Embracing the Sabbath: Rest, Delight, and Worship
Summary
Taking a Sabbath is a profound spiritual practice that invites us into a rhythm of rest, delight, and worship. Growing up in Idaho, I was accustomed to a rural lifestyle, but it was in Seattle that I discovered the culture of coffee, which parallels our journey with Jesus. Just as I learned to appreciate coffee, we must learn to embrace the spiritual practices that Jesus modeled, including the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not a command but an invitation to follow Jesus' example of rest. In our fast-paced world, where burnout is common, the Sabbath offers a countercultural rhythm that reminds us we are human beings, not human doings.
Historically, societies have tried to deviate from the seven-day week, but these attempts have failed, underscoring the wisdom of God's design. The Sabbath is a gift, a day set apart to cease from work and focus on God. It is a reminder that our worth is not tied to our productivity. In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day, setting a precedent for us to work from rest, not for rest. The Sabbath is a day to delight in God's creation, to enjoy life, and to worship. It is a day to stop climbing ladders and start building altars, reorienting our lives around Jesus.
The Sabbath is essential for spiritual health and longevity in our walk with Christ. It is a day to practice identity formation, reminding us that being with God is more important than working for God. It helps us balance the greatest commandment—to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—with the Great Commission. Without the Sabbath, we risk burnout and losing sight of our relationship with God. The Sabbath is a day of delight, a snow day every week, where we can rest and enjoy God's presence. It is also a day of worship, not just through singing but by centering our entire lives around Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Sabbath as an Invitation: The Sabbath is not a command but an invitation to follow Jesus' example of rest. It is a day to cease from work and focus on God, reminding us that our worth is not tied to our productivity. Embracing the Sabbath helps us work from rest, not for rest, aligning our lives with God's design. [03:51]
2. Rest as Resistance: In a culture of constant hustle, the Sabbath is a form of resistance against burnout and overwork. It reminds us that we are not slaves to our schedules and that God is the one who provides and sustains us. By resting, we acknowledge that God is in control, not us. [09:53]
3. Delight in the Sabbath: The Sabbath is a day of delight, a time to enjoy God's creation and the life He has given us. It is a day to engage in activities that bring joy and life, reminding us of the goodness of God. The Sabbath is a weekly snow day, a gift to be cherished and enjoyed. [17:48]
4. Worship Beyond Singing: Worship on the Sabbath is not limited to singing but involves reorienting our entire lives around Jesus. It is a day to stop climbing ladders and start building altars, centering our lives on God and allowing that focus to impact the rest of our week. [28:54]
5. Sabbath as a Practice of Identity Formation: The Sabbath is a day to practice identity formation, reminding us that being with God is more important than working for God. It helps us balance the greatest commandment with the Great Commission, ensuring that our work for God reflects His character. [35:48]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:51] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
- [06:42] - The Problem of Burnout
- [09:53] - Historical Attempts to Alter the Week
- [14:43] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Sabbath
- [17:48] - The Gift of Delight
- [22:33] - The Importance of Rest
- [28:54] - Worship Beyond Singing
- [32:33] - Practical Questions About Sabbath
- [35:48] - Identity Formation Through Sabbath
- [38:54] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Embracing the Sabbath
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 2:2-3 - "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
2. Mark 2:27-28 - "Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'"
3. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 2:2-3 reveal about God's intention for the Sabbath? How does this relate to the idea of working from rest rather than for rest? [09:53]
2. According to Mark 2:27-28, what is the purpose of the Sabbath, and how does Jesus' role as "Lord of the Sabbath" influence our understanding of it? [14:43]
3. How does the sermon describe the cultural challenges that make observing the Sabbath difficult in today's world? [06:42]
4. What are some historical attempts to alter the seven-day week, and what were the outcomes of these attempts? [09:53]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the Sabbath as a "gift" challenge the modern view of productivity and success? [17:48]
2. In what ways does the Sabbath serve as a form of resistance against the culture of constant hustle and burnout? [09:53]
3. How can the practice of Sabbath help in balancing the greatest commandment and the Great Commission? [17:48]
4. What does it mean to "delight" in the Sabbath, and how can this delight impact one's spiritual life? [17:48]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current weekly schedule. What specific changes can you make to ensure you are observing a true Sabbath, rather than a "Sabbath-ish" day? [09:53]
2. Identify one area of your life where you feel enslaved to your schedule. How can practicing the Sabbath help you find freedom in that area? [17:48]
3. Consider the activities you engage in on your Sabbath. Are they truly restful and life-giving? What might you need to stop or start doing to align your Sabbath with God's intention? [32:33]
4. How can you incorporate worship into your Sabbath beyond just attending a church service? What does it mean for you to reorient your life around Jesus on this day? [28:54]
5. Think about a time when you felt burned out. How might a regular practice of Sabbath have changed that experience? What steps can you take to prevent burnout in the future? [06:42]
6. How can you involve your family or community in your Sabbath practice to create a shared experience of rest and worship? [35:48]
7. Reflect on the statement, "If you do not rest on God's terms, you will burn out on yours." How does this resonate with your current lifestyle, and what changes are you willing to make? [32:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Invitation to Rest
The Sabbath is an invitation to follow Jesus' example of rest, not a command. It is a day to cease from work and focus on God, reminding us that our worth is not tied to our productivity. Embracing the Sabbath helps us work from rest, not for rest, aligning our lives with God's design. In a world that often equates busyness with value, the Sabbath offers a countercultural rhythm that reorients our lives around the truth that we are human beings, not human doings. By accepting this invitation, we acknowledge that our identity is found in being with God rather than in our accomplishments. [03:51]
"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one activity you can set aside this week to fully embrace the rest and presence of God on the Sabbath?
