Finding Rest: Embracing the True Meaning of Sabbath
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor reflecting on the struggle of trying to do one's own will and finding no joy in it. He finds comfort in Psalm 40, which reminds him that delighting in God's will and reflecting on His law brings joy and fulfillment. The pastor emphasizes that Jesus leads us in His way not to make us suffer, but to help us find true peace and understanding. The congregation is encouraged to reflect on the truth that speaking Jesus over their lives is the way to find true peace. The pastor then transitions to discussing the topic of Sabbath, reading from Mark chapter two and three. Jesus' actions on the Sabbath are highlighted, showing that the Sabbath was made for man and that doing good and saving lives is lawful on the Sabbath.
The pastor discusses the concept of becoming like Jesus and doing what Jesus did as the essence of Christian discipleship. This transformation does not happen through hustling or striving on our own, but rather through intentional partnership with the Holy Spirit. The pastor acknowledges that Sabbath has often been neglected in our culture of busyness and offers it as a means to find rest for our souls. The pastor encourages the congregation to explore what it practically means to practice Sabbath in their present context, assuring them that it is a journey of learning and growth that will become part of their DNA as a community.
The pastor addresses the issue of Sabbath and the Pharisees' legalistic approach to it. Sabbath is not meant to be a rigid set of rules, but rather a restorative practice that brings rest and nourishment. The pastor uses the example of Jesus healing on the Sabbath to illustrate how the Pharisees missed the point of Sabbath by focusing on rules rather than restoration. The pastor encourages the congregation to explore four movements of Sabbath based on the Hebrew word "Shabbat," which Jesus taught and practiced.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of finding true rest in Christ. Sabbath is not just about observing a specific day, but about abiding in Jesus and allowing that rest to permeate all aspects of life. The pastor also mentions that resources are available to help individuals in their Sabbath practice, including books, websites, and articles. The pastor concludes by urging the congregation to make an effort to enter into God's rest and to seek guidance from others who practice Sabbath.
The pastor expresses his concern about the lack of emphasis on Sabbath in the church. He reflects on his own experience, noting that he rarely heard pastors or speakers talk about Sabbath, except for a brief mention during Sunday school when learning about the Ten Commandments. The pastor laments that many leaders and pastors, including himself, have fallen into the trap of constantly grinding and working without taking proper rest, which has negatively impacted their families and souls. He encourages the congregation to prioritize intentional practice and make Sabbath a priority in their lives, even if they are unsure about it, as it is a desire of their hearts to abide in Christ and find soul rest.
Key Takeaways:
- Sabbath is not just about observing a specific day, but about abiding in Jesus and allowing that rest to permeate all aspects of life. It is a restorative practice that brings rest and nourishment, not a rigid set of rules. ([49:33])
- The transformation into becoming like Jesus does not happen through hustling or striving on our own, but rather through intentional partnership with the Holy Spirit. This includes orienting our lives around intentional practices, such as reading scripture, prayer, and Sabbath. ([52:45])
- Sabbath has often been neglected in our culture of busyness. The pastor encourages the congregation to explore what it practically means to practice Sabbath in their present context, assuring them that it is a journey of learning and growth that will become part of their DNA as a community. ([55:12])
- The pastor laments that many leaders and pastors, including himself, have fallen into the trap of constantly grinding and working without taking proper rest, which has negatively impacted their families and souls. He encourages the congregation to prioritize intentional practice and make Sabbath a priority in their lives. ([58:30])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of Sabbath as more than just a day of rest or relaxation. The Sabbath is a time to worship, spend time in scripture, and pray, allowing individuals to reorient their lives back to God. By abiding in Christ on the Sabbath, we begin to see things differently and find delight in new areas, leading to an unhurried soul amidst the chaos and an openness to where God is working. ([1:01:15])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 40:8: "I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
2. Mark 2:23-3:5: This passage recounts the story of Jesus and his disciples picking grain on the Sabbath, and Jesus healing a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, despite the Pharisees' objections.
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 Psalm 40:8 reveal about the psalmist's attitude towards God's will and law?
2. In Mark 2:23-3:5, what actions does Jesus take on the Sabbath and how do the Pharisees respond?
3. What promises does Jesus make in Matthew 11:28-30 to those who are weary and burdened?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the psalmist's delight in God's will in Psalm 40:8 relate to finding joy and fulfillment?
2. What does Jesus' actions on the Sabbath in Mark 2:23-3:5 suggest about the purpose of the Sabbath?
3. How does Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to take his yoke and learn from him relate to finding rest for our souls?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to do your own will and found no joy in it. How can Psalm 40:8 guide you in such situations?
2. Can you think of a situation where you focused more on rules rather than restoration, similar to the Pharisees in Mark 2:23-3:5? How can you shift your focus towards restoration?
