|
 |
Notes
|
|
|
 |
Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
|
|
|
|
|
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
|
|
|
|
Matthew 11:28-30
|
|
|
|
|
"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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
|
|
|
|
Rest From Work
|
|
|
|
|
Think about the various ways to rest – sleep, vacation, recreation, relaxation, retreats, etc.
|
|
|
|
How much and what types of rest do you need/want?
|
|
|
|
What are the benefits of rest?
|
|
|
|
Is this an area of your life that you believe the Lord is speaking to you about specifically? Discuss.
|
|
|
|
What kinds of activity tend to crowd out your time for rest? What can you do about it?
|
|
|
|
Pray for one another in this area of rest either in life group or during the week.
|
|
|
|
Rest In Work
|
|
|
|
|
Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Imagine an older, strong, wise, mature, experienced ox, yoked with a submitted younger ox as a picture of what it is like to be yoked with Jesus. Imagine the bulk of the weight of a burden being shifted from the younger ox to the older ox so that what the younger ox was carrying was no longer heavy.
|
|
|
|
Discuss times when Jesus has carried the weight of a heavy burden for you. Are there burdens that are currently weighing you down? Pray for each other about these burdens either in life group or during the week.
|
|
|
|
Hearing from God
|
|
|
|
Jesus said “learn from me”.
What is your experience of hearing from God?
What are the challenges? Has the bible been helpful to you in finding the “good way”? Has prayer? Have other believers?
|
|
|
|
2 Corinthians 6:14; Deuteronomy 22:10
|
|
|
|
|
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Deuteronomy 22:10
Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
|
|
|
|
Unequally yoked
|
|
|
|
Are you currently unequally yoked with unbelievers in any relationships in your life? How can you avoid being like an ox yoked with a donkey going forward?
|
|
|
|
Jeremiah 16:6
|
|
|
|
|
This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'
|
|
|
|
Crossroads
|
|
|
|
Are you currently at a crossroads? Discuss and pray for one another in this area.
|
|
|
|
Witnessing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Note - The gospel is the good news that God has provided salvation for everyone through faith in Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection.
|
|
|
|
Do you talk about the gospel to others? Considering your answer, what does this say about whether or not you are ashamed of the gospel? What does this say about whether or not you believe that the gospel is God's power to save everyone who will believe?
|
|
|
|
Discuss the people you know personally who aren't followers of Jesus. Which ones have heard the gospel from you? Which ones haven't?
|
|
|
|
Are there any people with whom you are afraid to share the gospel? If so, discuss this with your life group and pray together for boldness.
|
|
|
|
Scriptures For 10/11/2009 Life Church Sermon
|
|
|
|
|
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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
|
|
|
|
|
This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'
|
|
|