Sabbath: Rest, Delight, and Worship with God

Devotional

Day 1: Sabbath Reminds Us of Our True Identity in Christ

Sabbath is a weekly invitation to remember that our worth is not defined by our work, achievements, or the opinions of others, but by the unchanging truth that we are beloved children of God, created in His image, redeemed by Jesus, and filled with His Spirit. When we pause from our striving, we are reminded that our identity is not in what we do, but in who God says we are: chosen, accepted, free, and dearly loved. This truth anchors us in a world that constantly tries to measure us by our productivity or popularity, and Sabbath becomes a holy reset, calling us back to the reality of our new creation in Christ. [39:00]

Romans 8:1 (ESV):
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Reflection:
What is one label or expectation from the world that you need to lay down today so you can rest in your true identity as God’s beloved child?

Day 2: Sabbath Reveals Who God Is—Our Creator and Sustainer

Taking Sabbath draws our attention to the greatness and faithfulness of God, who is the visible image of the invisible, the One who created all things and holds everything together. As we rest, we are reminded that God is always in control, always providing, and always sustaining us and the universe. Sabbath is a chance to let go of the illusion that we must hold everything together, and instead, to be still and know that He is God, trusting Him with our lives and our world. [40:17]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV):
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Reflection:
Where in your life do you feel the need to “hold everything together,” and how can you intentionally release that to God during Sabbath this week?

Day 3: Sabbath Is a Holy Day—Set Apart for God

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, making Sabbath a unique, uncommon day set apart for communion with Him. Just as the temple was a holy space for God and humanity to meet, Sabbath is a holy time for us to encounter God, rest in His presence, and delight in His blessings. We are called not just to practice Sabbath, but to keep it holy—guarding it from becoming just another ordinary day, and instead treating it as a sacred opportunity to experience God’s love and goodness. [42:12]

Genesis 2:2-3 (ESV):
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Reflection:
What is one practical way you can set apart your Sabbath this week to make it truly holy and different from the rest of your days?

Day 4: Sabbath Leads Us to Worship—Delighting in the Giver, Not Just the Gifts

Sabbath is not just about rest and delighting in God’s creation and blessings, but about letting that delight overflow into worship of the Creator Himself. True Sabbath moves us beyond enjoying the gifts to adoring the Giver, centering our hearts on God’s glory, love, and goodness. As we stop, rest, and delight, we are drawn into gratitude and awe, giving our lives back to God in worship and allowing Him to re-center us in His presence. [51:15]

James 1:17 (ESV):
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Reflection:
How can you intentionally turn your enjoyment of God’s blessings this Sabbath into an act of worship and thanksgiving to Him?

Day 5: Sabbath Is a Foretaste of God’s Kingdom—A Life Set Apart

Sabbath is more than a day; it is a doorway into a life marked by rest, delight, and worship—a rehearsal for eternity in God’s kingdom. By keeping Sabbath holy, we practice living an uncommon life, set apart from the world’s busyness and anxiety, and oriented around God’s presence and peace. Sabbath invites us to examine whether our lives are truly dedicated to God, filled with His love, joy, and communion, or if we have settled for a “common” existence. [58:10]

Exodus 20:8 (ESV):
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Reflection:
If someone looked at your life, would they see it as “set apart” for God? What is one step you can take this week to make your life—and not just your Sabbath—holy and dedicated to Him?

Sermon Summary

This week, we gathered to remember that our God is a warrior—Yahweh is his name—and to lift him up in worship, regardless of our circumstances. We focused on the deep truth that following Jesus is not just about outward actions or religious symbols, but about shaping our lives around his presence, his teaching, and his example. Jesus lived in constant communion with the Father, and he invites us into that same life of love, joy, peace, and purpose.

One of the most powerful ways we step into that life is through the practice of Sabbath. Sabbath is not just a day off or a religious obligation; it is a holy, set-apart time for us to stop, rest, delight, and worship. It’s a day that reminds us of who we are—not defined by our work, our productivity, or the opinions of others, but by the fact that we are beloved children of God, created in his image, rescued and made new in Christ. Sabbath also reminds us of who God is: the creator, sustainer, and redeemer who holds all things together and invites us to trust him enough to rest.

We explored the biblical idea of holiness—not just as moral goodness, but as being set apart for God’s special purposes. Just as the temple was a holy space where God and humanity met, Sabbath is a holy time, uniquely set aside for us to encounter God. It’s not meant to be just another day, or a “Sabbish” or “Shabbath” day that’s common and ordinary. Instead, we are called to keep it holy, to guard it, and to let it draw us into worship.

Worship on the Sabbath is more than singing; it’s being captivated by God, letting our delight in his creation and blessings lead us to gratitude and adoration. We stop, we rest, we delight, and we worship—allowing our hearts to be re-centered on God, the true source of our joy and peace. This rhythm is not just about a day, but about forming a life that is holy, set apart, and full of communion with God.

To help us keep Sabbath holy and moving toward worship, we’re encouraged to practice “fixed hour prayer”—pausing several times during Sabbath to pray, reorienting our hearts to God and keeping him at the center. In this way, Sabbath becomes a rehearsal for eternity, a taste of the kingdom, and a doorway into a life of rest, delight, and worship.

