sheinchedcloser andcloser, till she sat athis feet.Allher thoughtswere fixedon Jesus,while all ofMartha’s thoughtswere “distracted by all the preparations” (Luke10:40).

Marthafinallyreachedapointwhereshewasboilinghotterthanthesouponthestove.ShemarchedintothelivingroomwhereJesuswasteaching.“Lord,”shesaid,“don’tyoucare thatmysisterhas leftme todo theworkbymyself?Tellhertohelpme!”(verse40).

Marywasembarrassed.Thediscipleswerewide-eyed.AndthewholeroomwaitedtohearwhatJesuswouldsay.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset aboutmanythings,butfewthingsareneeded—orindeedonlyone.Maryhaschosenwhatisbetter,anditwillnotbetakenawayfromher”(verses41–42).

When it comes to our thoughts, we have a choice. We can focus on theworriesofthisworld.Orwecanfixourthoughtsonthe“onlyone”thatwillnotbetakenfromus.

“Maryhaschosenwhatisbetter,”Jesussaid.Let’sdothesame.JustasJesusenteredintoMarthaandMary’slivingroom,

hehasenteredintoourhearts.Thatmeansnomatterwhereweareorwhattrialscomeourway,wecansitinhispresenceandfixourthoughtsonhistruth.

TALKABOUTIT

Welcometoourlastsession!Tobegin,discussoneofthefollowingquestions:

•Weliveinatechnology-drivensociety,withsmartphones,laptops,andtabletsatourfingertips.Howhastechnologyinfluencedyourthoughtpatterns?Howhaveyouseentechnologyfillyourmindwithanxiousthoughts?

or

•Thinkaboutatimewhenwhatyouthoughtaboutaparticularchallengeyouwerefacingwasbiggerthanthechallengeitself.Whathappened?


•Lasttime,wediscussedthepeaceofGodthatsurpassesallunderstanding.Howhasthistruthbroughtyoumorepeacesincethelasttimewemet?


HEARINGTHEWORD

ReadLuke10:38–42aloudasagroup.Trytolookatthesewordswithneweyesandanopenheart.Thenreaditagainsilently,circlingorunderliningwordsthatstandouttoyou.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a villagewhere awoman namedMartha opened her home to him. She had asistercalledMary,whosatattheLord’sfeetlisteningtowhathesaid.

ButMarthawasdistractedbyallthepreparationsthathadtobemade.Shecametohimandasked,“Lord,don’tyoucare thatmysisterhasleftmetodotheworkbymyself?Tellhertohelpme!”

“Martha,Martha,”theLordanswered,“youareworriedandupsetaboutmany things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.Mary has chosenwhat is better, and itwill not be taken away fromher.”



[YourResponseHere]

Whydothesewordsstandouttoyou?Whatfreshinsightdotheybring?

[YourResponseHere]

LuketellsusthatMarthawas“distracted”(verse40).HowdidherconcernsleadhertotreatJesusandhersister?WhenyourmindisfixedonconcernsinsteadofChrist,howdoesitleadyoutomistreattheonesyoulove?

[YourResponseHere]

VIDEOTEACHINGNOTES

Playthevideosegmentforsessionfive.Asyouwatch,usethefollowingoutlinetorecordanythoughtsorconceptsthatstandouttoyou.

Theenemyisconstantlyinvadingourmindswithlies—withthoughtsthatwe’renotgoodenough,thatnoonewilleverloveus,orthateveryoneisagainstus.

Ourmindsareconstantlyunderattack.Thegoodnewsisthatwhilethereare

manythingsinlifeoverwhichwehavenocontrol,wegettochoosewhatwethinkabout.

[YourResponseHere]

Weoccupythecontroltowerofourmentalairport.

[YourResponseHere]

ThebleedingwomanhadeveryexcusenottogotoJesus.Herdiseasehadmadeheranoutcast.ShecouldhavebelievedintheliesthatsaidshewasunfitortoodirtytotouchChrist.Butinsteadshechosetobelievethatshewouldbehealed.

[YourResponseHere]

Paul’swordsinPhilippians4:8makeitclearthatthebestwaytofaceanxietyinthislifeiswithclear-headed,logicalthinking.

