Sunday, Jul 12
Scripture
Matthew 11:28-30 • Come to me 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Scripture
2 Kings 17:15 • Meaningless meaningless 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”
Scripture
Genesis 12:1-3 • God’s covenant with Abraham 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you into a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Quote
“What is “in vain?” To do something in vain means to do it without achieving the intended result, without lasting value, or in a way that is empty and ineffective.”
Dialogue
On your announcement card there is a list of potentially ‘in vain’ scenarios: Chasing wealth to find lasting security Pursuing success to find worth or identity Seeking approval from others to feel valued Holding onto bitterness instead of forgiving Building a reputation without building character Accumulating possessions that cannot satisfy Comparing yourself to others to find worth Worrying about things you cannot control Seeking revenge instead of reconciliation Trying to control everything I am going to give you a moment to give TWO SCORES Score on the left: How much effort does our culture put into this? • 0 - no notable effort • 7 - endless effort Score on the right: How much effort do you put into this? • 0 - no notable effort • 7 - endless effort
Dialogue
What stands out to you as you look at your answers and listen to each other's thoughts?
Dialogue
What causes someone to put effort into something that will likely be found to be meaningless or in vain?
Dialogue
What have you lost, broken, or had stolen?
Scripture
Matthew 6:19-21 • Store up treasures in heaven 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Scripture
Matthew 6:21 • Treasure and heart connection 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Dialogue
What are some things in life that putting your time, energy, and effort into continually bring good returns? (Not in vain)
Scripture
2 Kings 15:19-20 • Israel pays off Assyria 19 Pul, the king of Assyria, came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver so that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his rule. 20 Then Menahem collected the money from Israel, from all the mighty men of wealth, from each man fifty shekels of silver to pay the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned and did not stay there in the land.
Scripture
2 Kings 17:3-6 • Assyria deports Israelites to Assyria 3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute. 4 But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison. 5 The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.
Scripture
2 Kings 17:7 • Cause and effect All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God
Scripture
2 Kings 17:7-9 • Israelites secretly walked from God 7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns.
Scripture
2 Kings 17:14-15 • Following worthless idols 14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”
Dialogue
What is the sting of finding out that extraordinary actions have been done in vain? How does it change a person to see and feel that efforts were done in vain?
Scripture
Matthew 11:28-30 • Come to Jesus 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Dialogue
How has faith in Jesus' promise impacted you? (How was it not in vain?) Where have you seen godly efforts not be in vain? What are the challenges in putting effort into “coming to Jesus”?
Take it deeper
Question 1
Read Matthew 11:28-30.
Question 2
When in your life have you felt the most weary or spent?
Question 3
What tends to drain you?
Question 4
What gives you life and renews your energy?
Question 5
How has God provided rest, help, or support for you—both internally (through His presence, peace, or strength) and externally (through people, circumstances, or practical provision)?
Question 6
As you reflect on this passage, what challenges you, encourages you, gives you hope, or leaves you with questions?
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