Sabbath: Rest, Delight, and Worship with God

Following Jesus is about so much more than outward expressions or religious habits—it’s about shaping our entire lives around his presence, his teaching, and his example. The goal is to experience the same deep communion with the Father that Jesus had, to live lives marked by love, joy, peace, and purpose, and to participate in God’s kingdom work. One of the foundational practices that helps us move toward this life is Sabbath. Sabbath is not just a day off or a religious obligation; it’s a holy, set-apart time for stopping, resting, delighting, and ultimately worshiping God.

Sabbath feels countercultural and even strange at first, especially in a world that values productivity and constant activity. But as we practice it, Sabbath begins to transform us. It reminds us that our identity is not rooted in what we do, what we earn, or how we’re perceived by others, but in the unchanging truth that we are beloved children of God, created in his image, rescued and made new in Christ. Sabbath re-centers us on who God is: the creator, sustainer, and faithful provider who holds all things together. For one day each week, we are invited to trust him enough to stop striving and simply rest in his care.

The concept of holiness is central to Sabbath. Just as the temple was a holy space where God and humanity met, Sabbath is a holy time set apart for that same encounter. Holiness isn’t just about morality; it’s about being uncommon, unique, and dedicated to God’s purposes. Sabbath is meant to be different from every other day—a day for sacred interaction with God, for worship that flows naturally from gratitude and delight in his blessings.

Yet, it’s easy to let Sabbath become just another day, to “profane” it by treating it as common or ordinary. The challenge is to keep it holy, to guard its uniqueness, and to let it lead us into deeper worship. This means intentionally stopping our work, resting, delighting in God’s gifts, and letting all of it draw us back to the Giver himself. Sabbath is a rehearsal for eternity, a taste of the kingdom where God’s presence is our greatest joy.

To help keep Sabbath holy, a practical step is to incorporate fixed-hour prayer—pausing several times during the day to re-center on God, using simple prayers to draw our hearts back to him. In doing so, Sabbath becomes not just a day of rest, but a doorway into a life marked by rest, delight, and worship—a life set apart for God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Sabbath Reminds Us of Our True Identity Sabbath is a weekly invitation to remember that our worth is not defined by our productivity, achievements, or the opinions of others. Instead, our identity is rooted in being beloved children of God, created in his image and redeemed by Christ. This truth frees us from the endless striving of the world and anchors us in God’s unchanging love. [05:36]
• 2. Holiness Means Being Set Apart for God Holiness is not just about moral goodness, but about being uncommon, unique, and dedicated to God’s purposes. Sabbath is a holy day, set apart from the ordinary, where we intentionally create space for sacred encounter with God. Guarding the holiness of Sabbath challenges us to resist the pull of the common and to prioritize what is truly sacred. [14:31]
• 3. Sabbath Is a Rehearsal for Eternity Practicing Sabbath is a foretaste of the kingdom of God—a day that looks back to Eden and forward to the new creation. It’s a time when we experience God’s provision, presence, and peace, rehearsing the eternal rest and joy we will one day know fully. Sabbath shapes our hearts for eternity by drawing us into communion with God now. [27:52]
• 4. Worship Is the Heart of Sabbath True Sabbath moves us beyond rest and delight into worship. As we stop, rest, and enjoy God’s blessings, our gratitude naturally overflows into worship—not just through singing, but through a life re-centered on God’s glory and love. Worship is about being captivated by God, letting our joy and thankfulness return to him as the source of all good. [18:21]
• 5. Fixed-Hour Prayer Keeps Sabbath Holy Incorporating fixed-hour prayer into Sabbath helps us guard its holiness and keep our focus on God. By pausing several times throughout the day to pray—whether with simple or memorized prayers—we reorient our hearts, resist distraction, and ensure that our delight in God’s gifts leads us back to the Giver. This practice transforms Sabbath from a day off into a sacred encounter. [36:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - What It Means to Follow Jesus
• [01:08] - Wanting What Jesus Had
• [01:46] - Experiencing and Adjusting to Sabbath
• [03:01] - Testimony: Sabbath in Real Life
• [04:15] - The Discipline and Inevitability of Sabbath
• [05:36] - Sabbath and Our True Identity
• [07:29] - Sabbath Reminds Us Who God Is
• [08:48] - Sabbath as Worship
• [09:27] - God Blessed and Made Sabbath Holy
• [11:22] - What Does “Holy” Really Mean?
• [13:54] - Sabbath as Holy Time, Like Temple as Holy Space
• [15:08] - Holiness Beyond Morality
• [17:05] - Sabbath Is Set Apart Like Fine China
• [18:21] - Worship: The Heart of Sabbath
• [20:21] - Guarding and Keeping Sabbath Holy
• [22:18] - The Danger of a “Common” Sabbath
• [24:41] - Sabbath as a Means to a Holy Life
• [27:52] - Sabbath as Rehearsal for Eternity
• [29:14] - Delighting in the Giver, Not Just the Gifts
• [31:18] - Sabbath and True Worship
• [33:55] - Sabbath Homework: Rest, Delight, Worship
• [36:21] - Practicing Fixed-Hour Prayer
• [38:56] - Closing Prayer

