ES RI SE 3
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE
NICKY GUMBEL
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE SERIES 3 NICKY GUMBEL
Published in North America by Alpha North America 2275 Half Day Road, Suite 185, Deerfield, IL 60015 © 2010 by Alpha International The Jesus Lifestyle Series 3 by Nicky Gumbel All rights reserved in North America. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. First printed by Alpha North America in 2010 Printed in the United States of America Scripture in this publication is from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Design by James Vincent ISBN 978-1-934564-98-1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Printing/Year 15 14 13 12
CONTENTS page
.01 .02
how to stop worrying and
start living
05
how to deal with
criticism
15
.03
how to respond to the most challenging words ever spoken
.04 .05 .06
25
how to make the
big decision
35
how to spot
false prophets
43
how to build a
secure future
55
clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not and all these things will be given to you as well. life more important than food, Therefore do not worry and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God
p.04
MATTHEW 6:25-34
TALK
.01
how to stop worrying and
start living
Jesus never said, “Don’t worry, because there won’t be anything to worry about.” He himself had plenty to worry about; bereavement, temptation, extreme pain, and the responsibility of the salvation of the world. Jesus encouraged us not to worry, in spite of the fact there is so much to worry about. He offers us six practical steps to cope with worry.
p.05
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE
UNDERSTAND LIFE’S PURPOSE
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
MATTHEW 6:25
Life is far more important than material things. Often our worries are about relatively unimportant things, such as food, drink, and clothing. If we simply seek these material things, we are missing the whole point of life.
KEEP PERSPECTIVE
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
MATTHEW 6:26
Worry is illogical, because it suggests God is more interested in His pets than His children! Our Father in heaven loves us so much He sent His only Son to die for us.
We can feel secure in God’s love: we need not be afraid, we The point of life is a relationship need not worry. with God. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? MATTHEW 16:26 (AKJV)
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how to stop worrying and start living
KEEP PERSPECTIVE (CONTINUED)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want . . . Even though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, They comfort me. PSALM 23:1, 4 When going though difficult times we should remember that God is ultimately in control; He is the Sovereign Lord.
.01
BE PRACTICAL
Worrying is a complete waste of time. It’s futile, unproductive, and pointless. Being practical means looking after ourselves; watching what we eat and drink, making sure we get enough sleep, and taking time to exercise. Paul says, For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 TIMOTHY 4:8
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been When I look back on all called according to his purpose. these worries, I remember ROMANS 8:28 the story of an old man who Who of you by worrying can add said on his death bed that he had had a lot of trouble in a single hour to his life? his life, most of which never MATTHEW 6:27 happened. Winston Churchil
p.07
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE
TRUST GOD’S PROVISION
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. MATTHEW 6:28-32
Faith and anxiety are like fire and water—they do not mix. Faith involves trust in God’s care and provision. We should draw near to God. In times of anxiety, pick up the Bible.
p.08
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. PSALM 94:19
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 PETER 5:7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
We can also turn to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul advised the Galatians to carry each other’s burdens .
GALATIANS 6:2
Sharing our anxieties with others helps us not to become isolated.
NOTES
how to stop worrying and start living
.01
p.09
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE
FOCUS ON THE PRESENT
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. MATTHEW 6:34
SORT OUT YOUR PRIORITIES
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. MATTHEW 6:33
We will never get rid of all our troubles. Jesus doesn’t say that we shouldn’t think about the future or plan ahead.
Worry is unnecessary.
However, he reminds us to focus on the present.
Some of our worries are modest—food, drink, and clothes. Others are more grandiose—a bigger house, a new car, a bigger salary, fame, power. These are self-centered and meaningless.
WORRY DOES “NOT EMPTY TOMORROW
OF SORROW, IT EMPTIES TODAY OF STRENGTH.
”
Corrie Ten Boom
We should live one day at a time.
Seeking first God’s kingdom means getting our priorities right.
Jesus calls us to take on a different set of responsibilities and a nobler ambition: to seek first His kingdom. We should seek God’s rule and reign in our lives, our marriages, our home, family, and lifestyle. We must also seek God’s “righteousness” in our lives and in society.
p.010
how to stop worrying and start living
.01
We need to make the most of our time, energy, and money. We can all make tomorrow better.
NOTES
Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
p.011
THE JESUS LIFESTYLE
1. What are the kinds of
things that worry you on a day to day basis? Do you think you have the right priorities as laid out by Jesus? How do we decide what’s important and what is less so? What deserves our worry and/ or consideration, and what can be left for God to resolve?
2. Have you ever
experienced severe anxiety? What steps did you take/are you taking to help deal with the problem? How can your experiences help others?
3. Discuss some of the
things that Jesus advises us not to worry about: food, drink, clothes (Matthew 6:30). How important are these things to you and your friends?
p.012
4. With so much choice, it
can be hard not to fall for materialism and consumerism in the 21st century. What measures can we take in order to avoid these temptations? How can we teach others not to place so much importance on material goods?
5. In the Bible, we read: “If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). Is it difficult to trust God’s provision? Have you ever had to rely solely on God for your needs? Do you think you could?
6. How can we help to make tomorrow better for ourselves and for others?
NOTES
how to stop worrying and start living
.01
p.013
The Jesus Lifestyle Series Three is a resource designed for
use in a small group setting, and is accompanied by this guest manual. The DVD contains six talks given by Nicky Gumbel at Holy Trinity Brompton that are based on Jesus’ radical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and suggests ways in which we can apply this teaching to our own lives. How to stop worrying and start living: Jesus did not promise us a stressfree life, but He did encourage us not to worry. We must trust in God’s care and provision and aim to get our priorities and ambitions right. How to deal with criticism: Using Jesus’ teaching as a framework, Nicky shows how it is possible to learn and grow from criticism. He reminds us that discernment is important, but we must avoid being judgmental at all costs. How to respond to the most challenging words ever spoken: As demonstrated by Jesus, Nicky sets out five practical ways in which we can respond to the “golden rule” and rise
to the challenge of living counterculturally. How to make the big decision: Nicky explores the implications of making a decision about the person of Jesus Christ, highlighting the difference between life on the “broad” road and life on the “narrow” road. How to spot false prophets: Using tests we find in the Bible, Nicky shows us how we can spot false prophets, and emphasizes the importance of doing so. How to build a secure future: Nicky explains that, if we live in relationship with Jesus and put His words into practice, our lives will have a solid foundation that will last for all eternity.
NICKY GUMBEL is the pioneer of Alpha. He studied law at Cambridge and theology at Oxford, practiced as a lawyer, and is now Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton church in London. He is the author of many bestselling books about the Christian faith including Questions of Life, Searching Issues, A Life Worth Living, The Heart of Revival, Why Jesus?, Why Christmas? and 30 Days.
RELIGION / Biblical Studies Jesus, the Gospels & Acts ISBN ISBN:978-1-934564-98-1 978-1934564981 25326
© Alpha International 2010
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