Key Takeaways

1. Sabbath Reminds Us of Our True Identity Sabbath is a weekly invitation to remember that our worth is not found in our work, achievements, or the opinions of others, but in being beloved children of God. When we stop and rest, we are reminded that we are created in God’s image, rescued by Christ, and filled with his Spirit. This truth grounds us in a secure identity that cannot be shaken by the ups and downs of life. [38:23]
2. Holiness Means Being Set Apart for God Holiness is not just about moral goodness, but about being uniquely set apart for God’s purposes. Sabbath is a holy day, distinct from the rest of the week, meant for communion with God. When we treat Sabbath as special and guard its uniqueness, we open ourselves to deeper encounters with God and allow him to shape our lives for his glory. [46:47]
3. Worship Flows from Rest and Delight True worship is not just an activity, but a response that naturally arises when we stop, rest, and delight in God’s presence and blessings. As we savor his gifts and creation, our hearts are drawn to gratitude and adoration, moving us beyond mere pleasure to profound joy and communion with God. This is the heart of Sabbath worship. [51:15]
4. Guard Against Making Sabbath “Common” It’s easy to let Sabbath become just another day, filled with ordinary activities or distractions. But when we fail to keep it holy, we miss the transformative power God intends. By intentionally setting Sabbath apart—avoiding the “Sabbish” or “Shabbath” trap—we honor God and allow Sabbath to shape us into people of rest, delight, and worship. [55:45]
5. Fixed Hour Prayer Re-centers Our Hearts Pausing to pray several times during Sabbath helps us reorient our hearts to God and keeps our focus on him. This ancient practice draws us back to our true center, reminding us that Sabbath is ultimately about communion with God, not just rest or pleasure. It’s a simple but powerful way to keep the day holy and our lives aligned with God’s presence. [69:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:38] - Declaring God as Warrior
[32:00] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[32:38] - What It Means to Follow Jesus
[33:18] - Communion with the Father
[34:32] - Experiencing Sabbath Together
[35:12] - Sabbath Testimonies and Transformation
[36:25] - The Discipline of Sabbath
[37:44] - Sabbath and Our True Identity
[39:00] - Who God Says We Are
[40:17] - Who God Is: Creator and Sustainer
[41:33] - Sabbath as Worship
[42:12] - The Meaning of Holy
[44:48] - Temples, Sabbath, and Holy Time
[46:47] - Keeping Sabbath Holy
[49:57] - Sabbath as a Special Day
[51:15] - Worship: More Than Singing
[53:11] - Guarding the Holiness of Sabbath
[55:45] - Avoiding “Sabbish” and “Shabbath”
[58:10] - Sabbath as a Doorway to a Holy Life
[60:09] - Sabbath: Looking Back and Forward
[62:10] - True Delight vs. Common Pleasure
[64:06] - Worship: Our True Center
[66:40] - Sabbath Homework and Fixed Hour Prayer
[69:04] - Practicing Fixed Hour Prayer
[71:37] - Closing Prayer
[74:05] - Announcements and Opportunities to Serve

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 2:2-3 (ESV) — > And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Exodus 20:8 (ESV) — > Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV) — > He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 2:2-3, what two things did God do to the seventh day after creation?
In the sermon, what are some ways the Sabbath is described as being “holy” or “set apart” compared to other days? [[46:47]]
What does Colossians 1:17 say about Jesus’ role in creation and sustaining the world?
What does Exodus 20:8 command us to do regarding the Sabbath?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says Sabbath is not just a day off, but a “holy, set-apart time.” What does it mean for something to be “holy” in this context? [[46:47]]
How does remembering our identity as “beloved children of God” on Sabbath affect the way we see ourselves during the rest of the week? [[38:23]]
The pastor mentioned that worship on Sabbath is more than singing—it’s about being captivated by God. What might this look like practically? [[51:15]]
Why do you think God commands us to “keep the Sabbath holy” instead of just “take a break”? [[53:11]]

Application Questions

The sermon talked about how easy it is to let Sabbath become just another “common” day, or even a “Sabbish” or “Shabbath” day. What are some specific things in your life that tend to make Sabbath feel ordinary instead of holy? How could you guard against that? [[55:45]]
Sabbath is meant to remind us that our worth is not in our work or achievements, but in being God’s children. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe this? How could practicing Sabbath help you remember your true identity? [[38:23]]
The pastor encouraged practicing “fixed hour prayer” on Sabbath—pausing several times to pray and re-center on God. What would it look like for you to try this? What times of day might work for you? [[01:09:04]]
The sermon described Sabbath as a “rehearsal for eternity” and a “taste of the kingdom.” How could you make your next Sabbath more of a celebration of God’s presence and goodness? [[01:00:09]]
Worship flows from rest and delight, not just from activity. What is one way you could intentionally delight in God’s creation or blessings this week, and let that lead you into worship? [[51:15]]
The pastor said, “We stop, we rest, we delight, and we worship.” Which of these four movements is hardest for you to practice? Why? What’s one step you could take to grow in that area? [[53:11]]
If you have tried to practice Sabbath before, what has been your biggest challenge? What is one thing you could do differently this week to keep the Sabbath holy and special? [[57:34]]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy?

How does Sabbath reflect our identity in Christ?

In what ways can worship deepen during Sabbath rest?