Foundry Community Church
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - Year A
  • America The Beautiful

      • Psalm 145:8–14ESV

      • Romans 7:15–25ESV

  • Star Spangled Banner
  • Matthew 11:16–30 ESV
    16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” 20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 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. 28 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.”
    This is the Gospel of our Lord!
    ALL: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

    Big Idea

    The world tells us to work harder, perform better, and carry more. Jesus offers something completely different: He invites us to trust God's faithfulness, surrender our burdens, and discover true rest in Him.
    We live in an exhausted culture.
    We're connected 24 hours a day but often feel disconnected from one another. We have more technology than any generation before us, yet many people are more anxious, overwhelmed, and weary than ever. We carry full calendars, financial concerns, family pressures, health struggles, and the constant expectation that we should always be doing more.
    Even spiritually, it's easy to believe that if we could just pray more, know more, serve more, or try harder, then God would finally be pleased with us.
    Into that relentless cycle, Jesus speaks one of the most gracious invitations in all of Scripture:
    Matthew 11:28 ESV
    28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    "Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
    Notice that Jesus doesn't first offer advice. He offers Himself.
    The readings for today all point toward this same truth. God is faithful. We are limited. Christ is sufficient.

    Point 1 ~ Trust God's Providence More Than Your Own Plans

    Illustration: "The GPS You Can't See"

    Most of us have had the experience of following GPS directions while driving.
    You're heading somewhere important, and suddenly the voice says, "In one mile, take the next exit." But as you approach it, traffic is backed up. You think, There's no way this can be the fastest route. Maybe you even ignore the instruction and keep going.
    A few minutes later, your phone recalculates. Then you discover that the route you chose has an accident, construction, or a complete standstill. The GPS knew something you couldn't see because it had access to a much bigger picture.
    Our lives often feel like that.
    God says, "Wait."
    We want to move.
    God says, "Go this way."
    We think another path looks quicker or easier.
    God closes one door, and we assume He's forgotten us. But what if He's simply rerouting us around something we cannot yet see?
    Genesis 24 reminds us that God's servant wasn't wandering aimlessly. Every conversation, every stop along the journey, every "coincidence" was part of God's larger plan. Looking back, the servant could honestly say, "The LORD has led me..."
    Faith doesn't mean we always understand the route. It means we trust the One who sees the entire map.

    Transition

    "Some of you are frustrated because your life isn't following the route you planned.
    A relationship didn't work out.
    A job opportunity disappeared.
    A diagnosis changed everything.
    A dream seems delayed.
    Before you conclude that God has abandoned you, remember the servant in Genesis 24?
    The servant couldn't see the whole journey while he was living it—but afterward, he could clearly see God's hand in every step.
    You may not understand God's direction today, but one day you'll be able to say, just as the servant did, 'The LORD led me all along.'"
    Abraham's servant has an impossible assignment. He must travel hundreds of miles, find the right wife for Isaac, and somehow discern God's will.
    He doesn't manipulate circumstances.
    He doesn't force doors open.
    He prays.
    He watches.
    He obeys.
    And when God provides, he immediately gives glory to the Lord.
    One phrase echoes throughout the chapter:
    "The Lord led me all along…”
    The servant recognized that God was already working before he ever arrived.
    How often do we live as though everything depends on us? We plan every detail, worry about every possibility, and feel responsible for outcomes that ultimately belong to God.
    Faith doesn't mean we stop planning. It means we stop believing that we are the ones holding the universe together.

    Illustration

    Imagine looking at the back of a handwoven tapestry. All you see are knots, loose threads, and tangled yarn. It appears random and unfinished.
    Then someone turns it over.
    Suddenly, what looked chaotic reveals a beautiful design.
    Most of us live looking at the back of the tapestry.
    God always sees the front.
    What feels like delay may actually be preparation. What feels like coincidence may actually be providence.

    Application

    Where are you trying to control what only God can direct?
    Perhaps it's your career, your children, your health, or your future. Trust begins when we surrender the illusion of control and believe that God is already at work—even when we cannot yet see it.

