Open in prayer
Open with each member of the group sharing a prayer request, and then pray for one another.
Scripture reading
25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span[a] by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God[b] and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
1. What are the specific daily concerns Jesus highlights, and who was He originally speaking to?
- Sermon Reminder: Jesus addressed ordinary daily laborers, fishermen, and farmers under heavy Roman taxation, whose next meal relied entirely on tomorrow’s work. As noted in the sermon: “When Jesus commands His disciples, ‘Do not worry, stop worrying,’ He is not dismissing their needs or pretending that life is easy on them. He is addressing the deeper issue behind their worry. It’s a spiritual problem.”
- Question: According to verses 25 and 31, what physical needs does Jesus list? How do these compare to the things that trigger anxiety in our modern lives?
2. How does Jesus use creation to illustrate the Father’s care?
- Sermon Reminder: Jesus points to the natural world to teach us about God’s character. “God has graciously made His creation a teacher for us. Through the things He has made, we can learn something about His wise care for his creation… The birds do not look to themselves as the ultimate source of their survival; they depend on the One who feeds them.”
- Question: What two specific examples from nature does Jesus tell His listeners to “consider” and “observe” in verses 26–30, and what contrast does He make between them and humanity?
3. What does Jesus mean by saying the “Gentiles” (or pagans) eagerly seek these things?
- Idea to explore: Discuss the worldview difference between someone who knows God as a caring Heavenly Father and someone who lives as if God does not exist. Why does living with a “pagan mindset” force a person into perpetual self-reliance and worry?
4. What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”?
- Idea to explore: Unpack what “seeking the kingdom” means in daily practice. Clarify that Jesus is not advocating for idleness or a lack of planning, but rather aligning one’s motivations, choices, and values under God’s sovereign rule.
5. Where has worry subtly taken control of your heart?
- Sermon Reminder: Worry reveals what we truly rely on for ultimate security. As preached: “The person who treasures earthly things and seeks security in material possessions will inevitably become anxious when those things are uncertain… How many times have you ended up sacrificing what matters most in life for the pursuit of a future that you have got no control over?”
- Question: What specific area of your life (e.g., finances, career, children’s future, health) keeps you awake at night? What does this anxiety reveal about where you are seeking ultimate security?
6. How can you practically reorient your schedule and priorities to seek God’s kingdom first this week?
- Sermon Reminder: Seeking God’s kingdom shows up in our actual schedules and priorities. “By the kingdom of God and his righteousness… It means making God’s rule, His purposes, and priorities our highest pursuit in life… If you check your last week’s schedule, did it reflect a man or a woman who has God’s priorities in mind?”
- Question: Look at your upcoming week calendar or routine. What is one concrete change or commitment you need to make to ensure God’s kingdom—rather than earthly anxiety—drives your daily choices?
Who can you share this with
A spouse, a child, a friend, a co-worker. Who can you share something you’ve learnt with?
Closing prayer
- Close your group time by taking specific worries to God together. Pray over the tangible needs mentioned in the group, actively trusting the Heavenly Father who knows what you need before you ask.