Purkey's Bible Study Outlines

KEY VERSE: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34).

INTRODUCTION: Our Heavenly Father loves us, and He can take care of the needs of His people, but we must trust Him. We do this by praying, reading the Bible, and doing what He says. (Obedience is the very best way to show that we believe).

1. A new member of a Bible study group asked the leader, “How can anybody keep from worrying these days?”

2. Good question.

3. In a society full of poverty, disease, and starvation, Jesus’ listeners asked the same question.

4. Then, as now, we cannot stop feelings of worry and panic.

5. However, we can decide to trust God and act according to His will so that the panic does not overwhelm us.

6. Jesus does not mean that we are never to plan ahead.

7. Some long-term preparations for the future are necessary – insurance and retirement savings -- for example.

8. But we must not let the future control the present.

9. The life God gives us is one day at a time.

INSIGHT: Jesus used the common birds and wildflowers of Palestine around Him as illustrations of God’s abundant provision. Nature depends on God’s provision. Meanwhile, people worry about where their provisions will come from. Their trust in God will grow if they observe how God provides His creation what it needs.

A. A Reminder About Worry (Matthew 6:25).

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25).

Jesus said that while people overly worry about what they will eat, drink, and wear, God feeds the birds, which do not grow crops or build storage barns, and takes care of the wildflowers, which quickly fade and die. 

An Average Person's Anxiety is Focused on:

40% -- things that will never happen

30% -- things about the past that can't be changed

12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress

8% -- about real problems that will be faced

B. A Reminder Of Nature. (Matthew 6:26-27)

1. God provides for the birds. (Matthew 6:26)

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26)

Jesus said that since God provides for the birds, yet values us more than them, we must know that all of our needs will be met.

2. God provides for people (Matthew 6:27.)

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (Matthew 6:27).

For many of us, the admonition not to worry about your life (Matthew 6:25) sounds just as impossible to obey as, “don’t breathe.” Worry and anxiety over life are commonplace. But to this Jesus said in effect, “When was the last time you saw a bird with an ulcer?” Birds don’t worry about where they’re going to get their next meal, and yet the heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26).

A. A Model For Us (Matthew 6:28-29).By Charles F. Stanley. 

 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (Matthew 6:28-29).

Solomon was tremendously wealthy and could afford to dress in the most magnificent clothing available. Yet the wildflowers carpeting the fields of Palestine were more gloriously dressed than Solomon ever was. God graciously supplied their brilliant color and texture.

B. A Reminder To Us (Matthew 6:30).

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30).

Jesus said that being anxious about the basics of life accomplishes nothing, drains our energy, and shows that we do not have enough faith.

God values us more than anything else He has created. Since God takes care of the birds and the flowers, we do not need to be anxious or worried, because He certainly will care for us and do what is best for us.

INSIGHT: Flowers don’t agonize over looking pretty, but not even Solomon in all his splendor could match the beauty in the fields of God’s creation (Matthew 6:28-29). If God gives this kind of attention to birds and flowers, won’t he do much more for you and me (Matthew 6:30)?

 By David C. McCasland 

1. A woman who prepared meals for hungry farm workers during the harvest season would watch them consume every bit of food on the table. Then she'd say, "Good. I fixed just the right amount."

2. Many of us struggle to feel that way about the resources entrusted to us. At the end of a meal or the end of a month, do we really believe that God has given us enough? When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), how much do we expect God to supply? As much as we want? Or as much as we need?

3. Health experts say that a key to good nutrition is eating until we feel satisfied, not until we are stuffed full. In every area of life, there is a difference between genuine hunger and having a greedy appetite. So often, we want just a little more.

4. In Jesus' teaching on prayer, He said: “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (Matthew 6:8, 31).

5. As the Lord supplies our needs, perhaps we should see His provision from a new perspective and determine to express our thanks by saying, "Father, You gave me just the right amount." – By David C. McCasland, Precept Austin.org.

