Fear - Do not be anxious - April 26th
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a heartfelt celebration of the day God created, acknowledging both the simple blessings and the unique challenges presented by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Richard Sutton described the swirling fears surrounding health, employment, and the reopening of society, noting how these anxieties can invade our thoughts and disrupt peace. He then turned the congregation’s focus to Matthew 6:25‑34, where Jesus questions who we trust and reminds us that God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, urging believers to seek first the Kingdom and not be consumed by worries about food, drink, or clothing. Sutton explained that much of our modern anxiety stems from attempting to control circumstances—economy, health, and the future—that lie beyond our power. He emphasized that, just as the first‑century audience faced daily subsistence concerns, today’s worries about jobs, finances, and health are understandable but ultimately belong to God’s sovereign care. By trusting in Him, believers can release their divided minds, live in the present, and let God handle tomorrow, thereby experiencing the peace He promises.
Key Scriptures
For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor for your body as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that neither do they sow nor do they reap nor gather into barns. And yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more worth than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field. They do not toil nor do they spin. Yet I say to you that even Solomon in all of his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so raised the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow were thrown into the furnace, will he not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink or with what shall we clothe ourselves? For these things the Gentiles eagerly seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all those things. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things that he added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.