I, Me, Mine | Week 4 | Message

The big idea

When I am king, worry rules me; when God is my king, trust frees me.

There is real freedom available even in a world full of trouble, and it comes from surrendering the driver's seat of your life to Jesus instead of trying to rule it yourself. Every worry, every fear of "slipping," and every fight over money exposes which seat we're really sitting in. Trusting God as King, not just adding Him as a passenger, is what leads to peace that doesn't depend on our circumstances.

Point 1 of 6

Pastor Bill explains that Matthew 6 exposes not the religious practices of the Pharisees but the pursuit behind them — whether people served their own kingdom or God's. He insists there is no third, in-between seat; every person at any moment is in one seat or the other.

Point 2 of 6

Working through Matthew 6:19-24, Pastor Bill shows that where we put our treasure is where our heart goes, not the reverse. He unpacks the Greek word thesaurizo (to stockpile) and haplos/poneros (the healthy versus unhealthy eye — generous versus envious) to argue that being enslaved to money, rather than trusting God with it through tithing, reveals which king we're really serving.

Point 3 of 6

Using the story of a water balloon smashing his windshield and his executive pastor Dave's stolen patio furniture, Pastor Bill shows that circumstances themselves don't destroy us — the distraction and the need for control do. He explains anger is a secondary emotion usually driven by fear, and that fear surfaces whenever someone challenges our self-appointed kingship.

Point 4 of 6

Pastor Bill walks through Matthew 6:25-32, noting that the original audience worried about literal food and clothing while we mostly worry about 'slipping' from a comparison-driven lifestyle. He explains that worry means being pulled apart emotionally as a result of self-rule, and that authority we crave always comes bundled with responsibility we don't want.

Point 5 of 6

He lands on Matthew 6:33-34, explaining that seeking the kingdom first means continually pursuing God as primary in everything, not just first in a morning routine. Living one day at a time, trusting God for daily bread rather than the prodigal son's demand for the whole inheritance now, is what actually produces peace despite ongoing trouble.

Point 6 of 6

Using the illustration of two car seats, Pastor Bill says many believers want Jesus riding shotgun for directions and comfort while they stay in control. He insists Jesus will not ride shotgun or sit in the trunk as a spare tire — He is only ever the driver, and real peace comes from taking the passenger seat and trusting where He drives, even through hard streets.

Take it into your week

Pastor Bill's charge is to take off your Burger King crown, lay it at the cross, and move from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat.