The scripture reading today comes from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6.
Please follow along in your bulletin.
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth.
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life
as to what you will eat or what you will drink,
nor for your body as to what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air.
They do not sow nor reap nor gather into the barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you, by being worried, can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not toil nor do they spin.
Yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory
clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,
will he not much more clothe you?
You of little faith.
Do not worry then, saying,
What will we eat?
Or what will we drink?
Or what will we wear for clothing?
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things.
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is God's word.
Amen.
Every Sunday we pray about what we're going to teach.
And several of us spend many hours
thinking about the messages that are said and sung.
Thinking is there a theme and a foundation?
Because what we do here is we build a foundation.
We build a foundation on God's word
and point people to Christ so they fall in love with him.
We sing about is God's love never failing.
The question we should ask ourselves is do we believe that?
Is that true?
As we sit here and we listen to the words
and we parrot them back,
is that a prayer of our heart?
Or is it not?
We talk about he's our treasure
and that he's our hope.
And all that we want is him.
Is that really true?
We spent 30 minutes singing and worshiping him.
But how easily we forget him.
How easily we forget that his love lasts forever.
For many of us, we're going to leave here.
And within about five minutes, we'll walk out.
We'll find that we have a parking ticket on our car
or something like that.
And quickly, the songs and the message
will lose its meaning
and we'll be sucked back in.
Our hope is that you come today
and you meet the Lord
and you see how beautiful he is
and you fall in love with him.
We're on our last sermon
of the Gospel and Work series.
We've been discussing
how we as Christians should work.
What does it look like
to work in a way that honors the Lord?
What does it look like
to work in a way
wherever the Lord has put us?
In the first three,
we talked about
some very foundational things.
We're actually going to get together
two Sundays from now
after church.
We're going to do a brown bag lunch
and gather people
who are in the workplace
and talk about
what does it look like
all these five lessons
we've talked about.
Now, okay, so what does it mean
for me to put flesh on those?
So you're not going to want
to miss that
if you're struggling with
how you walk
and honor the Lord
in your workplace.
That'll be two Sundays from now.
We've laid out
three foundational things
and in these next two sermons
we're talking about dangers.
Dangers that will happen to us
if we don't understand
our work
and why God has placed us
in this garden
that seems to be out of control.
Last week we talked about
coveting
and desire
and we learned several things.
We learned that we all
have a Big Mac toy
that we're looking for
and we're hoping
that if we get that Big Mac toy
and that Happy Meal
that it will bring us
everything we've ever wanted
and it will last forever.
We learned that Americans
in the rest of the world
think very different about law
and that a barista
is someone who serves coffee
and a barrister
is a lawyer
in American terms.
We learned a lot about
what do we allow
our heart to focus on.
And so today
I want to talk
and end this time
these five sermons
with one of the greatest dangers
I think I see in my life
is where I've camped
most of my life
and my days
and it's what I see us
in our lives in Hong Kong
and I want to talk a little bit
about the idea of control.
I want to talk about
how we are probably
the most controlling persons
in all the world.
I mean I meet people
in other churches
in different places
and I talk to them
about Hong Kong
and business people
and how our world works
and I just say
I think this is probably
the most controlling place
in the world
that I've ever seen.
People have it under control.
But I realize
that underneath it
if we're honest
that we all struggle with it.
I was re-watching this movie.
It's one of my favorite movies.
Someone told me
I should throw a clip up here
but I thought
that maybe I would offend
certain people
in the church congregation
but the movie is Invictus.
It's about the South African
rugby team
and Nelson Mandela
and this country
struggling to be born
and in the middle
of this movie
I don't know
if it is true
but I know
that poem was
and by the way
I'm not going to talk
about South Africa
and the Kiwis
playing rugby this week
because I might
cause some trouble there
but what I understand
from my South African friends
is it takes 15 Kiwis
to beat 14 South Africans.
I'll just leave it at that.
But in this movie
the story is around
Nelson Mandela
and he's talking
and he's hoping
that rugby
will bring health
and newness
to their country
that they're trying
to pray for
and create
and in this movie
Mandela hands
he hands the captain
this poem
that he's memorized
in prison.
I've been told
that it's a poem
that means a lot
to him in his life.
It's a poem
by a Victorian poet
named W.E. Henley.
