Key Takeaways

Gentleness is the perfect posture of power - It's not the absence of power, but power perfectly directed toward its intended purpose.
Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart - His gentleness isn't naive softness; it's chosen tenderness in the face of rejection and hostility.
Life is fundamentally about two relationships - Our relationship with God and our relationships with people.
Rest is a person, not a thing - Jesus says "Come to me and I will rest you," not "I will give you rest as a commodity."
We are all yoked to something - The question is: Are we yoked to Jesus or to something else?

Study Questions

How does the definition of gentleness as "the perfect posture of power" challenge or change your previous understanding of what it means to be gentle?
Stewart asked: "Who in your life has stopped throwing the ball back?" This is a challenging question. Take time to reflect: Have you noticed relationships where people have stopped engaging with you in certain areas? What might that reveal?
Jesus says "Come to me" seven times in the Gospels. What makes it difficult for you to come to Jesus with your power or your powerlessness?
Read Matthew 11:25-27. Why is it significant that Jesus talks about judgment and then immediately invites people to come to him? What does this reveal about his character?
The sermon emphasized that rest is not a thing but a person - Jesus himself. How does this reframe your understanding of Sabbath, vacation, or daily rhythms?

Seeking God’s Face Devotional

How then do we keep the gospel front and center in this season of shadows known as Lent? The cross keeps our gospel focus clear. Lent is a season to journey with Jesus in his passion, to survey the cross, taking the measure of Christ’s love in his suffering and death.

This year, we’ll be using the devotional “Seeking God’s Face” for our personal daily discipleship. Also, please plan to join us for this week’s Sunday Morning Class “Seeking His Face: A Lenten Exploration.” Both youth and adults are invited!

This Week’s Liturgy

Call to worship

Psalm 116:5-9

Leader: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.

All: Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Leader: For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

All: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Confession of FAITH | the new city catechism question of the week

New City Catechism Q & A #11

Q: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?

A: Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.

Confession of sin

Father, we confess that we have looked for rest everywhere but in you. We have trusted our own wisdom, tried to earn what only you can give, and hurt others with our harshness without even knowing it. We have carried burdens ourselves that you meant for us to bring to Jesus. Forgive us. Teach us to come to you—not to a program or a plan, but to you. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Psalm 103:8-12

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.