The Core of the King

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Do you ever feel like you need to get your life together before you can come to God? What if the very thing keeping you from Jesus—your weariness, your burdens, your mess—is actually what qualifies you to come to Him? Discover what it means to have a King whose heart is defined by gentleness, accessibility, and an invitation to rest.

More from this series

Love to the End

Love to the End

A King Who Gets It

A King Who Gets It

Drawn to the Desperate

Drawn to the Desperate

See All Sermons

The Core of the King

Message Summary
Do you ever feel like you need to get your life together before you can come to God? What if the very thing keeping you from Jesus—your weariness, your burdens, your mess—is actually what qualifies you to come to Him? Discover what it means to have a King whose heart is defined by gentleness, accessibility, and an invitation to rest.
Key Scripture
At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: The Gentle King

Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:25-30

Scripture: At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Devotional: Jesus reveals something profound about His heart in these verses—the only place in Scripture where He directly describes His own character without metaphor. He is “humble and gentle at heart.” This isn’t just a nice sentiment; it’s the core identity of our King.

Think about the weight you’re carrying right now. The burdens that keep you up at night. The weariness that settles into your bones. Jesus doesn’t wait for you to clean yourself up before extending His invitation. He doesn’t require you to have all your ducks in a row. The very thing you think disqualifies you—your tiredness, your heaviness, your mess—is actually what qualifies you to come to Him.

Our King is not trigger-happy toward our brokenness. He doesn’t have a short fuse when we choose restlessness over His gift of rest. He is gentle, period. Not gentle only when we worship perfectly or behave correctly, but gentle in the moments we spit in His face, when we mock Him, when we question where He is in our pain. This is the nature of the King we serve—thoroughly vested in your life, thoroughly concerned with what you’re walking through.

Response Questions:

  1. What burdens are you carrying right now that you’ve been trying to sort out on your own before bringing them to Jesus? What would it look like to come to Him today, exactly as you are?
  2. How have past experiences with unhealthy authority figures shaped your view of Jesus’ authority? How does knowing He is “gentle and lowly at heart” challenge those perceptions?
  3. In what areas of your life are you most reluctant to access Jesus’ presence? What excuses have you been giving yourself, and what would change if you took Him at His word today?

Prayer Points:

  • Ask Jesus to help you receive His rest as a gift rather than something you need to earn through perfect behavior or spiritual performance.
  • Pray for the courage to come to Jesus with your actual burdens today—not the cleaned-up version, but the real weight you’re carrying.

Day 2

Day 2: The Yoke of Purpose

Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 5:1

Scripture: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Devotional: A yoke isn’t punishment—it’s a gift. In Jesus’ time, a yoke made the burden bearable, distributing weight so the animal could work without being crushed. When Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us, He’s not adding to our burden; He’s making it possible to carry what we’re called to carry.

But here’s the deeper truth: the moment you put on His yoke, you’re placing yourself in active service. You’re saying, “Jesus, I recognize You have a purpose and plan for my life. I may not see it clearly, but I want to burden myself with You so that every room I enter, every conversation I step into, every inconvenient moment that interrupts my day—I walk into that space with the burden of Your joy, grace, peace, love, and kindness.”

His yoke is one of compassion, grace, forgiveness, peace, rest, and patience. These qualities can feel like a burden when they contradict how you want to behave in any given moment. It’s a burden to be kind sometimes. It’s nearly impossible to fly off the handle when you’re carrying the yoke of His kindness. But this burden is light because it’s aligned with who you were created to be and what you were created to do.

Response Questions:

  1. What “yoke” are you currently carrying that Jesus never asked you to bear? (Perfectionism, people-pleasing, religious performance, others’ expectations?)
  2. How would your daily interactions change if you truly walked with the yoke of Jesus’ kindness, patience, and peace? Think of a specific relationship or situation.
  3. When you don’t allow His yoke to rest on your shoulders, what are you choosing instead? What does this reveal about where you’re finding your identity and purpose?

Response Questions:

  1. Reflect on a recent moment when you reacted poorly to a disruption. How might carrying Jesus’ yoke have changed your response in that situation?
  2. What does it mean practically for you to be “in active service” to Jesus in your current season of life? What is He calling you to carry for Him?
  3. Jesus says His burden is light, yet following Him requires sacrifice. How do you reconcile these truths? What makes His burden different from the heavy burdens you’ve carried before?