    Point 2 ~ Stop Carrying Burdens Jesus Never Asked You to Carry

    A few years ago, I realized something about myself. Even on my day off, I had a hard time resting.
    I'd sit down in the living room with every intention of relaxing, but within a few minutes I'd remember another email I hadn't answered, another project that needed attention, another phone call I should return, or another item I forgot to add to Sunday's to-do list.
    Physically, I was sitting still.
    Mentally, I was still running.
    Maybe you've experienced that too. You finally get a quiet moment, but your mind won't let you enjoy it. Instead of resting, you start replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow, or thinking about everything you haven't finished.
    Then one day it struck me: the problem wasn't just my schedule.
    The problem was what I believed.
    Somewhere deep down, I had started believing that my value came from what I accomplished. If I worked harder, prepared more, answered every email, and met every expectation, then I could finally rest.
    But the finish line kept moving.
    There was always one more thing to do.
    That's exactly what Paul describes in Romans 7. We keep thinking, 
    "If I just try harder... if I just do better... if I just get it all together..." 
    Yet we never arrive.
    Jesus never asked us to build our identity on our performance.
    He asked us to build our identity on His grace.
    The moment I began reminding myself that Christ loved me before I accomplished anything—and that His love didn't increase because I checked everything off my list—I discovered something I hadn't experienced in a long time.
    Not just a slower schedule...
    But a quieter soul.

    Transition

    "Maybe your burden isn't busyness. Maybe it's perfectionism. Maybe it's guilt over something in your past. Maybe it's the constant feeling that you're never enough.
    Whatever you're carrying, ask yourself this question:
    Did Jesus place this burden on me... or did I?
    Because if Christ didn't ask you to carry it, perhaps today is the day to lay it down."
    This illustration connects Paul's struggle in Romans 7 with a common modern experience: the temptation to derive identity from productivity. It leads naturally into Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11, where He offers rest not to those who have finished everything, but to those who are weary from trying.
    Paul gives voice to a struggle every believer knows:
    Romans 7:19–25 ESV
    19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
    "I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." ~ Romans 7:19
    Anyone who has tried to follow Christ understands this tension.
    We love God.
    Yet we still fail.
    We promise ourselves we'll do better.
    Then we stumble again.
    Many Christians quietly carry a heavy burden of guilt and self-condemnation. We begin to think our standing with God depends on our latest success or failure.
    But Paul exposes the lie of self-salvation.
    Trying harder cannot heal a sinful heart.
    The Law shows us our need; it cannot save us from ourselves.
    The answer is not greater effort but greater dependence on Christ.

    Illustration

    A lifeguard once explained that drowning victims are often hardest to rescue when they are still fighting. Their panic keeps them from accepting help. Before they can be safely brought to shore, they must stop struggling against the one trying to save them.
    Spiritually, we often do the same. We exhaust ourselves trying to earn what God offers freely through grace.

    Application

    Romans 7:19 “19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” us are carrying burdens Christ has already carried:
    Shame over past failures.
    Fear that we're not enough.
    The pressure to prove our worth.
    The belief that God's love depends on our performance.
    The cross declares otherwise.
    You don't have to earn what Jesus has already accomplished.

    Point 3 ~ Receive the Rest Only Jesus Can Give

    Imagine two hikers beginning the same mountain trail.
    The first hiker has exactly what he needs—a little water, a snack, a light jacket, and a map. His backpack isn't weightless, but it's manageable. He enjoys the scenery, encourages others on the trail, and has enough strength to finish the journey.
    The second hiker starts with the same supplies but keeps adding things that don't belong in his pack. He throws in extra rocks "just in case." As he walks, he picks up more stones from the trail. Every disappointment becomes another rock. Every regret becomes another rock. Every fear about tomorrow becomes another rock. Every harsh word spoken to him, every mistake he's ever made, every unrealistic expectation—another rock.
    After a few miles, he's exhausted.
    He looks at the first hiker and wonders, "How can you still be smiling? How can you still have energy?"
    The difference isn't that one hiker had an easier trail.
    The difference is that one carried only what was necessary.
    The other carried everything.
    That's often how we live spiritually.
    Jesus never asked us to carry shame.
    He never asked us to carry unforgiveness.
    He never asked us to carry the pressure of earning God's love.
    He never asked us to carry tomorrow's worries before tomorrow arrives.
    Yet many of us keep filling our backpacks with things Christ already carried to the cross.
    Then we wonder why we're so weary.
    When Jesus says, "Take My yoke upon you," He isn't giving us another burden. He's inviting us to exchange burdens.
    We hand Him what is crushing us.
    He gives us what sustains us.

    Transition

    "So here's the question each of us has to answer today:
    What are you carrying that Jesus already carried?
    Because the invitation of the Gospel isn't simply to admire Jesus from a distance.
    It's to trust Him enough to lay the backpack down.
    To leave behind the rocks of guilt, fear, anxiety, resentment, and self-reliance.
    To pick up His yoke instead.
    The trail may still be uphill.
    Life may still have challenges.
    But you'll no longer walk it alone.
    That's the promise of Jesus.
    Not an easier road—
    A stronger Companion."