I don't know
if you've ever read Henley.
This poem
is a powerful poem.
It's called Invictus.
Let me read
a couple lines
for you about this.
It says something
like this.
Beyond this place
of wrath and tears
looms but the horror
of the shade.
He's talking about death.
In the menace
of the years
finds and shall find me
unafraid.
It matters not
how straight the gate
it's talking about judgment.
How charged
with punishments
the scroll.
I am the master
of my fate.
I am the captain
of my soul.
And when you watch
that movie
and you read those lines
you're like
yes!
you just want
to get out there
and beat up somebody
or play rugby
or something like that.
But the whole poem
is about control
and it's about being
unconquerable.
And I wonder
if that's what
we really believe
in our world today.
I mean if we're
sitting here
and we're thinking
about that
do we really feel
like we are
in control of life?
Do we really feel
like we have
life in this bottle
and that we understand it?
Because as I talk
to people
it doesn't seem
like that
if we're really honest.
I mean at work
are you the master
of your destiny?
Are you the captain
of your soul
at work?
I mean most people
I talk to
and 80% of those
who were just interviewed
by the Hong Kong
happiness welfare
interview
said that most people
80% feel
a sense of powerlessness
hopelessness
worry
anxiety
at home
are you
are you the master
of your fate at home?
I mean some of us guys
like to think that we are
but are we
the ones who control
our destiny?
I mean most of the people
I talk about
in their homes
they have a deep sense
of worry
and they feel powerless
whether it's about
the rent
and whether they're
going to be able
to stay there
or what it's going
to look like
or can they get
to a place
where their kids
can go to school
or maybe it's
about their kiddos
who are out of control
and no matter how much
they've given
and given
their kids just
don't appreciate
those things
or maybe it's
about their spouse
because as I talk
to spouses
every one of us
feels like we give
more than the other person
and so instead of feeling
like the master
of our fate
we feel out of control
I mean personally
do you feel
in control of your life
right now?
I mean yourself?
your health?
I mean it seems like
most of us are
desperately seeking ways
to assure ourselves
that we're in control
but everything says
that we're not
I mean we're told
by the scripture
and by doctors
and by psychiatrists
and by everything
that all of us
are out of control
with insecurity
and fears
and worries
and these insecurity
and these fears
and these worries
create these massive
desires for control
in all aspects
of our life
I mean the more
controlling a person
is
the Bible says
the more controlling
you are
psychiatrists say
the more controlling
you are
the more worry
there is underneath you
and the more desperate
your life really is
and that this control
is just a mask
it's a facade
that we wear
to make people think
that our lives
are great
but in reality
scripture says
that it's not
and that we feel
this deep sense
of powerlessness
at work
do you feel
in control
I mean it seems
like most of the people
I talk to
try to control
their image
they try to control
the information
that comes through them
to other people
and who gives
that information
they try to control
alliances
they can try to
control their stuff
they can try to
control their staff
they can try to
control their bosses
they can try to
control their career path
they try to control
clients and media
and governments
in time
at home
our lives
feel out of control
and so we try
to compensate
for that
we try to
control our spouses
we try to
control our
our kids
I mean I
I think Hong Kong
is one of the
most controlling
places for children
I've ever heard of
in the whole world
when I hear about
kids being tutored
for 100 hours
a week
and that's
that abnormal
and I think about
the parents
whose lives
are out of control
and I wonder
if they're trying
to grab control
in their kids lives
because they can't
control their own lives
and so they try
to control their kids
and shape their kids
and make sure their kids
and we say
it's for their health
and their wealth
and their future
but is it really
or are we just
trying to control them
we're told by doctors
at the Mayo Clinic
that 85% of the people
who are in the hospital
today
are there
because they have
anxieties
and worries
and they're out
of control
and these anxiety
issues are massive
and in fact
in the states
this is the number
one health care issue
the next is obesity
but people say
that people are obese
because they feel
out of control
so they're kind of
control by their food
I don't know
if that makes sense
and then as we try
to get our lives
into control
we read a book