Prayer Points:

  • Ask Jesus to help you release the yokes you’ve placed on yourself—the impossible standards, the religious performance, the need to prove your worth.
  • Pray for grace to carry His yoke of kindness and patience in the specific relationships and situations you’ll face today.

Day 3

Day 3: The Accessible King

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 4:14-16; James 4:8

Scripture: So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Devotional: Jesus describes Himself as “lowly”—meaning He is the most accessible, approachable being you will ever encounter. Through His death and resurrection, He tore down every barrier between us and the Father. We can now boldly approach the throne of grace. Not timidly. Not apologetically. Boldly.

Yet we have the audacity to say, “I don’t have time for Him right now. I’ve got deadlines. I’ve got people waiting on things from me.” We have the audacity to not access the One who gave everything so that we could have access. Why are we not accessing Him? Because we’re too busy? Because we think we’re not worthy? Because we’ll get to it when life calms down?

Stop. Just stop with the excuses. Stop with the self-deprecation that masquerades as humility. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. For the first time in maybe forever, take Him at His word and access His presence. The One who is gentle, the One who is lowly, wants to give you His rest right now—not when you’ve earned it, not when you deserve it, but now.

Response Questions:

  1. What specific excuses do you use to avoid accessing Jesus’ presence? (Too busy, not worthy, will do it later, don’t know how, etc.) Which excuse is most common for you?
  2. How does knowing that Jesus “understands our weaknesses” and “faced all of the same testings we do” change your willingness to approach Him with your actual struggles?
  3. What would it look like for you toResponse Questions:
  4. What specific excuses do you use to avoid accessing Jesus’ presence? (Too busy, not worthy, will do it later, don’t know how, etc.) Which excuse is most common for you?
  5. How does knowing that Jesus “understands our weaknesses” and “faced all of the same testings we do” change your willingness to approach Him with your actual struggles?
  6. What would it look like for you to “boldly approach the throne of grace” today? What specific situation or burden could you bring to Him right now instead of trying to handle it on your own?

Prayer Points:

  • Confess the ways you’ve kept Jesus at arm’s distance and ask Him to help you see Him as the accessible King He truly is.
  • Thank Jesus for tearing down every barrier between you and the Father, and ask for boldness to approach Him throughout your day today.

Day 4

Day 4: Rest as a Continuum

Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:28-29; Psalm 23:1-3

Scripture: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Devotional: Notice the progression in Jesus’ invitation: “I will give you rest” and “you will find rest for your souls.” When we first come to Him, we are gifted His rest. But as we continue to access Him and let Him teach us, we continuously find more rest. His rest is not a one-and-done transaction. His rest is a continuum.

Thank God for that, because life continues on. There are going to be disruptions in your life. Gas prices will go up. Grocery bills will shock you. Coworkers will treat you poorly. Family members will disappoint you. Strangers will act like they don’t care about you. Don’t be surprised by the disruptions that are coming.

But here’s the beautiful truth: when you are burdened with all of Jesus’ stuff, you step into those disruptions with a different demeanor. His rest enables the worker to go back to the task with renewed vigor. It’s not just warm fuzzies to suit your fancy. His rest is about you, but it’s about you not being about you. You have work to do for Him. You have a purpose to fulfill for Him. And you can only do that work from a place of rest in Him.

Response Questions:

  1. How have you treated Jesus’ rest as a one-time event rather than a continuum? What would change if you accessed His presence daily, even multiple times throughout the day?
  2. Think about an upcoming disruption or challenge you’re facing. How might you walk through it differently if you were operating from a place of rest in Jesus rather than anxiety or self-reliance?
  3. What does it mean that “His rest is about you, but it’s about you not being about you”? How does this reframe the purpose of receiving rest from Jesus?

Prayer Points:

  • Ask Jesus to help you develop a rhythm of continually coming to Him throughout your day, not just in crisis moments but as a way of life.
  • Pray for the grace to walk through this week’s disruptions with a different demeanor—one that reflects His rest, peace, and purpose in your life.

