Big Idea: Peace is found in the presence of God.

The Outrageous Command: Don’t worry.

            Philippians 4:6

            Matthew 6:25

            1 Corinthians 10:13

How do we obey this command?

The command to not worry is about a choice, not a feeling.

When we experience anxiety, God invites us to choose prayer over worry.

Prayer:

• Adoration
• Confession
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication

The Outrageous Promise: I will give you peace.

            Philippians 4:7

            Matthew 28:20b

Message Questions

We’re in a 4-week series called Fear Not which began on Easter Sunday. In so many ways, we are safer, wealthier, and healthier than any society before us. And yet, we also find ourselves in the midst of a mental health crisis. What does Jesus want to say to us in the midst of these struggles? It’s no accident that a single command is repeated more often than any other in the Bible—Do not fear. Join us as we explore how the gospel is the antidote to the spirit of fear. This week we are in Philippians 4:6-7, and the big idea is: Peace is found in the presence of God.

 Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do.

1. Have someone read Philippians 4:6. Paul tells us not to worry about anything but to bring everything to God in prayer. Why do you think prayer is God’s chosen response to worry? How might choosing prayer over worry change your perspective on a current stressor in your life?
2. Have someone read Matthew 6:25. Jesus commands us to not worry about our basic needs, yet that’s often easier said than done. What areas of life tend to provoke the most anxiety for you? How does Jesus’ command challenge you to trust God more deeply?
3. Have someone read 1 Corinthians 10:13. God promises to provide a way out of every temptation, including the temptation to worry. How can you practice identifying the “way out” when anxiety starts to rise?
4. ACTS is a helpful structure for prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. How can you grow in using prayer as a tool for redirecting your mind from worry to God’s presence? Which of these four prayer elements do you most need to focus on right now?
5. Philippians 4:7 says that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds. Who in your life is struggling with worry or fear? How can you go and encourage them to seek the peace that comes from God’s presence this week?