What to Fear, What Not to Fear

Luke 12:1-12

Sermon Notes

1) Why you should fear the subtle leaven of the Pharisees, 1-3

2) Why you should fear the sovereign Lord, not sinful mankind, 4-5

3) Why you should trust God’s sovereign provision, 6-12

a) Because you’re worth a lot to Him, 6-7

b) Because He’s reliable, 6-7

c) Because He has power to punish or pardon, 8-10, cf. 4-5

d) Because He will provide when you need it most, 11-12

Reflection questions:

1. Read Lk 12:1 and compare it to Matthew 13:33. What’s the similarity in both passages? What’s the encouragement about leaven (or yeast) in the Matthew passage? See also Matt 16:16.

2. Compare Jesus’s words in Lk 11:43 with his words in Lk 12:4-5. Now see Paul’s words in Galatians 1:10. How was Paul living and breathing for “an audience of one”?

3. What does Jesus say about sparrows in vv. 6-7? What about the lilies (in Lk 12:27 and Mt 6:27-34)? Why does Jesus want us to pay attention to his care of small insignificant things? Also see Lamentations 3:18-27 – Why does Jesus want us to remember how He has been faithful to us in the past?