Day 5

Day 5: Gentleness Without Compromise

Scripture Reference: John 8:3-11

Scripture: As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Devotional: Jesus was divinely gentle in this moment with the woman caught in adultery. He didn’t react to the urgency and anger of the religious leaders. He didn’t shame her or lecture her. He protected her, defended her, and offered her forgiveness. But notice what He said: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Just because Jesus is gentle does not mean He doesn’t have expectations over our lives. He is gentle and expectant. His gentleness is not an invitation to ask, “How much sin can I get away with and still be good with Him?” The answer is none. He is gentle, but He still has expectations.

Don’t squander His gentleness. Don’t mistake His patience for permission. Don’t confuse His grace with approval of your sin. The woman walked away from that encounter forgiven, but also with a clear directive: go and sin no more. Jesus’ gentleness always leads us toward transformation, not stagnation. He meets us where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there.

This is the heart of our King—gentle enough to approach us in our mess, powerful enough to transform us, and loving enough to expect more from us because He knows who we were created to be.

Response Questions:

  1. In what areas of your life have you been squandering Jesus’ gentleness—treating His patience as permission to continue in patterns He’s calling you to leave behind?
  2. How does knowing that Jesus is both gentle and expectant change the way you approach confession and repentance? Does this make you want to run toward Him or away from Him?
  3. What would it look like for you to receive both His forgiveness and His directive to “go and sin no more” in a specific area of struggle? What practical step is He calling you to take?

Prayer Points:

  • Thank Jesus for His gentleness toward you in your brokenness, and confess any ways you’ve taken advantage of His patience rather than allowing it to lead you to transformation.
  • Ask Jesus to show you clearly where He is calling you to “go and sin no more”—and pray for the strength and grace to walk in obedience to that call.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

Opening Prayer (2-3 minutes)

Begin by inviting the Holy Spirit into your time together. Ask God to help everyone be honest about where they are and open to what He wants to teach them about His heart.

Icebreaker (5-7 minutes)

Question: When you think of the word “king” or “authority,” what comes to mind? What experiences have shaped your view of authority?

Leader Note: This helps the group acknowledge that many of us carry baggage around authority figures. The pastor mentioned that many have experienced unhealthy authority exercised over them, which can color how we view Jesus as King.

Watch or Discuss the Sermon (30-35 minutes)

Discussion Questions

1. Coming to Jesus As You Are

Question: The pastor said, “If you’re weary and if you’re tired, that qualifies you to come to Him.” Why do we often feel like we need to clean ourselves up before coming to Jesus? What keeps you from approaching Him in your mess?

Context from Sermon: The pastor addressed how many people say, “I want to get my life sorted out, and then I’ll come to church or come to Jesus.” He emphasized that we make ourselves a “capable savior” when we do this, creating our own list of qualifiers. Jesus’ only qualifier is that we’re weary and tired. The pastor pointed out that even Cain, fresh from murdering his brother, had God come near to him.

Leader Tip: Give people space to be honest here. Some may share about shame, pride, or past church experiences that made them feel unwelcome.

2. The Pattern of God Coming Near

Question: The pastor walked through several Old Testament stories showing God’s “pattern of coming near” (the Garden, Cain and Abel, Noah, Babel). How does seeing this pattern throughout Scripture change your understanding of who God is?

Context from Sermon: The pastor emphasized that “regardless of what view, what conclusion you may have right now of who God is, the Word lets us know all that we need to know. God, the Lord God, and God Almighty is one who comes down to us.” He showed that God came near before the mess-up (Cain), after the mess-up (Adam and Eve), and to the faithful (Noah). God’s pattern is always to draw near.

Leader Tip: Encourage the group to share which story resonated most with them and why.

3. Taking on His Yoke

Question: What does it mean to “take His yoke upon you”? The pastor said a yoke isn’t punishment—it’s a gift that makes the load more bearable. What “yoke” (burden of kindness, patience, grace, etc.) do you most need Jesus to help you carry right now?

Context from Sermon: The pastor explained that a yoke gives comfort to the weight we’re called to carry and places us in active service. He said, “When we don’t carry his yoke, we are determining that I don’t care about your purpose.” He gave personal examples of needing the yoke of kindness when he gets frustrated with his wife or family. The yoke doesn’t make disruptions disappear—it changes how we walk through them.

Leader Tip: This is a great opportunity for practical application. Help people identify specific areas where they need Jesus’ yoke (work relationships, parenting, finances, etc.).