Day 2: Rest as a Form of Resistance
In a culture of constant hustle, the Sabbath serves as a form of resistance against burnout and overwork. It reminds us that we are not slaves to our schedules and that God is the one who provides and sustains us. By resting, we acknowledge that God is in control, not us. This practice challenges the societal norms that equate worth with productivity and invites us to trust in God's provision. The Sabbath becomes a declaration of freedom, a day to step back and recognize that our lives are held together by God's grace, not our efforts. [09:53]
"Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death." (Exodus 31:15, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel enslaved to your schedule. How can you intentionally resist this by trusting in God's provision through rest?
Day 3: Delight in God's Creation
The Sabbath is a day of delight, a time to enjoy God's creation and the life He has given us. It is a day to engage in activities that bring joy and life, reminding us of the goodness of God. The Sabbath is a weekly snow day, a gift to be cherished and enjoyed. By setting aside time to delight in God's creation, we cultivate gratitude and a deeper awareness of His presence in our lives. This practice invites us to pause and appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us, fostering a spirit of joy and contentment. [17:48]
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally delight in God's creation this Sabbath? Consider a specific activity that brings you joy and connects you to God's goodness.
Day 4: Worship Beyond Singing
Worship on the Sabbath is not limited to singing but involves reorienting our entire lives around Jesus. It is a day to stop climbing ladders and start building altars, centering our lives on God and allowing that focus to impact the rest of our week. This holistic approach to worship invites us to examine our priorities and align them with God's purposes. By dedicating the Sabbath to worship, we create space for God to transform our hearts and minds, shaping us into His likeness. [28:54]
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV)
Reflection: How can you reorient your life around Jesus this Sabbath? Identify one practical step you can take to build an "altar" in your daily routine.
Day 5: Identity Formation Through Sabbath
The Sabbath is a day to practice identity formation, reminding us that being with God is more important than working for God. It helps us balance the greatest commandment with the Great Commission, ensuring that our work for God reflects His character. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we allow Him to shape our identity and purpose. The Sabbath becomes a time to reflect on who we are in Christ and how that identity influences our actions and decisions throughout the week. [35:48]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your identity in Christ. How does this understanding influence your actions and decisions? What is one way you can live out this identity more fully this week?
Quotes
"How many of you know that's not how we measure time today? Do you know why? The Sabbath. Because it failed completely and Napoleon abolished it 12 years later. He abolished it due to widespread fatigue, exhaustion, burnout, injuries, illness, mental health issues, and suicides." [00:09:53] (19 seconds)
"The goal of the Sabbath is to get all of that done in advance in those six days so that you can devote an entire day to God, to delighting in Him, to worshiping Him, to resting and realizing that we're not God." [00:11:27] (15 seconds)
"God created man on the sixth day. So God worked for six and rested on the seventh, but humans were created, and on the very first day we woke up, it was what day? Seventh. Sabbath. What that tells us is that God's design for you and I is not that we work for rest." [00:12:45] (18 seconds)
"The first is that Sabbath was made for you. It is a gift that God has given us. Mark 2 .27 says, that Jesus said to them, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Sabbath was made for man. It is literally a gift from God, an entire day off that we get." [00:16:15] (20 seconds)
"On the Sabbath, we remind ourselves that I do not need to work more hours. I do not need to achieve a higher level of status in my company. I do not need a bigger house. I do not need a more expensive car. I do not need perfect grades at the college that I'm going to." [00:17:03] (16 seconds)
"Too many Christians work for God, but they are not a reflection of God. There is a tension between the greatest commandment and the great commission. Greatest commandment is that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength." [00:17:46] (19 seconds)
"God has given us a snow day every seven days it is called the sabbath and god has given you an entire snow day back to enjoy to rest to enjoy his presence to do things that are life -giving he has given you a snow day and it happens once a week take it because if you don't rest on god's terms you will burn out on yours" [00:27:47] (27 seconds)
"True rest is found in Jesus. True rest is found when we come to him. If you don't rest on God's terms, you will burn out on yours." [00:29:43] (12 seconds)
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