Sabbath, Pt. 5: Sabbath and Delight
About the Series
In our fast-paced world, where busyness is often worn as a badge of honor, we are invited to return to a rhythm of rest through the practice of Sabbath. This series will explore Sabbath’s connection to God’s work of creation, its formative significance for God’s liberated people, and its embodiment and fulfillment in Jesus. Sabbath is an invitation to delight. But beyond a simple day off, this practice is a deliberate act of resistance and counter-formation, and can even be a work of justice. We want this series to be a conversation and safe space where together we can explore and experiment. Ultimately, we long to be a people who delight in God and who live in step with—at the pace of—the Holy Spirit.
Reflect on Last Week
Before we discuss this week’s teaching and take the conversation further, let’s take a few minutes to reflect on and share about any experiences or Sabbath experimentation from this past week.
Remember, this is about practice, not performance. We are each given loads of permission to be exactly where we are with this, not where we or anyone else thinks we should be.
Did you practice sabbath this last week? If yes, what did you do and what was it like? If no, but you wanted to, what obstacles did you face? If no, and you didn’t intend to, no worries! Tell us how you are processing the invitation to the sabbath practice?
Read this Sermon Recap
Sabbath Pt. 5: Sabbath and Delight.
In Creation, God calls the universe into order and creates humanity, but the climax of creation is the creation of seventh day rest. With the people of Israel, God gave the Sabbath command to form their new unique identity after being slaves in Egypt—they knew only to work and had to learn to rest. Jesus reclaimed for the people of his time the heart of Sabbath: it is a gift. In the early church, leaders like Paul did not require Sabbath observance, but rather sought to ensure “days and festivals” did not get in the way of the growing multi-ethnic Jesus-community.
What the Bible says about Sabbath leaves us with a question: If Sabbath is not a binding law for Christians today—if it’s optional (and difficult!)—why would we choose to do it?
What if the best reason for Sabbath is...because we can? Because God is so good that we are free to practice Sabbath. As Norman Wirzba puts it, “Our creator God looks down at us with absolute love; we set aside the Sabbath to meet that gaze." What if it’s like every week God slides a huge check across the table, inviting us to spend it on delight and rest? Would we ask any longer do I have to? Maybe not. But we’ll probably still be asking how.
When it comes to Sabbath and delight, it’s easy to feel like we need to feel full delight or else we are doing it wrong. We know how to be busy. And we know how to chase pleasure. But do we really know how to delight? “There is a kind of delight that is virtually indistinguishable from worship.”
Discuss these Questions
(Leaders: Before going into the questions, you may want to give your group a minute or so of silence, reflecting on and listening to the Spirit around the question, “What is Jesus inviting you to notice tonight?”)
Tonight we are going to use this set of questions to guide our discussion. You may want to pull up the guide on your phone to help you process and reflect.
What stands out to you from Sunday’s teaching? What has been staying with you that you’d like to share?
Reflecting on the idea that Sabbath is not a binding law for Christians today, but rather a gift from God, why do you think Sabbath is still worth practicing? How might embracing Sabbath as a practice of delight and rest enhance our relationship with God and our overall well-being?
Reflect on the line from Norman Wirzba, “Our creator God looks down at us with absolute love; we set aside the Sabbath to meet that gaze." How is Sabbath related to gratitude? How do you enter rest? How is God delighting in you? How does the Sabbath keep you?
It’s challenging to learn how to truly delight, especially in a culture of busyness and pleasure-seeking. How can we cultivate a mindset of delight in our Sabbath observance without falling into the need to “get it right”? What might help us move beyond simply seeking pleasure to experiencing genuine delight in God?
Is there something you are being led or inspired to try this week when it comes to the practice of Sabbath? How can our small group support you in that?
Before we close and read the practice for the week, let’s take some time to pray for each other. (Leaders: you can take additional prayer requests and/or pray along the lines of what has been shared regarding sabbath practice.)
Practice For The Week
Beginning a Sabbath. The below three steps draw from the resources at Practicing the Way. Remember to be patient with yourself, give thanks for the gift of Sabbath, and repeat this practice regularly to cultivate a deeper sense of rest and renewal in your life.
Set a time for rest, ensuring that each person you will practice with has a voice in the decision.
Develop a beginning/ending ritual. Create a symbolic gesture that marks the transition into and out of Sabbath, serving as a reminder that this time is unique.
Choose what you’re going to do. Consider the following suggestions:
Plan to have no plan for an hour, allowing yourself to be spontaneous and open to whatever arises.
Engage in an avocational activity, something unrelated to your usual work, that brings you joy and relaxation.
Plan an aesthetic experience, such as taking a leisurely walk in nature or visiting an art gallery or museum.
Prioritize relationships by giving your full attention to important people in your life, whether through a shared meal, coffee date, or meaningful conversation at home.
