Today’s Message: God’s Gift of Sabbath, Part 1

(Ps 23:2, Gen 2:1-3, Heb 4:1-11 & others; next wk Ex 20:8-11; Dt 5:12-15 & Gen 2:1-3) 

 

Intro:      

 

*** How (& _____) ought we as followers of Jesus, who long for God’s shepherdly care, put _____________ into practice?   

 

I.  Answer #1:  Beware of celebrating _____________ in an external ______-oriented way that does not lead you to see & savor God’s glory. 

 

 

 II.  Answer #2:  Beware of so failing to celebrate _____________ that you miss out on many ______ ways to see & savor God’s glory.  

 

 

III.  Answer #3:  Learn to celebrate _____________ in a few simple ways that help you see & savor God from the ___________ out. 



Concl:

 

Digging Deeper into “Sabbath”

The best way to learn more about the Sabbath is to read & reflect on Bible verses that address this important theme.  Look for the Sabbath & Sabbath-rest theme as you read through the Bible.  Also study the context of where “Sabbath”, “rest”, “cease” & related words appear (use any complete concordance). 

 

Here are a few important books on Sabbath:

·         Keeping the Sabbath wholly : ceasing, resting, embracing, feasting and The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World by Marva J. Dawn

·         The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel (a classic from a famous Jewish Rabbi)

·         Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives and Restoring the Sacred Rythyms of Rest by Wayne Muller

·         Sabbath Time: Understanding and Practice for Contemporary Christians by Tilden Edwards

·         Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight  by Norman Wirzba

·         Making Sunday Special by Karen Mains (full of many practical helps for families)

 

Books on related themes include:

·         Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives and The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits by Richard A. Swenson  (2 very helpful books by this Christian physician)

·         Less is More Leadership by H. Dale Burke  (also very helpful)

Z