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(Back to Study Home Page)   Sermon December 7, 2003
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December 7, 2003 - Matthew 11.25-30.

The readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, - December 7, 2003 are: Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; and Luke 3:1-6.

Open It

  1. If you had one week of vacation in which to recharge your physical and emotional batteries, where would you go to rest, relax, and get rejuvenated?

  2. What sorts of activities absolutely drain the life out of you?

  3. Why are many Christians frazzled and burned out?

Explore It

  1. After pronouncing woe on several unrepentant cities, what did Jesus do? (11:25)

  2. When did Jesus pray? (11:25)

  3. How did Jesus address God? (11:25)

  4. Why did Jesus say he was praising God? (11:25)

  5. What did Jesus say God had entrusted or committed to him? (11:27)

  6. Who alone did Jesus say knew him? (11:27)

  7. Besides himself, who did Jesus say could know God? (11:27)

  8. Who claimed to reveal God to the world? (11:27)

  9. What general invitation did Christ make at this time? (11:28)

  10. What kind of people was Jesus addressing? (11:28)

  11. What promise did Jesus make to those who would accept his offer? (11:28)

  12. What farming imagery did Jesus use to encourage people to come to him? (11:29)

  13. How did Jesus describe himself? (11:29)

  14. How is walking with Christ described? (11:30)

Get It

  1. In your eyes, what about Christ seems so obvious that everyone ought to be able to see it?

  2. Why do you think certain truths are hidden from "the wise"?

  3. In what ways do you feel weary and burdened right now?

  4. What aspects of the Christian life do you find especially taxing or burdensome?

  5. What is it like to experience the promised "rest" of Christ?

  6. How would you describe your walk with Christ right now?

Apply It

  1. What are two specific ways you can work with Christ tomorrow instead of going in your own direction?

  2. Besides praying, what are some ways you can get to know your Father in heaven more intimately this week?

  3. What burdens will you entrust to Christ today?

NOTES

Matthew 11:25, Jesus mentioned two kinds of people in his prayer: the "wise"-arrogant in their own knowledge-and the "little children"-humbly open to receive the truth of God's Word. Are you wise in your own eyes, or do you seek the truth in childlike faith, realizing that only God holds all the answers?

Matthew 11:27, In the Old Testament, "know" means more than knowledge. It implies an intimate relationship. The communion between God the Father and God the Son is the core of their relationship. For anyone else to know God, God must reveal himself to that person, by the Son's choice. How fortunate we are that Jesus has clearly revealed to us God, his truth, and how we can know him.

Matthew 11:28-30, A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. A person may be carrying heavy burdens of (1) sin, (2) excessive demands of religious leaders (Matthew 23:4; Acts 15:10), (3) oppression and persecution, or (4) weariness in the search for God.

Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.

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