    Matthew 11:28–30

    Jesus makes three simple invitations:
    Come.
    Take.
    Learn.
    First, come.
    Jesus doesn't invite the strong or the successful. He welcomes the weary.
    Then, take My yoke.
    That sounds strange until we understand what a yoke was. It joined two animals together for shared work. Jesus isn't inviting us into a life without responsibility. He's inviting us to stop carrying life alone.
    Finally, learn from Me.
    Rest isn't found by escaping life. It's found by walking with Christ through life.
    Notice what Jesus promises:
    "You will find rest for your souls."
    Not merely physical rest.
    Soul rest.
    The kind of peace that remains even when life is still difficult.

    Illustration

    A custom-made yoke in the ancient world was carefully shaped to fit the ox wearing it. A poorly fitted yoke rubbed sores and caused pain. A well-crafted yoke made the work lighter because it fit perfectly.
    Jesus' yoke fits because He knows us completely.
    He never asks us to carry life without His presence.

    Application

    The invitation still stands today.
    Some of us need to stop trying to impress God.
    Some need to forgive ourselves because Christ already has.
    Some need to release worries we've rehearsed for months.
    Some simply need to hear these words again:
    "Come to Me."
    Not after you've fixed yourself.
    Not after you've become stronger.
    Not after you've figured everything out.
    Now.

    Conclusion

    Every reading today points in the same direction.
    In Genesis, God faithfully guides His people.
    In Romans, we discover the limits of our own strength.
    In Matthew, Jesus offers the answer to every weary heart.
    The gospel isn't another burden to carry.
    It's an invitation to lay our burdens down.
    The world says, "Keep striving."
    Jesus says, "Come to Me."
    The world says, "Prove yourself."
    Jesus says, "Receive My grace."
    The world says, "Carry more."
    Jesus says, "Take My yoke, for I will carry it with you."
    Today, Christ's invitation remains open.
    Whatever burden you brought into this sanctuary—grief, fear, regret, anxiety, exhaustion, or uncertainty—you do not have to leave carrying it alone.
    Come to Christ.
    Trust His providence.
    Release your burdens.
    Walk with Him.
    And discover the rest your soul has been longing for all along.
    "Come to me, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
    Amen.
    As we come to the Lord's Table this morning, remember this: Communion is the place where we remember why we don't have to carry our own burdens anymore. Christ's body was broken, and His blood was poured out so that weary people could find forgiveness, grace, and rest.
    Today, don't just hear His invitation.
    Answer it.
    Come. Take. Learn. And find rest for your soul."
    This table does not belong to Foundry Community Church.
    It belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ.
    He is the One who welcomes the weary, forgives sinners, and offers rest to all who trust in Him.
    Whether your faith feels strong today or fragile, whether you come with confidence or questions, Christ invites all who repent of their sin and seek His mercy to come.
    Come, not because you are worthy, but because Christ is gracious.
    Come, for all is ready.

      • Matthew 11:16–30ESV

      • Matthew 11:28ESV

      • Romans 7:19–25ESV

  • Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we come now to the Lord’s Table—a place of grace, remembrance, and renewal. Here we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, proclaim His victory over sin and death, and celebrate the unity we share as His people.

    Invitation to the Table

    Leader: Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
    This table is not the table of any church, but the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. All who trust in Him, repent of their sins, and desire to follow Him are invited to share in this meal of grace.

    Prayer of Confession

    Leader: Before we receive these gifts, let us confess our sins before God.
    All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    Let us go before our Lord in Silent Confession…

    Assurance of Pardon

    Leader: Hear the good news: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
    In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

    The Great Thanksgiving

    Leader: The Lord be with you.
    People: And also with you.
    Leader: Lift up your hearts.
    People: We lift them up to the Lord.
    Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
    Leader: Let us pray as our Lord taught us…

    The Lord’s Prayer

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

    Words of Institution

    Leader: On the night He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread. After giving thanks, He broke it and said:
    "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
    In the same way, after supper He took the cup and said:
    "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
    For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

    Prayer of Consecration

    Leader: Let us pray.
    Gracious Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and cup. By Your Spirit, unite us with Christ and with one another, that we may be nourished in faith, strengthened in hope, and renewed in love. Make us faithful witnesses of Your kingdom until Christ comes again in glory. Through Him, with Him, and in Him, all honor and glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

    Distribution

    Leader: The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
    The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

    Prayer After Communion

    All: Gracious God, we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of Your Son. Strengthen us through this meal to love and serve You faithfully, to seek justice, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with You. Send us into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ's love. In His holy name we pray. Amen.

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–24ESV

  • Doxology
  • Battle Hymn of the Republic
  • Now Unto Him
Foundry Community Church
2 members • 1 follower