[YourResponseHere]

Whenunknownscomeourway,insteadofrespondingwithanxiousthoughts,weneedtohandourmindsovertoChrist.Weneedtolethimcontrolourthoughtswithhistruth.

[YourResponseHere]

ThebestwaywecanfilterourthoughtsisbyclingingtoChrist,abidinginhim.Heisthetruevine,andasweholdontohim,hewillproducefruitinus.

[YourResponseHere]

Ourgoalisnottobearfruitbuttostayattachedtothevine.WearetomakeChristourhomeandholdontohim.

[YourResponseHere]

BIBLESTUDYANDGROUPDISCUSSION

TakeafewminuteswithyourgroupmemberstodiscusswhatyoujustwatchedandexploretheseconceptsinScripture.

1.Beforeeveryonesharesinthelargegroup,turntooneortwopeoplenexttoyouandfinish thissentence:“Afterwatching thevideo,onequestionInowhaveis...”

[YourResponseHere]

2.ReadaloudJohn8:44;Ephesians6:11–12;and1Peter5:8.Whatdoeseachoftheseversessayaboutourenemy?

[YourResponseHere]

Whatishismission?

[YourResponseHere]

Whyisitimportanttounderstandandknowallwecanaboutourenemy?

[YourResponseHere]

3.ReadRomans8:6aloud.Whatdoesthisversesayourmindshavethepowertodo?

[YourResponseHere]

InTheMessageparaphrase,thisversereads:“Obsessionwithselfinthesemattersisadeadend;attentiontoGodleadsusoutintotheopen,intoa

spacious,freelife.”Whattypeofthoughtsspecificallyleadtoa“deadend”?

[YourResponseHere]

Whatthoughtsleadustoa“freelife”?

[YourResponseHere]

4. Read Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; and Ephesians 6:14.What doeseachverseaskustodosothatourthoughtsarenotdominatedbyanxiety?

[YourResponseHere]

Whataresomewayswecanliveoutthesecommandsinoureverydaylife?

[YourResponseHere]

5.ReadMark5:24–29.Whatthoughtsdoyouthinktheenemyhadplantedinthebleedingwoman’smindasshejockeyedherwaythroughthecrowdtogettoJesus?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatlieshastheenemywhisperedintoyourhearttokeepyoufromseekingChristwhenyou,likethebleedingwoman,feelphysicallyorspirituallysick?

[YourResponseHere]

Insteadoflisteningtotheenemy,whatdoesthewomansaytoherself(seeverse28)?

[YourResponseHere]

HowdoesJesusrewardthebleedingwoman’sdeterminedfaith(seeverses

33–34)?Whatpromisecanwetakeawayfromhisresponsetoher?

[YourResponseHere]

6.ReadaloudJesus’wordsinJohn15:1–8(orhaveavolunteerdoso).Oneofthebestwayswecanthinkonthingsthataretrue,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,andexcellent isbyattachingourselvesto theOnewhoembodiestruth,nobility, righteousness,purity, love,andall thingsgoodandexcellent.WhatdoesitmeantoabideinChrist?

[YourResponseHere]

WhoorwhatdoyoufindyourselfabidinginmorethanChrist?HowcanyouattachyourselftoChristmorethanthepeopleandthingsofthisworld?

[YourResponseHere]

7.Jesussays,“IfyouremaininmeandIinyou,youwillbearmuchfruit”(John15:5). What are the fruits we produce when we remain in Christ? (SeeGalatians5:22–23.)

[YourResponseHere]

8. Our goal is not to bear fruit but to stay attached to Christ. What is thedifferencebetweenthesetwogoals?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatistheconsequenceoffocusingonbearingfruitinsteadoffocusingonstayingattachedtoChrist?Howhaveyouseenthisunfoldinyourownfaithjourney?

[YourResponseHere]

GROUPACTIVITY

Forthisactivity,eachparticipantwillneedapenandhisorhersealedenvelopefromsessionone.

Toconcludeyourtimetogether,yourgroupleaderwilldistributetheenvelopesyousealedattheendofthefirstsession.Theseenvelopescontaintheanxietiesyouwerewrestlingwithatthetime.Onceyouhavereceivedyourenvelope,openit,readthelistofworriesyouwrotedown,andthentakefivetotenminutestoreflectonthefollowingquestions.(Ifyoudidnotsubmitanenvelopethefirstweek,justreflectonthequestionsthatapplytoyou.)

