Don’t Worry: Trust God, Seek His Kingdom, Be Prayerful in Everything
January 4, 2026 Preacher: John Bell
Topic: Worry Passage: Luke 12:22–34, Philippians 4:6–7
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Main Point: Material necessities are not valid causes of worry among the heirs of the kingdom and must never supplant our prior commitment to the Kingdom of God. In other words, instead of being worried about material necessities, seek God's kingdom, Christian! Worry is not to be characteristic of the believer, because it’s the result of a faulty view of God. Resolve not to be anxious about anything; learn instead to pray. The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything. Either worrying drives out prayer, or prayer drives out worrying.
- Christian, put your trust in the sovereign goodness of God, and do not worry about material necessities. God has pledged to care for his own (Luke 12:22-28).
- These same needs then become opportunities for living a life distinctive from the unbelieving world, who never learn to trust God for basic necessities (Luke 12:29-30).
- Christian, seek God’s kingdom – which God has already given you - and all the necessities of life will be provided (Luke 12: 31-32). To “seek God’s kingdom” is the desire above all else to enter into, submit to, and participate in spreading the good news of the saving reign of God - the messianic Kingdom already inaugurated by Jesus - and to live so as to store up treasures in heaven in the prospect of the kingdom’s consummation.
- Christian, layup treasure in heaven, not on earth. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:33-34).
- Prayer is the antidote to worry. The result of prayer is God’s gift of peace, namely, the secure confidence that God is sovereign and loving. (Philippians 4:6-7)
This sermon owes a debt to “Money, Possessions and Eternity” by Randy Alcorn; ”Neither Poverty, nor Riches” by Craig Blomberg; and D.A. Carson’s “Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount” and “Basics for Believers”