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 20:8-11 (ESV) — > Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made 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

1. According to Genesis 2:2-3, what two things did God do to the seventh day after creation?
2. In Exodus 20:8-11, what is the main command about the Sabbath, and what reason does God give for it?
3. The sermon described Sabbath as a “holy” day. What does the word “holy” mean in this context, and how is it different from just being “good” or “moral”? ([11:22])
4. In Colossians 1:15-17, what does it say about Jesus’ role in creation and sustaining the world? How does this relate to the idea of Sabbath? ([07:29])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says Sabbath is not just a day off, but a “holy, set-apart time for stopping, resting, delighting, and ultimately worshiping God.” Why is it important that Sabbath is different from every other day? ([13:54])
2. The idea of “holiness” is described as being uncommon or unique, not just morally good. How does this understanding of holiness challenge the way people usually think about what it means to be “holy”? ([14:31])
3. The sermon mentions that Sabbath is a “rehearsal for eternity” and a “taste of the kingdom.” What does it mean for Sabbath to look both backward to Eden and forward to the new creation? ([27:52])
4. The practice of fixed-hour prayer is suggested as a way to keep Sabbath holy. How might pausing to pray several times during Sabbath help re-center a person on God? ([36:21])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “Sabbath reminds me who I am. It reminds me that I am not defined by my work, my production, or my earnings, but by the fact that I am created in the image of God and loved by him.” What are some ways you have let your work or achievements define your identity? How could Sabbath help you remember your true identity? ([05:36])
2. Sabbath is described as a day to “stop, rest, delight, and worship.” Which of these is hardest for you to practice, and why? What is one step you could take this week to grow in that area? ([20:21])
3. The sermon warns about letting Sabbath become “just another day” or “profane” by treating it as common. What are some things that tend to make your Sabbath feel ordinary or distracted? How can you guard the uniqueness of your Sabbath? ([22:18])
4. The idea of delighting in God’s gifts but letting that delight lead to worship was emphasized. Can you think of a time when you enjoyed God’s blessings but forgot to thank or worship the Giver? How can you make sure your delight leads to worship this week? ([29:14])
5. The practice of fixed-hour prayer was suggested as a way to keep Sabbath holy. What would it look like for you to pause and pray two or three times during your Sabbath? Is there a simple prayer you could use to re-center your heart on God? ([36:21])
6. The sermon says Sabbath is a “foretaste of the kingdom of God.” How does your experience of Sabbath shape your hope for eternity? Is there something about your Sabbath practice that helps you long for God’s presence more? ([27:52])
7. The sermon challenges us to ask, “Is your life holy? Is your life set apart and dedicated to God?” Beyond Sabbath, what is one area of your life that you want to set apart for God’s purposes this week? ([25:56])