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Rest
For the Weary
Matthew 11:28-30
Lesson
Purpose:
This lesson is designed to help people see their need for the
rest Jesus gives. In a world where we are constantly bombarded
with things to do, deadlines, stresses and the desire to “keep
up,” we are desperately in need of rest. Not only will this
lesson open the group’s eyes to their busyness, but also
open their hearts to Jesus.
Scripture:
“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.”
(Matthew 11:28-30) |
Icebreaker:
Invite the group to think for a moment about this question: What
is the most refreshing vacation you have ever taken? Ask group
members to share their responses.
Life
Connections:
Use these questions to help your group members to begin to open
up with one another and to think about their own lives. The answers
to these questions need not be spiritual in nature. The intention
is for practical real life responses.
1) What makes you tired? Work; my children; worrying
about things; all of the bad things happening in the world.
2)
How do you relax? Read a book; take a long bath;
watch TV; go on vacation.
3)
How are we taught to rest? By getting away; I
learned watching my parents.
4)
How are we taught to lead restless lives? By
working overtime; by trying to get ahead; by being busy with kid’s
sports, school, work and other activities.
5)
Do you worry about things that take away your ability
to rest? Yes, all the time, watching the news makes me
worry; I can’t sleep at night because I think about work.
6)
What kind of rest do you need? Physical rest? Rest from
inner doubts and fears that rob you of rest? Physical
rest, my body is so tired; Spiritual rest, my thoughts are always
racing and I can’t settle down and hear myself think; rest
from my worrying.
Scripture’s
Answers: Matthew 11:28-30
In this section the Life Connection questions are now related
to the passage of Scripture being used in this Bible Study. The
answers to the following questions should come from the text as
well as out of the individual’s hearing and understanding
of what they have heard read.
Have a member of the group read the Scripture passage aloud for
all to hear. Make sure extra Bibles are available so everyone
can follow along.
Introduction:
Jesus has just finished talking to His listeners about what His
kingdom is like. He has told them they may have to leave their
families to follow Him. He has pronounced “woe’s”
on those cities that do not believe or accept Him. Jesus is not
offering us easy answers. However, when we come to the passage
of Scripture for this study we find Jesus talking about light
burdens and easy yokes. How can the two go together? What we find
is that following Jesus is not about carrying a heavier burden
than the one we already have. Living a life for Him makes the
yoke easier.
7) Who is Jesus talking to in these verses? His
followers; everyone.
8)
Can you find a place where Jesus excludes anyone from
this rest He is offering? No, it seems like it is for
everyone.
9)
How do we get this rest? By coming to Jesus;
by following Him; by asking Him.
10)
What Jesus says may seem too easy. He does ask for something
in return, what does Jesus want us to do? To carry His
yoke; to come to Him; to learn from Him.
Teaching
Time:
Say
to your group: “There are some important concepts
Jesus is talking about in these verses. We all understand
rest and what it means. What you might not understand is what
a yoke is. Yokes are used to attach a team of oxen together
to plow a field or pull a heavy load. What is important to
understand about a yoke is it has to be balanced. The team
of oxen must be the same size and strength so they can pull
effectively. When one is weaker the yoke is too burdensome
on the other and they are unable to function. A yoke will
not work without two oxen in it—there must be a team.” |
11) Jesus talks about a yoke. In life we are all yoked
to something; we do not live independently. What or who can people
be yoked to? Their work; their family; their past; their
spouse.
Teaching
Time:
Say to your group: “Each of us carries a yoke. We all
carry heavy yokes. The yoke of responsibility can be very
heavy for us to carry. We are responsible to provide for our
family, to do a good job at work, to please our parents. Or
maybe we carry the yoke of our past—the things that
were done to us, the things we did, the things we can’t
take back. We all carry some kind of a yoke, but no one can
carry a yoke alone. Two oxen wear a yoke and pull the plow.
If there were only one animal, the yoke would be unbalanced.
The plow could not till the ground. Jesus wants us to put
our neck in His yoke and He wants to walk through life with
us."
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12) What words does Jesus use to describe Himself? He
says He is gentle; humble.
13)
What do you think Jesus’ yoke is? What do you think
His burden is? To come to Him; to learn from His teachings;
to follow Him.
14)
Do you think this yoke or this burden would be heavier or lighter
for you to bear than the one you are already carrying? Why?
Heavier, I could never measure up to what He is asking; Lighter,
I want to walk with Jesus as my companion instead of what I am
already yoked to.
Teaching
Time:
Say
to your group:
“Sometimes we assume that being a Christian would be
much too difficult, that we could never measure up to what
Jesus is asking us to do. The truth is, we can’t follow
Christ in our strength. When we try to live on our own, the
Christian life becomes a very heavy burden. Thank goodness
that isn’t what Jesus is asking us to do. You see when
we invite Jesus into our lives, when we let down the heavy
burdens of this world and take His yoke upon our back, then
we are surrounded by His grace. We can’t do it alone,
but Jesus doesn’t ask us to. He always is there offering
His presence, His strength and His help to live lives transformed
by His grace.” |
Reflection:
Invite the group to take a moment to reflect silently on the questions
you are going to ask. These questions can be answered or you may
choose to allow the members of the group to think about them.
15)
If you were to look honestly at your life are you satisfied
with the amount of work you do and the amount of rest you have?
16)
Let’s take a moment to look at the burdens we carry.
Some may be the burden to provide more and more for your family,
the burden to succeed at work, the burden to look good to those
around you, the burden to achieve greater things in life. Do these
burdens weigh you down, take away your rest and make your quality
of life merely mediocre?
17)
Two people are necessary to fill a yoke. With whom do
you share a yoke?
Optional
Activity Time:
As a way to make the reflection more meaningful in the lives of
group members there are two activities to engage in. First, give
the group time to write the answers to the reflection questions
in a journal they can keep throughout the study time and the week
to come. Second, send each group member home with these questions
to think about and write about in a journal during the week. When
the group gathers together the next time, break the group up into
smaller groups and give them the opportunity to share what they
have been thinking about since they last met.
Teaching
Time:
Say
to your group: “You may be happy with the way
your life looks, you may be content with the amount of work
you do and the amount of rest you have. But you may also wish
you could slow down. You may want to take a deep breath and
not feel guilty for taking a break. You may hope all of this
work and toil will end.
“We could come to this passage and dismiss what is says
because we know that Christians still have to work and still
have busy lives. What Jesus is offering in these verses isn’t
a removal of the work in your life. Instead He offers us companionship
as we live our lives, do our jobs and struggle with the burdens
we carry. When we choose to share life with Jesus, the work
we face is easier, the burden we carry is lighter and the
yoke is not as hard. Why? Because Jesus offers us grace, mercy
and peace where the world tries to take them from us. He truly
gives us rest, real rest, meaningful rest. Come to Him, you
will find rest for your souls.” |
Conclusion:
Take time to pray together before the group leaves. Allow group
members to share insights and ask questions they may have.
Possible
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
Our lives are so busy. We have so many responsibilities and
stresses to face. We need rest. Thank You for your offer to
us. Thank You that we can come to You for Your promise of
rest. Give us the faith to believe we can bring our burdens
to You, all of our troubles, and all of our busyness. We trust
You to carry them while giving us rest.
Amen. |
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