Dotheburdensyouwrotedownthefirstweekstillburdenyou,orhasGodreplacedthemwithhispeace?(Betruthfulwithyourself,andrememberit’sallrightiftheanxietiesstillweighyoudown.Godisstillatworkwithinyouandwillaccomplishhisgoodpurposesinhistime.)WhatisthemostmeaningfullessonthatGodtaughtyoubystudyingPhilippians4:4–8?Howhaveyoupersonallychangedaftercompletingthisstudy?Whataresomespecifictoolsyouacquiredduringthisstudythatyouhopetocontinuetouseinordertoliveananxiety-freelife?

Ifyouarecomfortableindoingso,shareyourthoughtswiththegroupaboutoneormoreofthereflectionquestionsabove.

CLOSINGPRAYER

Forthisfinalprayertime,staytogetherasagrouptoprayforoneanother.Havetwopeopleagreetostartandfinishtheprayer.Inbetween,anyoneiswelcometopray.Hereareafewsuggestionsonhowtoprayforyourfriends:

PraythatthetruthofPhilippians4:4–8willembedintheheartofeverypersoninyourgroup.PraythatthegroupwillrespondtoPaul’scallinthispassage—rejoicingin

theLordalways,rememberingGod’snearness,lettingalltheirrequestsbemadeknowntoGod,andmeditatingonthegoodnessandtruthofGod.Prayagainsttheenemy’sschemestorobyouofthetruthyoulearnedthroughoutthisstudy.PraythatthepeaceofGodwillruleovertheheartsandmindsofeachpersoninyourgroup.

R

FINALPERSONALSTUDY

eflect on the content you’ve covered during this finalweek inAnxious forNothing by engaging in any or all of the following C.A.L.M. personal studyguideactivities.Thetimeyouinvestwillbewellspent,soletGoduseittodrawyouclosertohim.Besuretosharewithyourgroupleaderorgroupmembersintheupcomingweeksanykeypointsorinsightsthatstoodouttoyou.


Duringtheteachingsessionthisweek,MaxexploredwhattheBiblehastosayabout the power of our thoughts. Your thoughts influence everything you do,feel, andbelieve. If your thoughts are anxious, thenyour lifewill be anxious.Butifyourthoughtsarecenteredonpeace,thenyourlifewillbepeaceful.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul tells us, “Finally, brothers and sisters,whatever istrue,whateverisnoble,whateverisright,whateverispure,whateveris lovely,whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think aboutsuchthings.”Jesusembodieseveryadjectiveinthislist.Heistrue,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,andsoworthyofourpraise!

Meditate on the following passages about howwonderful our Savior is. Ifyoursettinglendsitselftodoingso,readthemaloud.ProclaimthemtotheOnewhoisworthy!

Hewasoppressedandafflicted,yethedidnotopenhismouth;hewasled likea lamb to theslaughter,andasa sheepbefore its shearers issilent,sohedidnotopenhismouth.(Isaiah53:7)

Rejoicegreatly,DaughterZion!Shout,DaughterJerusalem!See,yourking comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on adonkey,onacolt,thefoalofadonkey.(Zechariah9:9)

TheSonofMandidnotcometobeserved,buttoserve,andtogivehislifeasaransomformany.(Matthew20:28)

Godmadehimwhohadnosintobesinforus,sothatinhimwemightbecometherighteousnessofGod.(2Corinthians5:21)

I sawheaven standing open and there beforemewas awhite horse,whose rider is called Faithful and True.With justice he judges andwageswar....Onhisrobeandonhisthighhehasthisnamewritten:KINGOFKINGSANDLORDOFLORDS.(Revelation19:11,15–16)

Underline any description you find of Jesus. Then do as Paul tells you—“thinkonthesethings.”Readthemoverafewtimes,stareatthewords,andthinkaboutJesus’goodness.

PrayThankJesusforbeingtheessenceofallthingsgood.ReviewPaul’slistyetagainandascribetotheLordeveryadjectivenotedinPhilippians4:8,tellinghimthatheistrue,noble,right,andsoforth.