like Malcolm Gladwell's
Outliers
and he tells us
in this book
can you imagine
what he tells us
he tells us
that 90%
of what puts
our life
in motion
is beyond
our control
I mean he wrote
in there like
our time of birth
our place of birth
the country of birth
the hospital
the doctor
the parents
the siblings
our health
our intellect
our childhood experiences
our body makeup
our talents
our dispositions
whether that car
crosses that lane
just at the right time
and it smacks us
Gladwell says
that 90% of our life
is out of control
and yet we so desperately
seek to
assure ourselves
that we are in control
that we are the masters
of our fate
that we control
our soul
but if we're honest
it seems like
all of us here
even myself
we are a bunch of people
who are out of control
and we worry
and we're anxious
we're in Matthew 6
it's probably
the most famous
of all of Jesus' teachings
it's a sermon
on the mount
he's being followed
by about 10,000 people
in the northern part
of the Galilee
it's on this hillside
and they've ate
and he's talking to them
and in this passage
he starts to talk to them
about things
that they're going to experience
in their life
and he warns them
over and over
about worry
and fear
and anxiety
and control
and he basically says
that control
is an illusion
and we saw that
last week in the sermon
as we talked about Genesis
we realized that
control is an illusion
so when you came in here today
I put a seat
a little sheet
in everybody's chair
it's a worry sheet
what I want you to do
is as you're here
and you're listening to God
and you're listening
to the sermon
if a worry pops into your head
write that worry down
don't let it dwell on you
don't let it pull you down
just write it down
now the first worry
you're going to worry about
is yes you are going
to get lunch today
we're going to get out
of here in time
so you can write that out
I'm worried when this is going
and where this is going
write it out
so whenever a worry
pops into your head
I want you to write it out
because we're going to do
something special
with that at the end
so what I want to talk today
is I want to talk about control
and specifically
I want to talk about worry
and I want to talk about
what worry is
where does worry come from
and what do we do
when worry enters into our life
I'm going to be very personable
I'm going to be very personal
I'm going to share some experiences
I appreciate it
if you don't share around
with everybody
but this is a family
we talked about
this is what we do
in families
how I handle worry
so the first thing is worry
what it is
is it's basically seen
in our lives
and it's understand
is something that happens
physiologically
spiritually
emotionally
when we experience something
that's out of our control
I mean
this is something
that's worrying us
it could be real
it could be imagined
it could be tangible
it could be potential
in fact
what I've been told
is that most of the things
we worry about
never ever happen
if you do this statistical chart
30% of what
the average person worries about
happened in the past
and so they're worried
about what happened
in the past
and how it's going to be received
and what's going to happen
from that
50% is what's going to happen
in the future
and 8% has something
other correspondence
with just yourself
and your life
and your health
but what we're told
is that 88%
of these things
we worry about
never happen
they consume our lives
and they never happen
the Bible says
that at the core
of worry
is the desire
for control
if we're honest
we realize
that we're not in control
whether it's our work
our house
our health
our life
and we try to maintain
that thing
that we cannot control
by worrying about it
and so worry
in a way
assumes
the possibility
of controlling
the uncontrollable
you want me to repeat that
because I've been trying
to think through that
in my life
for years
worry
assumes the possibility
of controlling
the uncontrollable
I mean
now I know
as we worry
and we think about it
we can't handle these things
and so we become obsessed
and we think about it
and in the passage here
what Jesus is going to tell us
as we look at it
as we continue to look at it
as we look through this week
is that basically
that worry
and control
is an illusion
there's nothing
that we can do about it
there's no way
we can control it
it's just out there
where does worry
come from
look at verse 27
would you read that
with me
verse 27
in who of you
by being worried
can add a single hour
to his life
can you read that
one more time
in
in the Greek
and Hebrew
the word there
is actually cubit
it's a measurement
of length
18 inches
but when the guys
came to translate it
they didn't really know
how to translate it
they basically said
it means
either adding time
to our life
