SERIES: The Everyday Gospel
TEXT: Matthew 11:27-30
MESSAGE: “Gospel Rhythms For Everyday Life”
Is your pace sustainable?
“Baby Boomers know what they’ve lost. The younger generation is growing up with an addictive inner pressure and chronic stress as normal. When they can’t go any faster and they can’t slow down, it will be a hard road to pick up the developmental pieces they’ve missed in our wild rush for progress.” — Stephanie Brown
A disciple of Jesus is centered on the gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit, rooted in God’s missional family, equipped for everyday rhythms, and sent with a Kingdom vision.
Q: How does the gospel reshape our rhythms?
TEXT: Matthew 11:27-30
“This text is full of wonder: the Son of God, the revelation of the Father, the One who represents the Trinity before man, says, ‘Come to Me’ (v. 28). We have here an explanation of Christianity that is radically different from every other religious system in the history of the world. With such an amazing invitation, we need to understand exactly what it means to come to Jesus.” — David Platt
We learn three ways in which the gospel helps give us a new rhythm for life. Jesus teaches us…(1. Our starting place 2. Our deeper struggle 3. Our new pace)
1. Our starting place (v. 27)
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father…”
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
“…quit rushing through the streets long enough to become aware that there is more to life than your little self-help enterprises.” — Eugene Peterson
“This isn’t the workplace of 10 years ago. There’s a lot of pressure. And it’s competitive in the sense that anyone in the world could take your job for less money, so you have to work harder.” — Dan Schawbel
2. Our deeper struggle (v. 28)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” — Psalm 127:2
“You made us for yourself, and our heart is restless, until it rests in you.” — Augustine
3. Our new pace (v. 29-30)
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“…whatever is bugging you, whatever is bothering you, whatever is draining you, whatever is making you unbelievably tired in soul today is because you’re yoked to something besides Jesus, period.” — Timothy Keller
“Therapy, coaching, exercise, or meditation may relieve the symptoms of burnout and help us cope — or even thrive — in these conditions, but they won’t necessarily change the conditions themselves. For people who have already tried mindfulness and deep breathing and other exercises, and are still struggling with burnout, we might also need to challenge some fundamental assumptions around how much we can really do – and develop the capability and permission to “not do.” We don’t have the capacity to “do it all…” — Steven D’Souza
“What does God offer in the Bible when I’m feeling overwhelmed by work? One definition of “overwhelm” is “[to] bury or drown beneath a huge mass.” While our work might feel like a huge mass we’re buried or drowning beneath, God tells us in Scripture, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you” (Isa. 43:2). We also know we’re “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8–9). So while we may feel overwhelmed, we can remind ourselves that since we belong to Christ, we aren’t actually buried or drowned.” — Kaitlyn Febles, (Come to Jesus, All Those Who Feel Overwhelmed by Work)
“Lay your deadly doing down, Down at Jesus’ feet; Stand in him, in him alone, Gloriously complete.” — James Proctor (1864)
TAKEAWAYS: How do we apply the gospel to our daily rhythms?
- Start with Jesus daily
“It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.” — C. S. Lewis
“The spiritual rest, which God particularly intends in (The Sabbath), is this: that we not only cease from our labor and trade, but much more, that we let God alone work in us and that we do nothing of our own with all our powers.” — Martin Luther
- Understand Seasons
“…a season for every activity under the heavens…” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength…It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.” — Charles Spurgeon
“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” — Matthew 26:36-46