Thewisemanurges,“Becarefulwhatyouthink,becauseyourthoughtsrunyourlife”(Proverbs4:23NCV).Doyouwanttobehappytomorrow?Thensowseedsofhappinesstoday.(Countblessings.MemorizeBibleverses.Pray.Singhymns.Spendtimewithencouragingpeople.)Doyouwanttoguaranteetomorrow’smisery?Thenwallowinamentalmudpitofself-pityorguiltoranxietytoday.(Assumetheworst.Beatyourselfup.Rehearseyourregrets.Complaintocomplainers.)Thoughtshaveconsequences.Healingfromanxietyrequireshealthythinking.


ASKGODFORHELP

Youhaveanenemywhoisouttopoisonyourmindwithnegativity,fear,

bitterness,anxiety...anythingthatisnotofGod.Nooneisimmunetohisattacks,andyoumayevensuccumbtothemwithoutrealizingit.ReadMatthew4:1–11.WhendidthetempterchoosetoattackJesus(seeverse2)?Whatisthesignificancebehindhistiming?

[YourResponseHere]

Often,theenemywillattackwhenyouhavebeenweakenedbyadifficultcircumstance,rockyrelationship,lackofsleep,oranythingelsethatmakesyoufeeldefeated.Whenwasatimeyousensedtheenemyattackyourthoughtsduringaseasonofweakness?

[YourResponseHere]

WhatwerethetemptationsSatanusedinanattempttoallureChristawayfromhismission?

[YourResponseHere]

Theenemyisconstantlyontheprowl.HewantstofillyourmindwithdoubtsaboutyouridentityinChrist,justashechallengedJesuswith,“IfyouarereallytheSonofGod...”HewantstoplantdoubtsinyourmindaboutGodandhisplanforyourlife,justashetemptedChristtotestGod’sfaithfulnessbythrowinghimselffromthetemple.HowdidJesusfightoffthetemptationoftheenemy?Whatspecificweapondidheuse?

[YourResponseHere]

InEphesians6:14,Paulwrites,“Standfirmthen,withthebeltoftruthbuckledaroundyourwaist.”God’sWordisaweaponagainsttheenemyandthekeytoamindfilledwithpeace.WhenyoumeditateontheWordofGod,youaredoingwhatPaulurgesyoutodoinPhilippians4:8:immersingyourselfinthatwhichistrueandright.Areyouawareoftheenemywhenheisattackingyourmind?Ifnot,whydoyouthinkthatis?Ifso,howdoyoucounterhisattacks?

[YourResponseHere]

PrayAsktheLordtohelpyousensewhentheenemyisattackingyourmindsoyoudon’tdwellonhislies.AskGodtohelpyoubediligentinputtingonthebeltoftruth,dailyreadinghisWordsoyoucanrecognizeandfendoffanythoughtsthatarenotofhim.

Christisourhome.Heisourplaceofrefugeandsecurity.Wearecomfortableinhispresence,freetobeourauthenticselves.Weknowourwayaroundinhim.Weknowhisheartandhisways.Werestinhim,findournourishmentinhim.Hisroofofgraceprotectsusfromstormsofguilt.Hiswallsofprovidencesecureusfromdestructivewinds.Hisfireplacewarmsusduringthelonelywintersoflife.WelingerintheabodeofChristandneverleave.



Whatworriesareonyourmindtoday?Bespecificwithwhatisburdeningyouasyourecordeachoneintheleftcolumnbelow.

Worries GiftsGodHasGivenYou

Inthissession,wehavebeenstudyingtheimportanceofourthoughtpatterns.Thoughthereisnotmuchinlifewecancontrol,wecancontrolourthoughts!Today,tryapplyingPaul’smeditationlistinPhilippians4:8totheworrylistyoujustcompiled.Intherightcolumn,nexttoyourlistofanxieties,listgiftsGodhasgivenyouthataretrue,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,

excellent,orworthyofpraise.Howdoesthisexercisechangethewayyouthinkaboutyourworries?

