Citywide Baptist Church
Living from a place of rest
Jesus promises he will give us rest... and not just on holidays!
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
I love rest... and Jesus promises that we can live from it...
(Biblical Rest is) characterized by stability, security, and equilibrium. It refers to a perspective that transcends any turmoil in our circumstances, rising above unrest. It is what God gives when his people look beyond their difficult circumstances to recognize the greater reality of God’s kingdom.
This is what Jesus means when he says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The rest he offers does not eliminate difficulties we are experiencing but helps us to look beyond them.
John H. Walton - Wisdom for faithful reading
This is what Jesus means when he says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). The rest he offers does not eliminate difficulties we are experiencing but helps us to look beyond them.
John H. Walton - Wisdom for faithful reading
One of the core reasons we don't rest is that we focus on the wrong things.
1. A starting point is being able to trust that God will sort out injustice.
1. A starting point is being able to trust that God will sort out injustice.
There will be judgement, but it's not ours to do.
Living from rest means overcoming evil with good, rather than repaying evil with evil.
2. A child is dependant on their parents. They are constantly asking questions. Living from rest means living like children dependant on our parent.
Living from rest means living on the understanding that Jesus is actually in charge and our relationship with him is the most important thing about us.
What are your burdens? What do you do with them?
There are three normal, but unhealthy, approaches to managing your burdens.
1) Get overwhelmed (Victim)
2) Blame someone (Persecutor)
3) Ignore your problems by focussing on other people's (Rescuer)
There are three normal, but unhealthy, approaches to managing your burdens.
1) Get overwhelmed (Victim)
2) Blame someone (Persecutor)
3) Ignore your problems by focussing on other people's (Rescuer)
Each of these roles puts the burden in the wrong place.
A drama happens when people change roles, so the rescuer persecutes the persecutor, who becomes a victim and looks for a rescuer themselves.
This describes the plot of every Home and Away and Neighbours episode since Charlene married Scott...
This describes the plot of every Home and Away and Neighbours episode since Charlene married Scott...
Every one of of the default roles assumes that the person in question is incapable of carrying their own load.
3) Living at rest means acknowledging your burdens and giving them to Jesus.
3) Living at rest means acknowledging your burdens and giving them to Jesus.
Jesus invites you his unforced rhythms of grace
Small Group Questions:
1) Talk about a time when you experienced real rest
2) Who are the people or groups of people you find it hardest to trust to God's Justice?
3) Would you say that you default to being a Victim, a Rescuer or a Persecutor?
4) What loads is Jesus inviting you to give to him so that he can help you carry them?
1) Talk about a time when you experienced real rest
2) Who are the people or groups of people you find it hardest to trust to God's Justice?
3) Would you say that you default to being a Victim, a Rescuer or a Persecutor?
4) What loads is Jesus inviting you to give to him so that he can help you carry them?