Adult Bible Study Online

Inviting the Weary

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Lesson text: Matthew 11:25-30
By: Ken Seitz
Email: kenseitz@hotmail.com

Picking up the January 2010 issue of Sojourners, I found an article by Editor-in-Chief Jim Wallis. The first paragraph grabs my attention: "In November [2009], Dallas hosted Sojourners’ Justice Revival. Combining the traditions of Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, Jr., Dallas churches came together across racial, theological, and geographic boundaries to connect personal faith with social justice."

The editorial goes on to make the point that, according to church historians, spiritual activity doesn’t get to be called revival until it has changed something in society. Thousands attended the three-day rally involving mainline, non-aligned, and mega-churches. Every evening a call was given to come to Christ and justice while pastors were called to the stage to symbolize their commitment to the city. One participating pastor described the revival as "a witness to the world [that] the church is not going into a ‘circle-the-wagons’ mode, but is answering Christ’s call to be the church out on the streets."

One evening 50 homeless people were present. On Saturday, a thousand people took the vision of the revival to the streets to participate in 10 different projects, including a march to call attention to the plight of the homeless. Every night the crowd was reminded that "the true test of revival is not what happens during these three days, but what happens afterward."

The ABS student guide, page 49, asks in what ways we’ve experienced Jesus’ offer of rest to a world of heavy burdens. Or where do we see God at work in surprising ways in our world? I find it inspiring to make the connection between such questions and the "Justice Revival."

On a slightly different, yet related, note, I want to take us again to Jesus Matters, chapter 11, "Jesus Our Salvation." This chapter, exploring texts from Luke’s Gospel dealing with the quest to find and know Jesus, says, page 158: "The good news is that salvation is simple and free; salvation is a relationship with Jesus Christ.… Living in hope and not despair, we live our lives for others rather than ourselves."

The chapter provides another basis for understanding more fully Jesus’ words, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.…"

This message relates to the Adult Bible Study. For additional information on Adult Bible Study or Adult Bible Study Teacher, send email to info@mpn.net. To order either publication call Mennonite Publishing Network at 1 800 245-7894.

Jesus Matters
Good News for the 21st Century
Does Jesus really matter today? Sure, he’s popular with many North Americans, but do they really know who he is and what he said? And do we, the people who claim to be his followers, know as much about him as we should? Read more and save 20%!