The Rise of Anxiety in America

Series: The Smartphone Problem

Sermon Title: The Rise of Anxiety in America

Speaker: Sam Rainer

Date: January 5,, 2025

Reflect

What’s one way technology has made your life better? What’s one way it has made it harder?
When was the last time you felt truly disconnected (from your phone or internet)? How did it feel?

Read Matthew 6:25-30. How does Jesus’ teaching about worry challenge the way we handle anxiety today?
Based on 1 Peter 5:6-7, why do you think casting our anxieties on God is so important in combating fear?
How do the “Great Rewiring” and the cultural shifts mentioned in the sermon reveal the spiritual implications of anxiety?

What steps can you take to reduce anxiety caused by technology in your own life this week?
How can our group support each other in trusting God more deeply amid worries and anxieties?

What’s one thing you’ve learned or been reminded of about anxiety from this sermon?
How does understanding Satan’s tactics (guilt, lies, and hopelessness) help us fight anxiety?
What does it mean to you that Christ’s resurrection defeats fear, doubt, and anxiety?

Historical Firsts: The iPhone 4 (June 2010) introduced the front-facing camera, changing social media dynamics forever.
The Great Rewiring: Between 2010 and 2015, social lives became more inward-focused due to smartphones and social media.
Biological Insights: The frontal cortex, essential for self-control, doesn’t fully develop until the mid-20s, making young people especially vulnerable to technology addiction.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Encourages prayer as an antidote to anxiety, providing the peace of God.
Psalm 23 – Emphasizes God’s guidance and comfort in fear and uncertainty.
Romans 12:2 – Calls for renewal of the mind, resisting conformity to worldly patterns (like over-reliance on technology).
Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus invites the weary and burdened to find rest in Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trusting in the Lord with all your heart combats the doubts and worries that fuel anxiety.