All Are Welcome
Sermon Notes
Brad Kirby opens the Scriptures to Matthew 11:25–30 to show us the one place where Jesus describes His own heart. His words? “I am gentle and lowly.” This message dives into what those words really mean, why they matter, and how they transform how we relate to God and others.
Jesus’s heart is not cold or condemning. It is warm, welcoming, and full of grace. For anyone who feels tired, ashamed, or alone, this message is for you.
Key Takeaways
Jesus describes His heart as gentle and lowly (Matthew 11:29).
His gentleness is not weakness, but deep compassion.
His lowliness is humility and approachability.
We qualify for grace not by strength, but by burden and weakness.
The church should reflect Jesus’ heart to the hurting and the outcast.
Discussion Questions
What does it mean that Jesus is “gentle and lowly”?
How does His description of Himself challenge your view of God?
Who in your life needs to experience the compassion and kindness of Christ through you?
Is your life marked by approachability and humility like Jesus?
How can our church better reflect the heart of Jesus to our community?
Transcript
The Only Place Jesus Describes His Heart
Out of the entire New Testament, there is just one moment when Jesus opens up about His own heart. In Matthew 11, He says, "I am gentle and lowly in heart." That’s not just good theology—it’s personal. It tells us what kind of Savior He really is.
Jesus could have said He was powerful or just or majestic. Instead, He tells us that His deepest posture toward us is not distance or judgment, but gentleness and humility. His arms are open, not crossed. His heart is welcoming, not demanding.
Gentle means Jesus is not quick to anger. He is not harsh. He is the most understanding person in the universe. He invites us in, not because we deserve it, but because He desires to show compassion.
Lowly means humble. But more than that, it speaks to His willingness to associate with the outcasts. Jesus is accessible. He does not operate from a pedestal. He meets us in the dirt, in our need, in our mess.
Why Would Jesus Welcome Us?
The book of Hebrews says that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. What joy? The joy of saving sinners, of restoring the broken, of rescuing us.
Jesus does not extend mercy out of duty. It brings Him joy to welcome the weak. He’s like a doctor who finds deep fulfillment in treating the sick. His heart lights up when we come to Him for grace.
When a leper says, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean," Jesus immediately responds, "I will, be clean." That moment reveals not just His power but His desire. He wants to heal, restore, and welcome. Over and over, Jesus is moved by compassion—for the hungry, the sick, the grieving. His response to human suffering is not irritation, but care.
How Jesus Treats Us
Hebrews 5 tells us that Jesus deals gently with the ignorant and wayward. That includes all of us. He doesn’t scowl. He doesn’t lecture. He welcomes us with tenderness. He knows our sin more deeply than we do, yet still embraces us.
His gentleness is not a result of naivety. It is the product of love that is deeper than our failures. Jesus is not unfamiliar with our pain. He sympathizes with our weaknesses. Not from a distance, but from within. The word used in Hebrews 4 means “to suffer with.” Jesus is not only for us. He is with us.
In the darkest places, when we feel most alone, Jesus is closest. He does not retreat from our hurt. He leans in.
He Never Sends Us Away
John 6:37 says that anyone who comes to Jesus will never be cast out. Not just the strong. Not just the holy. Anyone. Jesus receives all who come. He doesn’t delay. He doesn’t hesitate. He opens the door every time.
In Matthew 11:19, Jesus is called a friend of sinners. That title, meant as an insult, is one of the greatest comforts to us. Jesus is the friend who stays. The friend who listens. The friend who never rejects or withdraws.
If others abandon you, He won’t. His friendship is constant, sweet, and eternal.
How We Respond as a Church
If this is the heart of Jesus, it should be the heart of His Church. We are called to be a people who welcome the weary, care for the vulnerable, and advocate for the voiceless. Our love should lead to action.
That looks like serving the hurting, comforting the grieving, feeding the hungry, and walking with the outcast. We don’t just admire Jesus’ heart—we reflect it.
Psalm 37 tells us to delight in the Lord and He will shape the desires of our hearts. When we enjoy God, we begin to desire what He desires.
We become more compassionate. More humble. More welcoming. Jesus is the treasure that transforms. When we spend time with Him, we become like Him.
