March 22, 2026

INVITATIONS: COME AND REST

March 22, 2026

Teaching Pastor Charles Billingsley

A man gave his testimony of a derelict life. He heard—as an older teen—a sermon on the salvation provided by Jesus, that He is the only One who could pay for our sin debt, through His death on a cross and His resurrection from the grave. The sermon told how Jesus offers salvation from sin, a life in which He helps carry our burdens, and peace that comes only from Him. The young man listened intently, mentally holding his two hands out as if weighing which life he wanted: one of drugs, alcohol, fear, loneliness, sin, depravity, and more, or a life of joy, forgiveness of sins, peace, comfort, love, and so much more. He said he told himself he’d be a fool to turn that down. He went forward when he heard Jesus quietly telling him, “Come.” He accepted Jesus. He answered with a yes. Do you know people who might need that same invitation to run to Jesus?

Focal Passages: Matthew 11:25-30, 4:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 3:12-15, 4:9-10; Revelation 14:13; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 23:4.

Come to Me:

  • Read Matthew 11:28. Have you been in a hot, sweaty situation when someone has told you to ‘Come, sit down’? How much more would you appreciate hearing such an invitation if your problems were internal (health, marriage, financial, etc.)? What are issues people deal with today that they might wish for help with, but never think of calling on Jesus?
  • Who is receiving the invitation? Why do some people assume He would never want them? Are you one of those who battle with a shameful past?
  • Who is making this invitation? If He calls you to come, are you concerned He will change His mind? Do you know that if He calls you, He already loves you? Read John 10:27. If you hear Him, He is your ‘shepherd’; does that give you hope?
  • When you ‘hear’ Him say ‘Come to Me,’ when does He want you to do so? Over the past two weeks, who are some men we heard of to whom Jesus said, ‘Come, follow Me’? Is this invitation going to last forever? Read Hebrews 3:12-15. What is God telling the sinner in this passage?

Who is the invitation to?

  • Read Matt. 11:28. What lifestyle did those who received the invitation have? Read John 6:37. Do you see the double negative, meaning Jesus will absolutely never turn someone away because they have been ‘too sinful’? Who is ‘all’?
  • What did Jesus mean by ‘(all you who) labor’? Is Jesus speaking of physical labor? Read Matt. 23:4-7. Do you know people who are trying to earn salvation by being good, or doing a lot of ministry work, or being legalistic? Why did Jesus warn the believers against these Pharisees? Read Eph. 2:8. Can we ever be good enough, or reach standards high enough, to earn salvation? Read Isaiah 64:6a. Did you see the word ‘righteousness’? Our best can do nothing for us!
  • What do we mean by this call being both personal and universal? Even though the salvation message is to everyone, there are some whom God will not hear: Read Psa. 66:18. The psalmist is not talking about the sin that one desires relief from, but a lifestyle that they do not want to give up, as in Isa. 59:2 and Ezekiel 3:7. Read 2 Peter 3:9. Does God send anyone to hell? Who is responsible for someone going to hell?

What is happening at the event? 

  • Read Matt. 11:28. ALL of those who are willing, Jesus calls to come to Himself, but what is the purpose of His call? (He will give us REST!?) Before we get too excited, is Jesus speaking of physical or spiritual rest? How do we spiritually rest? What are some things in our lives today that are stopping our spirits from getting rest? (Worries of our past, present, future). Read Psa. 23:3a. Is this the same as ‘rest’? What does our soul need restoration from? So—the world saps our spirit’s rest. How can we alleviate at least some of that?
  • What are at least seven parts of our entire body that need rest? (i.e., like spiritual). We tend to think our physical body needs rest, but what else do we know requires it?

What do I need to wear:

  • Think back upon the past two weeks of sermons—when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, did they need to do anything except obey? He hasn’t changed, nor have sinners. Again, even if we changed, could we ever be good enough?
  • Does anyone recall the lyrics to the hymn, “Just as I Am”? If it is remembered, sing it!

How do I RSVP:

  • Read Matt. 11:29. What is an apprentice? Jesus, in effect, is calling believers to be His apprentices. What does He say in verse 29? Read 1 Samuel 15:22. God values obedience.
  • Have you ever considered that Jesus has a yoke? What is it? If it is easy and light, who is pulling most of the weight? How? Why? Who will put that into an “in other words” type statement? (In other words, Jesus will share the yoke with us, pulling most of the weight as we go through the weighty matters of this life.)
  • Notice, He doesn’t say “Learn about” He says, “Learn from Me.” Learn how to see this world, how to look upon people with compassion, how to love. Name some!

Where can we go to find this rest?

  • Read Joshua 1:9. Where is the only place where we can find peace and joy? Rom. 15:13.

Close: From God’s perspective, He sent His only Son to suffer death on a cross, to pay the sin debt for every person who would come to Him. God could not have done more. Yet, people treat Him shamefully, calling Him “that man upstairs” and other flippant titles. What more could He do? Let us always hold Him up with the holiness He deserves, loving Him with all we are, and being prepared to meet Him the moment He calls. He gave us His all; let us do our part to love Him with our whole heart.

By Sandy Day

March 22, 2026

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