or making ourselves
grow taller
or adding capacity
to our life
but what Jesus says
there is that
who of us
can do that
we saw it
last week
in Genesis
remember the story
of Genesis
we're building
that foundation
we'll keep going
back and forth
and back and forth
they're in the garden
right
God builds this garden
it's good
every time God
builds a garden
it's great
he says this is good
this is good
when is the first time
the man or the woman
says something is good
when is the first time
the woman says
something is good
the apple
I mean she's surrounded
by all these great things
that God creates
and the first thing
she sees as good
when she's being tempted
is she sees this beautiful
apple or fruit
or whatever it looks like
I don't know what it is
but we've just said
traditionally
there's an apple
and it's the first time
that the woman says
this looks good
for me
how does she describe
that apple
you remember
what'd she say
the apple is beautiful
it looks tasty
and it's desirable
for what
come on guys
it's just like a
like a family
someone asks a question
and then we respond
it's desirable for what
it's desirable for wisdom
it's desirable
to make somebody wise
let me ask you a question
God creates everything
he puts a man
and a woman
in a garden
he gives them
control
of everything
why does she want
more control
what's she trying
to control
you and I
in the garden
we're given command
of everything
we're told to control
everything
to prosper
to multiply
to make everything good
to make it beautiful
she sees the apple
it's good for wisdom
it's good for control
she wants it
what does she
have control over
God
she doesn't have control
over God
I mean she has control
over everything else
in scripture
but she doesn't have
control
over God
and so when she sees that
she says
this is something
that's going to make me wise
and in control
and so she grabs that
and in trying to control
God
everything
falls apart
and she's deceived
and I would submit
that that's the way
most of us live our lives
today
that most of us
live our lives
trying to control
God
trying to put on
a facade
trying to act
a certain way
trying to act
in control
I have an incredible
privilege
as a pastor
people call me
into their lives
when their lives
are out of control
I walk into
some of the most
powerful
beautiful
offices
and houses
in all the world
I sit in front
of people
who are powerful
like you
beautiful
like you
in control
like you
and I sit
in front of them
at their time
that they're most
out of control
when they get
that phone call
from the HR department
and you're asked
to go down
to that special room
on that special floor
where no one wants to go
and hey by the way
you don't need to worry
about your stuff
when you get that call
from the doctor
and the doctor
says hey
oh by the way
something happened
with this test
and we need you
to come back
we need you
to take some more
tests
when you have
that heart attack
and you think
your life's in control
and you're healthy
and everything's going well
and all of a sudden
you have that heart attack
and I go in beside
these powerful people
who are in control
and I get to see them
for the first time
realize the reality
of their world
and the reality is
they are not in control
they try to act
in control
they try to wear a mask
like they're in control
but they are not in control
when you're getting
pushed through that
cat scanner
and you're worried
about that cancer
coming back
no matter how powerful
you are
no matter how in control
you are
at that moment
you are show yourself
that you're not
in control
and you start to worry
and you know
we hate worry
you know why we hate worry
because worry shows us
that we're not God
and we hate it
because we want to be
in control
but when worry comes
into our life
it shows us
that we're not
in control
every sermon
we've had the privilege
of inviting people
to come up front
and just to share
a little bit
about their story
and so today
I've asked Kristen
to come in
and share
where is Kristen
okay
and so she is
very worried
about not being
in control
so we talked
last night
on the phone
and I said
so are you worried
and she started laughing
ha ha ha ha
that's what the sermon's
about right
I said yes it is
and so I think
that she was
mostly worried
about me
not remembering
my questions
that I'd written out
to say
we're going to ask
these questions
you refuse to rehearse
yeah I refuse to rehearse
I just feel like
we're raw
and organic
you can't rehearse
for a family
and so
so I did tell you
Kristen
that I
I forgot the questions
okay so
so I thought
just being here
with you
maybe you could
share with us
because you know
the questions
hopefully
maybe just share
a little bit
about yourself
with the
Watermark family
your family
so I'm Kristen
