The Stone of Margin
Rusty Wirt   -   May 3, 2026

Sermon #4, The Stone of Margin 

Bible References: (Matthew 11:28-29) 

 

Main Idea:

Storms will come to your house. How you build your home will indicate how you weather the storms.

 

The Two Enemies of Family Connection

  • Calendar Busyness
  • Digital Distraction

 

Important Insight:

Busyness and distraction are stifling our ability to connect well with our loved ones. The two greatest commands are for us to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves- certainly this includes our closest family members. But this is almost impossible to do with excessive busyness. Additionally, if there is any spare time to be found, often our attention is consumed by our devices. Fortunately, the most impactful person of history has something to say to us about finding what our souls ultimately need- which is rest.

 

Key Quote:

Our time-saving devices, technological conveniences, and cheap mobility have seemingly made life much easier and interconnected. As a result, we have more information at our fingertips than anyone in history. Yet with all this progress, we are ominously dissatisfied. In bowing at these sacred altars of hyperactivity, progress, and technological compulsivity, our souls increasingly pant for meaning and value and truth as they wither away, exhausted, frazzled, displeased, ever on edge. The result is a hollow culture that, in Paul’s words, is “ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7) [by, A. J. Swoboda, in “The Subversive Sabbath”].

 

 

CONSIDER:

Responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit during the precious moments with your loved ones requires a margin of your time and energy.

 

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus teaches us how to escape the hectic pace of the hurried life. This story is set between two extremes:

  • Warnings against unbelief about God’s rule  (Matthew 11:20-27)
  • Warnings against overvaluing man-made rules (Matthew 12:1-14)

 

  1. Who is invited to come to Jesus? (v. 28).
    1. All who have
      1. Weariness (physical exhaustion)
      2. And a heavy burden (the thing you are carrying)
  2. What Jesus is promising us (vs. 28-29).
    1. Jesus gives rest (v 28-29).
      1. Rest (ἀναπαύω, anapaúō) A pause of cessation of work, so that one is refreshed
      2. This is more than body rest- it is soul rest (v 29).
    2. Then Jesus offers us his yoke.
      1. Not the yoke of
        1. Religion (Jesus battles that in the next passage)
        2. Oppression (Jesus seeks not to condemn)
        3. But learning of Jesus
      2. A Yoke that is easy and light.

Aplication: Consider a Detox and the Three R’s

    • Do a digital Detox
    • Refuse (say “No”)
    • Reduce (say “Yes” but do less)
    • Rethink (say “Yes” but be strategic about activities