Lessons from Rest - SERMON NOTES

Intro: (1) gratitude (2) cruel joke first day back (3) five lessons from rest (4) biblical overview of rest

The Jacob Lesson (Genesis 32:24-31):
(1) Jacob returning to potentially dangerous situation → met by God in human form (2) they wrestle all night until Jacob is both blessed and hurt (3) he limps away, but now with the name Israel (4) a limp prevents us from operating with strength/control (cf. Jamin) (5) wherever you’re limping, ask how you can use it to love/serve others (cf. Jamin bfast)

The Jar Lesson (2 Corinthians 4:7-12):
(1) Paul’s legitimacy challenged → not impressive enough (2) Paul embraces it, compares to treasure in clay (3) furthermore, our weaknesses serve to bring life to others (cf. Job) (4) 2 Timothy 2:20 → happens in common, ordinary ways (cf. old guys on porch) (5) the exact
place you feel weak may be where God is using you most

The Journey Lesson (Prov. 16:1-3,9,25,33):
(1) good to have plans/dreams but only the Lord knows what is best for us, how to best get there (2) “story begins when our desires collide with reality” (cf. Joseph) (3) making sense of our present by reflection on our past (cf. Allender quote about normal life) (4) four questions → where am I, who is there to serve, what burden am I to bear, how am I to engage

The Contentment Lesson (Philip. 4:11b-13):
(1) “grace-fueled satisfaction independent of circumstances” (2) reasons for discontent → prosperity/ads, unrealistic expectations, too many options, social media (3) symptoms → grumbling, coveting, unrighteous anger, worry/anxiety, dwelling on past/future (4) secret → “learned”, connected to Christ (Mt. 13:44) (5) “do” = endure, not accomplish

The Enjoyment Lesson (Eccles. 3:10-13):
(1) v.11 → man made for eternity, but can only experience that partially now (cf. points forward to Christ) (2) v.12-13 → one aspect of wisdom is learning to simply enjoy the Lord and his gifts in day-to-day life (cf. James 1:17-18) (3) enjoyments during sabbatical → kitchen lights (4) Christians have greatest capacity for joy → we know the giver of the gifts (cf. gift cards)

Conclusion: each lesson important, but bigger picture is is backdrop of rest