[YourResponseHere]

TakeAction!Oneof thebestways to findpeacewhen life’s problemsbegin to crowdyourmind is to step outside. God’s creation has a way of bringing perspective. IthelpsyourememberhowbigGodisandthegiftshehasgiventoyou.Asyoulookatthestars,thetrees,asunset,aflockofbirds,asparklinglakeorriver,youaremeditatingonthethingsPaultellsyoutothinkabout.Sowhynottakesometimetodojustthat?Stepoutside.SoakinGod’screation.AndthinkofDavid’swordsinPsalm8:3–4:

WhenIconsideryourheavens,theworkofyourfingers,

themoonandthestars,whichyouhavesetinplace,

whatismankindthatyouaremindfulofthem,humanbeingsthatyoucareforthem?

PrayUsethewordsofPsalm8:3–4foryourprayer.Itmaysoundsomethinglikethis:

God,whoamIthatyouaremindfulofme?Butyouare.I’monyourmind.Youthink ofme!Would you helpme think of youmore?All throughoutmy day,wouldyouplantthoughtsofyourgoodnessinmymindsothatIcanfocusmoreonyouandlessontheworriesofthisworld?

AskGodtoretrainyourmindsothatwhenanxiousthoughtscome,youwillfocusonhisgoodness,hisloveliness,hisrighteousness,andallthatisworthyofpraise.

IsGodsovereignoveryourcircumstances?Ishemightierthanyourproblem?Doeshehaveanswerstoyourquestions?AccordingtotheBibletheanswerisyes,yes,andyes!“God...istheblessedcontrollerofallthings,thekingoverallkingsandthemasterofallmasters”(1Timothy6:15PHILLIPS).Ifhesustainsallandcontrolsall,don’tyouthinkhehasauthorityoverthissituationyouface?



StudyPhilippians4:8—“Finally,brothersandsisters,whateveristrue,whateverisnoble,whateverisright,whateverispure,whateverislovely,whateverisadmirable—ifanythingisexcellentorpraiseworthy—thinkaboutsuchthings”—untilyoucanreciteitfrommemory.Don’tforgettomemorizetheversereferenceaswell.AfteryoumemorizetheScripture,asktheLordtobringittomindanytimeananxiousthoughtsurfaces.

RECOMMENDEDREADING

AsyoureflectonwhatGodisteachingyouthroughthissession,reviewchapters9–11inAnxiousforNothing.Usethespacebelowtowriteanykeypointsthatstandouttoyouorquestionsthatyouwishtodiscusswithyourgroupleaderoranothergroupmemberinthefuture.

T

ADDITIONALRESOURCESFORGROUPLEADERS

hankyouforyourwillingnesstoleadagroupthroughAnxiousforNothing!Whatyouhavechosentodoisimportant,andmuchgoodfruitcancomefromstudies like this. The rewards of being a leader are different from those ofparticipating, andwehope that asyou leadyouwill findyourownwalkwithJesusdeepenedbytheexperience.

Anxious forNothing is a five-session studybuilt aroundvideo content andsmall-group interaction.As thegroup leader, imagineyourselfas thehostofadinnerparty.Yourjobistotakecareofyourguestsbymanagingallthebehind-the-scenesdetails so that as yourguests arrive, they can focusonone anotherandoninteractionaroundthetopic.

Asthegroupleader,yourroleisnottoanswerallthequestionsorreteachthecontent—thevideo,book,andstudyguidewilldomostofthatwork.Yourjobistoguide theexperienceandcultivateyour smallgroup intoakindof teachingcommunity. This will make it a place for members to process, question, andreflect—notreceivemoreinstruction.

Thereareseveralelementsinthisleader’sresourcesectionthatwillhelpyouas you structure your study and reflection time, so follow along and takeadvantageofeachone.

BEFOREYOUBEGIN

Before your firstmeeting,make sure the groupmembers have a copy of thisstudyguidesotheycanfollowalongandhavetheiranswerswrittenoutaheadoftime.Alternately, you canhandout the studyguides at your firstmeeting andgive the group members some time to look over the material and ask anypreliminaryquestions.Duringyourfirstmeeting,besuretosendasheetaroundthe room and have the members write down their name, phone number, andemailaddresssoyoucankeepintouchwiththemduringtheweek.

Generally,theidealsizeforagroupiseighttotenpeople,whichwillensurethat everyone has enough time to participate in discussions. If you havemorepeople, you might want to break up the main group into smaller subgroups.Encourage thosewho showup at the firstmeeting to commit to attending theduration of the study, as this will help the group members get to know eachother, create stability for the group, and help you know how to prepare eachweek.