4. Jesus is Gentle

Question: The pastor said this is the only place in Scripture where Jesus tells us who He is at heart (not metaphorically): “I am gentle and lowly.” How does knowing Jesus is gentle—even when we’ve disappointed Him, mocked Him, or ignored Him—change how you approach Him?

Context from Sermon: The pastor emphasized: “Jesus is not trigger happy towards our brokenness… He is not reactionary to our dysfunction. He is gentle. He’s not a loose cannon. He does not have a short fuse when we choose to be restless over his gift of rest.” He also clarified that Jesus’ gentleness doesn’t mean He has no expectations—pointing to the woman caught in adultery whom Jesus forgave but told to “go and sin no more.”

Leader Tip: Some people may struggle with the balance between God’s gentleness and His holiness. Acknowledge this tension while emphasizing that His gentleness is constant, even as He calls us to transformation.

5. Finding Rest

Question: The pastor distinguished between receiving rest (when we come to Jesus) and finding rest (as we continue to access Him and let Him teach us). What’s the difference? How have you experienced this in your own life?

Context from Sermon: “When we come to him, we are gifted his rest. When we access him, we find more of his rest.” The pastor explained that Jesus’ rest isn’t a one-and-done experience but a continuum. He defined biblical rest as “a rest that enables the worker to go back to the task with renewed vigor”—it’s not just about feeling good, but about being equipped for purpose.

Leader Tip: Invite people to share practical ways they “access” Jesus throughout their week (prayer, Scripture, worship, etc.) and how that’s brought them rest.

6. Responding to Disruptions

Question: The pastor said, “This next week… you’re going to walk in profound rest as you experience profound disruptions.” What disruptions are you currently facing? How can you practice coming to Jesus in those moments instead of handling them on your own?

Context from Sermon: The pastor gave vulnerable examples of being reactionary at home instead of pausing to invite Jesus into spontaneous disruptions. He said, “What turmoil was set in motion because of your unwillingness to simply come to Him.” He encouraged a simple prayer: “Jesus, I didn’t see that one coming. So I need you to real time, orient my heart in a way that honors you.”

Leader Tip: This is very practical. Help the group identify specific disruptions they’re facing (difficult coworker, financial pressure, parenting challenges, health issues) and practice praying together about them.

GrowCard Question (10 minutes)

Understanding that Jesus is gentle, approachable and desires to give you rest, how does this reframe your relationship with Him?

Give everyone a few minutes to write their response, then invite 2-3 people to share what they wrote.

Practical Application (5 minutes)

This Week’s Practice:

The pastor recommended reading one encounter Jesus had with people (from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) each day this week. As you read, ask yourself: “What does this show me about the heart of Jesus?”

Write down what stands out to you, then pray (audibly or written) in response.

Suggested Readings:

  • Monday: John 4:1-26 (Woman at the well)
  • Tuesday: Luke 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus)
  • Wednesday: John 8:1-11 (Woman caught in adultery)
  • Thursday: Mark 10:13-16 (Jesus blesses children)
  • Friday: Luke 7:36-50 (Sinful woman anoints Jesus)
  • Saturday: John 11:1-44 (Raising of Lazarus)
  • Sunday: Luke 23:32-43 (Thief on the cross)

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Close by praying the prayer from the end of the sermon together:

“Dear Heavenly Father, there’s so much in this world that I could be wrapped up in. My prayer this morning is that you would just give me Jesus. I give my heart to Jesus. I receive his rest. I love you. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Then invite anyone who needs specific prayer for rest, burdens, or disruptions to share briefly, and pray for one another.

Family Table Talk

A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.

📖 Scripture

Matthew 11:29 – “I am gentle and humble in heart.”

❓Family Question

What makes Jesus different from other kings or leaders?

💬 Parent Prompt:

Talk about a time authority felt harsh vs. kind. Ask: “How does knowing Jesus is gentle help us trust Him more?”

Weekly Practice

A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.

Practice: Learn His Heart

This week, intentionally observe how Jesus treats people in Scripture so you can trust His heart more deeply.

Choose one Gospel story this week:
(suggested: Matthew 11:28–30, Mark 1:40–42, Luke 19:1–10)

Read it slowly

Ask this question:
“What does this show me about the heart of Jesus?”

Write down one word or phrase that stands out

Pray: “Jesus, help me trust You like this.”