and my husband
Colin and I
we've been in
Watermark for
about a year and a half
and we've been going
to your fellowship group
I grew up in Indonesia
Indonesian born Chinese
and I grew up
in a happy family
and we always had
more than enough
but my mom grew up
grew up poor
and she worked
really hard
to get out of
poverty
and to support
herself
and by the time
she and my dad
had my sister
and I basically
we were well
provided for
but they
especially my mom
always talked about
how you know
difficult being poor
is and
she always wants
us to know
that we should
avoid being poor
and we should
do whatever we can
to sort out
our lives
so that we
won't fall
into poverty
because it's a
terrible thing
to be in
so because of that
it makes me thankful
for whatever I have
but it also gives me
this fear of poverty
and I've never been poor
but I'm very afraid
of it
and it also makes me
risk averse
in the choices
that I make
and it also makes me
a planner
which is just a nice
way of saying
being a controller
so
I'm glad you said that
because so many of us
here are planners
and if I say
you're just
trying to hide
your worry
people will get
mad at me
right
and we
yeah
so my
yeah
so I tend to
I mean
the good thing is
it makes me a good planner
which is
kind of like
my gift
but it's also
my weakness
and
so basically
I tend to worry
if I am
unable to plan
for something
or if I've planned
for something
and it doesn't
work out
and then that's
when I panic
and so
that's
yeah
so then
that's when
I'm forced
to go to God
and trust in Him
basically
yeah
so we're talking
about this idea
of control
in the workplace
and how that is
manifested
in maybe
in your life
or a boss
or other people
and then just the
the converse side
of that one
because the reality
is control
is an illusion
so we don't really
have control
so we're always
just fearful
worried
and out of control
how do you see
that played out
in your workplace
is that the question
yes it was
you did remember
the questions
so basically
control in the workplace
for me
I would feel
in control
in my workplace
if I know
what's going on
in the area
of my responsibility
and I know
what my team
is doing
what they're handling
what they're dealing
with
I know that
they're happy
and I know
people like me
and yeah
just know
what's going on
and have control
of what's going on
so if my boss
asks me something
like I have an answer
for it
if situations come up
but it's something
that I know
how to handle
I still feel like
I'm in control
and basically
being in control
when I have
these situations
all tick
I would feel
quite comfortable
quite confident
and I would feel
quite good
about myself
I would feel
like I'm good
at my job
and
basically
I would somewhat
feel important
like I'm
indispensable
to the company
or something
and
yeah
so that's
when I feel
in control
and
when I don't
have things
in control
is when
I don't know
the full extent
of what's going on
within the area
of my responsibility
which is what's
happening now
because I just
got a new role
in my company
and
yeah
I feel
quite insecure
because
I don't know
everything
I don't know
what my teams
are doing
and
situations come up
and I don't know
how to
handle it
so it makes me
feel out of control
very insecure
you know
what do people
think of me
in this position
and
it
makes me
uncomfortable
and quite stressed
and
it
forces me
to
go to
God
and
trust
him
because
it's
amazing
because
I've never
seen you
and we've
gone to Israel
together
and all that
I've never
seen
you stressed
right
so you
oh
you don't
know me
well
or
or maybe
you
wear
your mask
of control
very well
because it
seems like
when I look
at you
or Colin
I've seen
Colin a little
more stressed
because he's
kind of red
but you
you just
a mask
of coolness
yeah you're
an iceberg
yeah
in a good
way
I guess
sorry about
that Colin
so what
would you
say in
this whole
process of
being out
of control
in control
and realizing
that you
need to
continually
be going
before the
Lord
and help
asking him
to show
you what
that looks
like
what are
things you've
been learning
right
and that
process for
you as a
couple
and as
individual
and things
like that
so as
much as
I don't
enjoy being
out of
control
not being
in my
comfort zone
but I
realize that's
really the
time when
I'm closest
to God
because I
it's the
only time
I literally
seek God
you know
daily
for his
wisdom
for his
strength
because I
don't know
what to
do
when I'm
in control
I really
just go
to my
normal mode
which is
like do
what I
know
I can
do
and
it's
so when
I'm
in control
it's actually
it makes me
feel good
but actually
it's really
tiring
because
I'm the
one running
everything
myself
when I'm
not in
control
it's very
uncomfortable
but in
the end
when God
comes through
I find it