Each of the sessions beginswith an opening reflection.The questions thatfollow in the “TalkAbout It” section serve as an icebreaker to get the groupmembersthinkingaboutthetopicathand.Somepeoplemaywanttotellalongstoryinresponsetooneofthesequestions,butthegoalis tokeeptheanswersbrief.Ideally,youwanteveryoneinthegrouptogetachancetoanswer,sotrytokeeptheresponsestoaminuteorless.Ifyouhavetalkativegroupmembers,sayupfrontthateveryoneneedstolimithisorheranswertooneminute.

Givethegroupmembersachancetoanswer,buttellthemtofeelfreetopassif theywish.With the rest of the study, it’s generally not a good idea to haveeveryone answer every question—a free-flowing discussion ismore desirable.But with the opening icebreaker questions, you can go around the circle.Encourageshypeopletoshare,butdon’tforcethem.

Before your first meeting, let the group members know that each sessioncontains a C.A.L.M. personal study guide that they can complete betweenmeetings.Whiletheseareoptionalexercises,theywillhelpthememberscementtheconceptspresentedduringthegroupstudytimeandencouragethemtospendtime each day in God’s Word. Also invite them to bring any questions andinsights theyuncoveredwhile reading to your nextmeeting, especially if theyhadabreakthroughmomentordidn’tunderstandsomething.

WEEKLYPREPARATION

Asleader,thereareafewthingsyoushoulddotoprepareforeachmeeting:

•Readthroughthesession.Thiswillhelpyoutobecomefamiliarwiththecontentandknowhowtostructurethediscussiontimes.

•Decidewhichquestionsyoudefinitelywanttodiscuss.Basedontheamountandlengthofgroupdiscussion,youmaynotbeabletogetthrough

alloftheBiblestudyandgroupdiscussionquestions,sochoosefourtofivequestionsthatyoudefinitelywanttocover.

•Befamiliarwiththequestionsyouwanttodiscuss.Whenthegroupmeetsyou’llbewatchingtheclock,soyouwanttomakesureyouarefamiliarwiththequestionsyouhaveselected.Inthisway,you’llensureyouhavethematerialmoredeeplyinyourmindthanyourgroupmembers.

•Prayforyourgroup.PrayforyourgroupmembersthroughouttheweekandaskGodtoleadthemastheystudyhisWord.

Notethatinmanycasestherewillbenoone“right”answertothequestion.Answerswillvary,especiallywhenthegroupmembersarebeingaskedtosharetheirpersonalexperiences.

GROUPACTIVITY

Thegroupactivityattheendofeachsessionisintendedtohelptheparticipantstransformwhattheylearnedintopracticalaction.However,forthisactivitytobesuccessful,youmayneedtoprepareafewitemsaheadoftime.Taketimebeforeeach weekly meeting to read the group activity, as several of them requirespecialmaterials.Readingaheadwillallowyoutoaskgroupmemberstobringanyitemsyouneedbutdon’thave,anditwillgiveyouasenseofhowtoleadyourgroupthroughtheseexperiences.Readthesupplylistbelowtomakesureyouhavewhatyouneedforeachsession.

SupplyList

SessionOne•Pens(oneforeachgroupmember)•Blankpiecesofpaper(oneforeachgroupmember)•Envelopes(oneforeachgroupmember)

SessionTwo•Smartphone(eachpersonwillneedhisorherown)•Stickynotes(optional)•Pens(optional)

SessionThreeNospecialsuppliesneeded

SessionFour•Smartphone,laptop,ordevicewithspeakers(oneforeachperson)•Wifiaccess(toplaythehymn)

SessionFive•Pens(oneforeachgroupmember)•Sealedenvelopesfromsessionone

Be sure to bring extra supplies to yourmeeting if possible. Themembersshouldbringtheirownpensforwritingnotes,butit’sagoodideatohaveextrasavailableforthosewhoforget.YoumayalsowanttobringpaperandadditionalBibles.

