“I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Matthew 18:29
Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for the Sunday, August 1 worship service and the sermon by reviewing the bible readings, confession, and reflection.
Bible Reading 1: Romans 12:9-18 (ESV)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Confession/Creed: Heidelberg Catechism Q. 43
Q. What further benefit do we receive from Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?
A. By Christ’s power our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may offer ourselves as a sacrifice of gratitude to him.
Bible Reading 2: Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It is a joy to know what Christ has done for us. But for the next five weeks, we do not want to focus centrally on what Christ has done. I want a brief epilogue to our series through Matthew as we consider once again "who he is." The two matters of "what Christ has done" and "who he is," are bound up together and indeed are interdependent. But they are distinct. The gospel offers us not only legal exoneration – a precious truth! – It also sweeps us into Christ's very heart. Do you know his deepest heart for you?
Reflection
There's only one place where Jesus tells us about his own heart. In Matthew 11:28 – 30 Jesus reveals his heart when he says "I am gentle and lowly." - Dane Ortlund
1. He is "gentle" with you.
2. He is "lowly" before you.
3. The "yoke" he puts on you is easy and kind.
4. He gives you rest for your soul.
See you Sunday at 10:00 AM!
We hope you can join us August 1 at 10:00 AM, in-person or via Livestream, as Pastor Martin speaks about these verses. Here are the complete details for Sunday’s Service. The link for Sunday’s Livestream is below. Lastly, if you like, listen to Sunday’s song selection.
July 11 Sermon by Pastor John Yenchko is at 10:00 AM In-Person and here via YouTube.
Miss a recent service/sermon? Here is the "Worship Service Archive" page.