Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon Text: Matthew 11:25-30

Other Readings: Joshua 23:1-11 and Hebrews 4:1-11

 

  1. Look closely at Matthew 11:25-27. Does God purposefully try to prevent people from believing in him as the Savior? Explain your answer.

 

  1. What do you think the writer means by “Today” in Hebrews 4:7? Use Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28 to help.

 

  1. In our First Lesson, Joshua says that God had given the Israelites physical rest from their enemies after they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. In our Second Lesson, the writer says that some Israelites didn’t get true rest even though Joshua gave them physical rest in the land. Apply Hebrews 4:1-3 to the unrest many feel or see in America right now.

 

  1. A yoke is a piece of wood that attaches animals together across their necks so that they can do work. Jesus says that he gives us a “yoke,” meaning there are things he asks us to do. What are some things which Jesus asks us to do that look like burdensome work to unbelievers but in reality make our Christian lives easier and lighter? Talk about how they make your life easier and lighter.

 

 

  1. No. God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and sent his Son into the world both to save it and explain his plan for salvation. These verses do serve as a warning, though, that people can only come to God on his terms: through his Son Jesus Christ and through the gospel which Jesus preached. We do not make the rules; God has set his will.
     
  2. The writer to the Hebrews means that today and everyday God desires us to find rest in the gospel, that is, the good news about Jesus. It’s not just a onetime thing, a once-in-a-while thing, or even a once-a-week thing. It’s an everyday thing, and that’s why Jesus gave the open invitation, “Come.”
     
  3. A citizen can have physical, earthly rest but not have rest for the soul. A citizen can have rest for the soul even if they don’t have physical, earthly rest in the nation. If a citizen has physical rest and spiritual rest, that person is doubly blessed by God. We Christian citizens will work to bring physical rest to our land but even more so will strive to bring spiritual rest to individual souls. The latter is more important than the former.
     
  4. Answers may vary, but take worship as an example. God tells us to worship him. It looks like work to unbelievers to “waste” an entire morning of your weekend to get up early, drive to church, and worship. But the Christian knows that their day and week will be much better off because they will hear God’s forgiveness, pray to him, and be encouraged by other Christians.