STRUCTURINGTHEDISCUSSIONTIME

Youwill need todeterminewithyourgrouphow longyouwant tomeet eachweeksoyoucanplanyourtimeaccordingly.Generally,mostgroupsliketomeetforeithersixtyminutesorninetyminutes,soyoucoulduseoneofthefollowingschedules:

Section 60Minutes 90Minutes

Welcome(membersarriveandgetsettled) 5minutes 10minutes

Icebreaker(discussoneormoreoftheopeningquestionsforthesession) 10minutes 10minutes

Scripture(readtheopeningpassageandanswerthequestions) 5minutes 10minutes

Video(watchtheteachingmaterialtogetherandtakenotes) 15minutes 15minutes

Discussion(discusstheBiblestudyquestionsyouselectedaheadoftime) 20minutes 35minutes

Prayer/Closing(praytogetherasagroupanddismiss) 5minutes 10minutes

Asgroup leader, it is up to you to keep track of the time and keep thingsmovingalongaccordingtoyourschedule.Youmightwanttosetatimerforeach

segmentsobothyouandthegroupmembersknowwhenyourtimeisup.(Therearesomegoodphoneappsfortimersthatplayagentlechimeorotherpleasantsoundinsteadofadisruptivenoise.)

Don’tbeconcernedifthegroupmembersarequietorslowtoshare.Peopleare oftenquietwhen they are pulling together their ideas, and thismight be anewexperienceforthem.Askaquestionandletithangintheairuntilsomeoneshares.You can then say, “Thankyou.What about others?What came to youwhenyouwatchedthatportionofthevideo?”

GROUPDYNAMICS

LeadingagroupthroughAnxiousforNothingwillprovetobehighlyrewardingbothtoyouandyourgroupmembers.However,thisdoesn’tmeanyouwillnotencounter any challenges along theway!Discussions canget off track.Groupmembers may not be sensitive to the needs and ideas of others. Somemightworrytheywillbeexpectedtotalkaboutmattersthatmakethemfeelawkward.Others may express comments that result in disagreements. To help ease thisstrainonyouandthegroup,considerthefollowinggroundrules:

•Whensomeoneraisesaquestionorcommentthatisoffthemaintopic,suggestyoudealwithitanothertime,or,ifyoufeelledtogointhatdirection,letthegroupknowyouwillbespendingsometimediscussingit.

•Ifsomeoneasksaquestionyoudon’tknowhowtoanswer,admititandmoveon.Atyourdiscretion,feelfreetoinvitegroupmemberstocommentonquestionsthatcallforpersonalexperience.

•Ifyoufindoneortwopeoplearedominatingthediscussiontime,directafewquestionstoothersinthegroup.Outsidethemaingrouptime,askthemoredominatingmemberstohelpyoudrawoutthequieterones.Worktomakethemapartofthesolutioninsteadoftheproblem.

•Whenadisagreementoccurs,encouragethegroupmemberstoprocessthematterinlove.Encouragethoseonoppositesidestorestatewhattheyheardtheothersidesayaboutthematter,andtheninviteeachsidetoevaluateifthatperceptionisaccurate.LeadthegroupinexaminingotherScripturesrelatedtothetopicandlookforcommonground.

When any of these issues arise, encourage your groupmembers to followthesewordsfromtheBible:“Loveoneanother”(John13:34),“Ifitispossible,asfaras itdependsonyou, liveatpeacewitheveryone”(Romans12:18),and“Bequicktolisten,slowtospeakandslowtobecomeangry”(James1:19).Thiswill make your group time more rewarding and beneficial for everyone whoattends.

Thankyouagainforyourwillingnesstoleadyourgroup.MayGodrewardyoureffortsanddedicationandmakeyourtimetogetherinAnxiousforNothingfruitfulforhiskingdom.

NOTES

1.JoelJ.Miller,“TheSecretBehindtheBible’sMostHighlightedVerse,”TheologyThatSticks(blog),August24,2015,https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/joeljmiller/bibles-most-highlighted-verse/.

2.EugeneH.Peterson,Conversations:TheMessagewithItsTranslator(ColoradoSprings:NavPress,2017),1438.

3.CorrietenBoom,JohnL.Sherrill,ElizabethSherrill,andSamWellman,TheHidingPlace(Uhrichsville,OH:Barbour,1990).

4.AlexanderMacLaren,ExpositionsofHolyScripture(NewYork:Hodder&Stoughton,1900),http://biblehub.com/commentaries/philippians/4-7.htm.

Documents

Anxious for Nothing Study Guide - kingdomsermons.com