really refreshing
because
oh somebody
else is
taking care
of it
instead of
myself
so it's
really refreshing
but it's
very uncomfortable
in the beginning
so that's
what I'm
learning
and I
realized
that
yeah
I
probably
should
do it
more often
because
I tend
at the
moment
I tend
to do
this
only
when I'm
in
crisis
you know
when I
my plans
don't work
out
but I
should
probably
do it
more often
like on
little
things
yeah
that was
it right
let me
ask you
another hard
question
can I pray
for you
sure
okay
father
we just
thank you
for
Kristen
and for
Colin
and just
for bringing
them here
and just
for all
the amazing
things you've
done in their
life and experiences
we pray for them
as a family
that you would
just continue to
watch over them
and bless them
as they grow
pray for her work
that you would
give her wisdom
and favor
and the freedom
not to always
wear a mask
so that people
would see
your son
coming through
her
and we pray
that for all
of us
and so I
just thank you
for her heart
and her desire
and just
amazing story
of your goodness
and faithfulness
in our life
and we just pray
these things
in your son
Jesus name
amen
thank you so much
she's a good
Texas girl
if you didn't
know that
so she went
to school
at Rice
so
giving you
a hard time
hey
one final thing
and I want
to end here
we know
what worry
is
we know
how worry
comes into
our life
and it
dominates
us
and it
tries to
show us
control
is better
and we need
to wear a mask
and not let
people see
what's happening
ultimately
what we're
actually struggling
with is
the issue
of who is
God in our
life
are we
going to be
God
or is
God
going to
be God
but the
question for
me is
always
what do
I do
when worry
comes into
my life
here
did I lose
the mic
I'm scared
cheering up
here
because
I don't
have my
act
to get
and we're
going on
a journey
we're
learning
these
things
but let
me just
share
some things
that this
passage
says
continually
as you
go to
today
ponder
consider
ponder
consider
ponder
consider
when worry
comes in
he asks us
to ponder
and consider
two things
and he asks
us to seek
or set
our heart
on one
thing
to seek
means
to set
our course
to set
our wheels
down
and to
follow
that thing
and not
to stop
following
that thing
I'm just
going to
show you
this is
how this
plays out
in my
life
so I'm
going to
talk through
some things
that go in
my world
as I look
at this
passage
God you know
I'm so
worried
about
these heart
tests
coming up
because I
had my
heart attack
ten years
ago
and I
wonder
and I
worry
if I'm
still
taking care
of my
heart
the way
I do
I know
I'm
exercising
I know
I'm
probably
not drinking
that one
glass of
wine
like I
should
I'm not
drinking
or eating
a dark
chocolate
but I'm
trying to
exercise
and do
these
things
and all
of a
sudden
I get
this slip
from the
doctor
saying
it's time
for your
annual
checkup
and treadmill
run
and Lord
I am
so
worried
about that
because on
that treadmill
I feel
out of
control
and no
matter how
much I
present
controlness
in front
of you
when you
have those
monitors
and you're
watching your
heart
you wonder
am I really
in control
and God
speaks to me
in those
times
and he
says things
like verse
26
Tobin
look at
the birds
of the air
don't you
know
that I have
control over
them
don't you
know
that I
provide for
them
don't you
know that
I've given
them all
that they
need
and I'm
totally in
control of
their lives
and yours
if I
care for
these
little
birds
how much
more am I
going to
care
for you
made in
my image
Tobin you
can trust me
because everything
happening
everything from
your heart
attack on
everything I've
been in
control over
I've been
in that
I've been a
part of that
I've allowed
all those
things happening
I've given
you my son
I've given
him on the
cross
I've given
you everything
that you
need
you can
trust me
to be
sovereign
in your
life
I think
about that
over and
over again
I think
about that
heart attack
ten years
ago
I realized
for sure
that if I
had died
this church
wouldn't be
here
or I
wouldn't be
here in
this church
but for some
reason God
allowed me to
have that
heart attack
and as I
look back
on it now
these ten
years
so many
things have
transformed
because of
those events
and it's
pretty safe
for me to
say that
Christina and
I wouldn't
have planted
a church
if God
hadn't allowed
me to have
a heart attack
and show me
that there's
more to life
than being
comfortable
and in
control
but God
you might
ask me to
do something
I don't
want to do
you might
ask me to
give up
medicine
you might
ask me to
go to
Asia
and if I
go to
Asia
I'm going
to seem
irrelevant
because all
the big
Christian
things are
happening
in the
states
and I'm
going to
lose track
of all
those
things
you might
ask me
to do
things
that I
don't
want to
do
and God
says
you're
right
I will