INSIGHT: Jesus noted that day after day people were obsessed over where they would obtain the basics of life -- food, drink, clothing, and shelter. Such anxiety indicated that their focus was on themselves, not on God and other people. In contrast, Jesus’ followers could rest in the knowledge that their heavenly Father was aware of, and would provide for, their needs.

A. Put Everything In God’s Hands (Matthew 6:31-32).

31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Matthew 6:31-32)

The Gentiles (unbelievers) are preoccupied about where they will get their food and clothing. For many of them this is an all-consuming focus that dominates every aspect of their lives. In contrast, Jesus’ followers can rest in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is aware of and will supply our needs. God loves us!

An old man was asked what had robbed him of joy the most in his lifetime. He replied, "Things that never happened!"

Someone has cited these three keys to happiness: (1) Fret not -- God loves you (John 13:1). (2) Faint not -- God holds you (Psalm 139:10). (3) Fear not -- God keeps you (Psalm 121:5).

B. Live For The Lord Jesus (Matthew 6:33).

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Jesus stressed that His followers should value God’s kingdom and righteousness above everything else. This life goal meant believers are to submit to God’s rule and urge others to do the same. As we do so, God will amply supply our needs. When believers live in this way, the Lord will ensure that we have the food and clothing we need to serve Him. In short, when we get our priorities straight, we can get what we need without ever worrying about it.

C. Don’t Worry About Tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34).

Jesus said “the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34) – each new day brings with it plenty of anxiety-producing situations. Therefore, undue worry about what might happen is pointless. If Christ’s believers cannot control the present with its problems, what point is there in being preoccupied with the future?

1. Give something away (no strings attached).

2. Do a kindness (and forget it).

3. Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance).

4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel).

5. Laugh often (it's life's lubricant).

6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough).

7. Pray (or you will lose the way).

8. Work (with vim and vigor).

9. Plan as though you'll live forever (because you will).

10. Live as though you'll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow).

INSIGHT: The fowls of the air and the lilies of the field, relying on the tender loving care of their Creator, set an example of glad dependence upon the will and superintendence of God. We need to learn to lean on our Heavenly Father; He cares for us. As someone has said, “Today is the tomorrow that we worried about yesterday.” How true that is for many of us! Live for the Lord Jesus: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

CONCLUSION: If we study ALL of Matthew 6, what do we learn?

1. CONCERNING OUR PRAISE? (Matthew 6:1–4):We learn that we should give only to please God and receive His praise. If we give to win the praise of others, or to be able to compliment ourselves (Matthew 6:3), we get the immediate reward – praise -- but we lose the eternal reward. We cannot get our reward twice, so we must decide which one we want.

2. CONCERNING OUR PRAYERS? (Matthew 6:5–15):We learn that our public praying is only as good as our private praying, and our private praying should be secret (Matthew 6:5–6), sincere (Matthew 6:7–8), and systematic (Matthew 6:9–13). The Lord’s Prayer is a pattern for us to follow so that we will put God’s concerns first and not forget to forgive others.

3. CONCERNING OUR POSSESSIONS? (Matthew 6:16–34):We learn that we need things to live (Matthew 6:32), and God provides these things for us (Matthew 6:33); but acquiring things must not be the main goal of life. You are living for things when they capture your heart (Matthew 6:19–21), divide your mind (Matthew 6:22–23), and control your will (Matthew 6:24); The result of this is worry. The solution is to put God first and start living with eternity’s values in view.

INSIGHT: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).

“We lay up treasures in heaven when we consider that all we have belongs to God and we use it to magnify His righteousness and advance His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). It means much more than merely giving offerings to God, although that is important. It means total stewardship of our life so that God is in complete control and our one desire is to glorify Him. This is the secret of a unified life (Matthew 6:24) free of worry.” – Dr. Warren Wiersbe.

1. A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. 

2. The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast : "Lord, I hate buttermilk," the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." 

3. Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour." The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable. 

4. Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen." 

5. Stay strong my friends, because our life is being mixed with lots of things that we don't care for…relax and wait until the mixing is done – see Romans 8:28.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (romans 8:28).

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “No one is more secure than the one who is held in God's hands.”