3. In our culture of busyness, how can you practically implement Sabbath in your life to find rest for your soul?
4. Think of a person or a group of people who are weary and burdened in your life. How can you share Jesus' invitation from Matthew 11:28-30 with them this week?
5. Reflect on your life and identify one area where you are constantly grinding and working without taking proper rest. How can you prioritize Sabbath in this area?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Sabbath as a Lifestyle
The Sabbath is not just about observing a specific day, but about abiding in Jesus and allowing that rest to permeate all aspects of life. It is a restorative practice that brings rest and nourishment, not a rigid set of rules. [49:33]
Exodus 31:16 - "Therefore the Israelites shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant."
Reflection: Reflect on your current understanding of Sabbath. How can you begin to incorporate the practice of Sabbath into your daily life, not just as a day of rest, but as a lifestyle of abiding in Jesus?
Day 2: Transformation Through Partnership with the Holy Spirit
The transformation into becoming like Jesus does not happen through hustling or striving on our own, but rather through intentional partnership with the Holy Spirit. This includes orienting our lives around intentional practices, such as reading scripture, prayer, and Sabbath. [52:45]
2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Reflection: What are some intentional practices you can incorporate into your daily life to partner with the Holy Spirit in your transformation process?
Day 3: Rediscovering the Sabbath in a Busy World
Sabbath has often been neglected in our culture of busyness. The congregation is encouraged to explore what it practically means to practice Sabbath in their present context, assuring them that it is a journey of learning and growth that will become part of their DNA as a community. [55:12]
Jeremiah 6:16 - "This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'"
Reflection: How can you begin to reclaim the practice of Sabbath in your life amidst the busyness of your daily routine?
Day 4: Prioritizing Sabbath for Soul Rest
Many leaders and pastors, including himself, have fallen into the trap of constantly grinding and working without taking proper rest, which has negatively impacted their families and souls. The congregation is encouraged to prioritize intentional practice and make Sabbath a priority in their lives. [58:30]
Mark 6:31 - "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"
Reflection: What are some steps you can take to prioritize Sabbath in your life and find rest for your soul?
Day 5: Sabbath as a Time of Worship and Reorientation
The Sabbath is more than just a day of rest or relaxation. It is a time to worship, spend time in scripture, and pray, allowing individuals to reorient their lives back to God. By abiding in Christ on the Sabbath, we begin to see things differently and find delight in new areas, leading to an unhurried soul amidst the chaos and an openness to where God is working. [1:01:15]
Isaiah 58:13-14 - "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
Reflection: How can you make your Sabbath a time of worship and reorientation towards God? What changes can you make to ensure that your Sabbath is a delight and not just a day of rest?
Quotes
"And recognizing that Jesus leads us in his way, not because he wants us to suffer, but because he wants us to find joy and to live. His way truly is the only way to find true peace and understanding." [49:33]
"But what if what if this was the piece that we've been waiting for? What if this practice is what our souls have been waiting for? What if as a church and as a community as families we become a people of Sabbath? And out of that deep rest in Christ we are able to be more present with people." [57:17]
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Jesus is saying you have taken this life-giving thing, this life-giving thing that God wove into our DNA. And you have turned it into a life-sucking legalistic thing, you have missed the point." #!!01:02:19!!#
"Jesus is literally healing and restoring on the Sabbath. Isn't Sabbath in and of itself about restoration? Sabbath is a restorative practice, it brings rest and here that's what Jesus is doing on the Sabbath. You'd think that they would be excited about that. But they missed the point, they turned something good that was intended to nourish us into this malformed picture of it." #!!01:05:04!!#
"Sabbath is about abiding in Jesus, not just on your day of Sabbath, but so that it oozes out into the rest of your lives." #!!01:27:34!!#
"The end goal is to be with Jesus so that we have a Holy Spirit given rest deep in our souls. That is the end goal. Not, I practice Sabbath. We become people who have a firm foundation despite what's going on in our world, despite what happens in our own lives." #!!01:25:11!!#
"The practice of keeping Sabbath is God's no to a life of hurry. It's God's no to a life of hurry so when we practice Sabbath we find rest for our souls." #!!52:35!!#
"That grieves me because what I actually saw was the leaders and the pastors doing the opposite, grinding and grinding and grinding and grinding at the detriment of their families and their own souls because it was good stuff, right? It was for God, and they missed it." #!!01:21:00!!#
"It's not just a day to sleep or relax. It's not just a day to delight. It's also a day to find time to worship, to spend time in scripture, to spend time in prayer, to reorient your lives back to God." #!!01:17:50!!#
"Sabbath means letting go of our treasured illusions of our indispensability. What we're indispensable who doesn't hold it all together. We don't hold it all together but guess who does God holds it all together and so on Sabbath we stop." #!!01:09:22!!#
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