because I
love you
because I
want your
best
and just
like Tobin
you ask
your kids
to do
things they
don't want
to do
because you
want them
and you
want the
best for
them
in the
same way
I want
the best
for you
you can
trust me
I gave
you my
son on
the cross
I gave
you everything
dear Lord
I'm starting
to worry
about my
future
what am I
doing here
what about
our
what about
our apartments
what about
these other
things that are
happening
where are we
going to
meet
what's going
on here
and God
says verses
28 through
30
why are you
worried about
clothing
observe how
the lilies
of the field
grow they
do not
toil or
they spin
Tobin look
at the grass
look at the
flowers in
the field
how beautiful
they are
how much I
care for
them
how much I
love them
surely I
love you
more than I
love them
I will
clothe you
so much
better
than the
flowers
you can
trust me
because I'm
good
and I
gave you
my son
on the
cross
and you
don't have
to worry
about things
in your
life that
you're
going to
need
the Bible
says that
the moment
we start
to worry
basically what
we're saying
to God
is that
God isn't
in control
that God
isn't good
that we
doubt that
God
will truly
take care
of us
maybe that's
a question
we should
all ask
before we
leave here
do we
really believe
that God
will take
care of
you
because how
you answer
that question
determines
the rest
of your
life
and I
know we're
on this
journey
and we're
taking these
baby steps
and we're
learning
and we're
following
and we're
learning
and we're
following
and we're
walking
forward
but the
question you
have to
ask is
will God
take care
of you
today
is he
good
does he
want your
best
Lord I
just feel
like
sometimes
if I
do these
things
if I
move in
this
direction
if I
give up
this
idol
or something
that I've
clung to
in my
life
to give
me
security
and purpose
and hope
if I
do this
I will
lose
everything
I don't
know if
you ever
felt that
way
but I
do
as I
worry
and as I
worry
Christ says
to me
verse 33
and 34
but seek
first his
kingdom
Tobin
seek my
kingdom
focus your
life on
me
put me at
the center
of your
life
Tobin
put me at
the center
of your
work
Tobin
put me at
the center
of your
family
Tobin
put me at
the center
of your
finances
Tobin
put me
at the
center
of your
time
Tobin
put me
in the
center
of everything
in your
life
Tobin
I'll
take care
of you
I love
the story
I heard it
many many
many years
ago
Queen Elizabeth
II went
to this
businessman
she needed
something
really important
for him
to do
he was
going to
have to
leave
England
to do
it
and she
came to
him
and said
I need
you to
do
these
things
and he
looked
at her
and he
said
my
business
is
failing
if I
leave
my
business
will
shut
down
my
family
will
starve
I'll
have
no
hope
no
control
I
just
cannot
do
that
and
Queen
Elizabeth
looked at
him
and said
if you
take care
of my
business
I'll
take care
of your
business
if you
take care
of my
business
I'll
take care
of your
business
the question
is do we
believe that
do we
trust God
to be good
do we
understand
that if we
seek first
his king
if we put
him at the
center of
our life
because the
Bible says
if we put
anything else
at the
center of
our life
is going
to be
a mess
we're going
to be
full of
worry
and fear
and doubt
and anxiety
but if we
put him
at the
first
if we
seek his
kingdom
if we
care about
what he's
doing
if we
put him
in control
if we
understand
that he's
good
he gave
his son
at the
cross
for us
can we
trust him
to take
care of
our business
the passage
says if we
put anything
else at the
center of
our lives
we're going
to be
destroyed
we're going
to walk
in fear
we're going
to walk
in worry
we're going
to walk
in anxiety
our lives
will fall
apart
because fear
and worry
is interesting
when you
think about
things that
fear and
things happen
and fear
comes into
your life
the thing
you know
immediately
is that
whatever that
thing is
pointing to
that's your
idol
whatever your
fear that's
going to
happen
whether it's
my heart
my health
my family
whatever that
thing is
that I fear
the scripture
says that if
I focus on
it too much
if I become
consumed with
it too much
that's
my God
that's the
beautiful
wisdom
that I want
to grab
in control
in the garden
so what are you
fearing
what are you
worrying about
the passage
here says
that God
is in total
control of
everything
he knows
all your
needs
he knows
all your
past
he loves
you
unconditionally
as his
child
he loves
you so
much
that he
gave the
most important
thing in
his world
his son
so that we
could come
back to
him
do we
believe that
are we
just playing
games in
church
do we
think about
the songs
what the
words say
do we
understand
that God's
word is
the message
of life
or do we
just go to
God's word
when our
life is out
of control
and we need
some help
but are we
studying God's
