CreatingCommunity is an email devotion to guide your preparation for worship next weekend. Imagine how much more clear and relevant God's Word will be if you have had an opportunity read, reflect, and dwell in the Word prior to worship. You may do this devotion alone, with others, as a family, or over Zoom as a small group.

This devotion is to be done in preparation for Sunday, June 28, 2020, The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.

Please follow these three steps:

1. Read through the text
2. Respond to the questions (select one of the sets of questions)
3. Offer a Prayer
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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.”
No Experience Necessary Questions:
  1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
  2. What delights me in this text?
  3. What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
  4. What is God up to in this text?
Family Questions:
  1. Jesus seems to say you don't have to be smart to receive the Good News. How does that sound to you?.
  2. Does anything in this passage trouble you? Why or why not? Explain your response.
  3. What do you think Jesus means by asking us to "take on his yoke"? Explain
Advance Questions:
  1. Jesus seems to suggest that being wise or intelligent, worldy or scholarly may prevent one from hearing the good news. What do you make of that?
  2. How does Jesus' invitation for the weary to come to him sound to you today?
  3. What do you make of Jesus' invitation to take his yoke on ourselves. How does that happen? Explain.
Click here to listen to this week's CreatingCommunity Hymn
“Come Unto Me..." The Original Chuck Wagon Gang
Prayer
You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised. You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you, know you, and serve you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen .
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