Sermon Recap+ May 25th 2025

In the midst of life's challenges, Jesus offers us a profound message about worry, trust, and where we place our allegiance. The Sermon on the Mount contains timeless wisdom that speaks directly to our anxious hearts today.

What is the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount isn't just one sermon but a collection of Jesus' teachings that He likely repeated throughout His ministry. Found primarily in Matthew 5-7, these teachings were delivered to crowds of people who were sick, worried, and in need of healing.

When Jesus delivered these words, He wasn't speaking to the wealthy and powerful. Instead, He was surrounded by the sick, the worried, and the challenged. The stained glass windows depicting this scene show concerned faces - people who were hurting and in need of hope.

Can We Serve Two Masters?

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus makes a profound statement: "No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Jesus isn't suggesting we might have a master - He's stating that everyone serves someone or something. The question isn't whether we have a master, but which master we choose to serve.

Our options are:

• Being slaves to sin (Romans 6)

• Being slaves to fear (Romans 8)

• Being slaves to the law (Galatians)

• Being slaves to the flesh (Galatians 5)

• Being slaves to darkness (Ephesians 5)

• Being slaves to worldly desires (Titus 3:3)

Or we can choose to serve Jesus.

Why Does Jesus Tell Us Not to Worry?

Immediately after discussing masters, Jesus addresses worry:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25)

Jesus provides several compelling reasons not to worry:

We are valuable to God: "Look at the birds of the air... Are you not of more value than they?"

Worry is ineffective: "Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"

God provides beautifully: "Consider the lilies of the field... even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these." God knows our needs: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

What Should We Seek Instead of Worrying?

Rather than worrying about our basic needs, Jesus gives us a better focus:

"But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

This is what Jesus is pointing to in the stained glass window - not earthly concerns, but the kingdom of God. When we make God's kingdom our priority, He promises to take care of our needs.

How Does God's Providence Work in Suffering?

The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 illustrates God's providence even in suffering. God miraculously provided food for the widow during a famine, yet later her son died. Both she and Elijah questioned why this tragedy happened.

This reminds us that bad things happen to good people because the world is full of people enslaved to sin, the flesh, worldly desires, and ultimately, the devil. Yet God's providence was displayed when He restored the child's life in response to Elijah's prayer.

Why Should We Choose Jesus as Our Master?

When we choose Jesus as our Master, something paradoxical happens - we find freedom. Jesus invites us to become His slaves so that He can call us children of God, give us a new identity, and set us free to follow Him. This freedom includes freedom from worry. Instead of telling God how big our problems are, we can tell our problems how big our God is. We gain a new perspective by surrendering to the lordship of Jesus.

Life Application

The message of Matthew 6:24-34 challenges us to examine where we place our trust and allegiance. Here are some practical ways to apply this teaching:

• Count your blessings daily: Begin by recognizing how God has already provided for you throughout your life.

• Identify your true master: Ask yourself honestly - what or who controls your decisions, time, and emotions? Is it money, approval, comfort, or Jesus?

• Surrender your worries: When anxiety arises, practice surrendering it to God through prayer, remembering that worry adds nothing to your life.

• Seek God's kingdom first: Make decisions based on what advances God's purposes rather than your comfort or security.

• Reprogram your thinking: When faced with problems, practice telling your problems how big your God is, rather than telling God how big your problems are.

Ask yourself these questions this week:

1. What am I most worried about right now, and have I truly surrendered it to God?

2. In what areas of my life am I serving masters other than Jesus?

3. How might my perspective change if I truly believed God would provide for all my needs?

4. What would it look like for me to seek God's kingdom first in my current circumstances?

Remember, you're not alone in your struggles. God is with you, and His providence surrounds you even in life's most difficult moments.