word all
the time
because it
is the
pathway to
walking and
knowing him
better and
deeper
I want to
try something
for the very
first time
I want to
take an
offering
we've never
had an
offering in
our church
we've always
said that
offering before
the Lord
is the
greatest
indicator of
your spiritual
understanding
of the cross
and so we
haven't passed
around baskets
or buckets
or anything
like that
we talk about
it a lot
because we
feel like it's
the greatest
idol we face
in Hong Kong
and if we
don't talk
about it
people are
going to be
lost
but I
want to
take an
offering
today
I want to
take a
worry
offering
as the
worship band
comes up
the team
comes up
they're going
to play
some music
we're going
to end
with a
couple
songs
and as
you're
thinking
about the
message
if you're
thinking
of the
passages
if you're
thinking
of these
songs
as a
worry
comes to
your head
just jot
it on
that piece
of paper
and at
any time
in this
service
before I
come at
the end
we want
you to
bring this
offering
of worry
to God
and to
place it
in this
bucket
right here
at the
foot of
the cross
because the
passage says
that God
is in
control
that he
loves us
there's no
need to
worry
or fear
if you're
here for
the first
time
you don't
have to
give an
offering
if you're
part of
the
watermark
family
we would
love for
you
some of
you got
that
if you're
part of
the
watermark
family
we would
love for
you to
think about
what are
the things
that you
fear
write them
out
and when
you're ready
come up
and lay
them before
the Lord
in this
bucket
right here
we
come
before
you
and
I
realize
even
as we
share
some
people
are in
here
wondering
what the
heck
was that
and they
don't have
that relationship
with you
their lives
their families
their work
everything is
perfectly in
control
they have no
need of you
Lord I pray
for those
brothers and
sisters here
who live life
if that is
true and
if that is
true
Lord we
pray that
you would
just show
them your
son
pray that
you would
quickly show
them and
you do
that in
so many
different
ways
through
checkups
and redundancy
and other
things that
control is
an illusion
and that we
aren't
really in
control
I pray for
those in
here who
are worrying
and fear
and anxiety
and they
worry so
much about
what had
already happened
or what's
going to
maybe
probably
possibly
happen
or other
things
and sometimes
we don't
want an
answer
but we
I think in
reality what
we want is
we want the
answerer
we need that
relationship
with you
so Lord I
pray for those
who are
struggling
and realizing
that they're
not in
control
but they
don't know
who is
I pray that
they would
see your
son and
they would
see him
as beautiful
and who
gave
everything
Jesus
who gave
up
control
he gave
up
control
to come
to earth
to be
beaten
and crucified
and to
die
and to
rise
he gave
up
control
so that
he might
gain
control
and that
through him
we might
gain
you
well I
pray for
those of
us who
are on
this
journey
and we
forget
these
words
sometimes
we forget
that you've
never left
us alone
and we
forget
that you
are faithful
and that
you are
true
sometimes
we forget
it because
we leave
here right
away and
we're not
in community
we're by
ourselves
and the
voices hit
us and
we just
start believing
the lies
sometimes
we leave
here and we're
not by
ourselves
we're around
people who
also believe
the lies
and so as
they share
the lies
and their
fears and
worries
it just
quickly
smothers out
the truth
of your word
and the gospel
in our life
and we
de-gospelize
ourselves
and when I
pray for those
who are by
themselves
or in the
wrong company
I pray that
they would
find the
family of
God who
clings to
your word
and who
are not
necessarily
looking for
the answers
because they're
going to need
another answer
next week
but they're
looking for
the answerer
they're looking
for that
relationship
with you
so may we
be that
people
realizing our
brokenness
and our
sin
and our
struggle
and our
trouble
that we
walk
and we
fall
and we
walk
and we
fall
but you're
always there
you never
leave us
may we
be a church
that reminds
each other
of that
all the
time
and comes
alongside
each other
when things
are hard
or difficult
and comes
alongside
of our
brothers and
sisters at
work who
aren't in
the family
who walk
in darkness
may we
be people
who speak
this truth
and we
gospelize
everybody
we meet
of your
goodness
in the
cross
Lord we
need you
we just
pray that
you would
change us
that none
of us
would leave
here with
worries or
fears
because we
have your
son
help us
to realize
that we're
not God
but we
follow one
who is
who cares
for the
sparrows
who clothes
the flowers
who feeds
his children
and never
ever
leaves them
Lord
you are
beautiful
and you
are wonderful
we come
and we
worship
you
we pray
all these
things in
Jesus
holy name
amen