ryan peterson
Lead Pastor
What does it mean to rest? How can you invite others in your city to live differently because of your practice of rest?
Listen + Watch the Message
(new sermons published every Monday)
What could be more countercultural than living in rest amid a busy world? We are called with an assignment from God to see at least 10 cities renewed. That includes the one you live in; the one that God has sovereignly placed you inside of. The pace of the city you live in is too fast. Your intentional message to the people in your city could be to offer a different way to live so that they can be invited into living differently. The Sabbath day and the posture of rest are how we are to live. Let’s jump in to find out what the Sabbath is, how to find a day, and how to live in rest.
Scripture References from the Sermon
- Ezekiel 20:12
- Exodus 20:8-11
- Deuteronomy 5:12, 15
- Exodus 16:30
- Mark 2:27
- Ezekiel 46:1
- Matthew 11:25
- Matthew 11:28-30
Discussion Questions
- Follow up from last week, how is the Community Block going? Update your group.
- Chaim Bentorah – Hebrew Word Study. Revealing the Heart of God.“It does not mean to rest in order to regain your strength; it means to cease from your activity, or to interrupt your normal activity to accomplish something.” How does Chaim Bentorah’s definition of the Sabbath help you understand it?
- Discuss the differences between the two 10 commandments from Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5.
- Discuss some of the benefits of the Sabbath: the anticipated revelation (Ezekiel 46), the remembering (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5), the shared experiences (Exodus 16), and the play (Matthew 11).
- One of the first steps to take in living a life in the rest of God is to have a Sabbath day. When is yours? How do you need to make adjustments to prioritize?
- The Sabbath is not necessarily Sunday or Saturday. Consider what day works best for you. Whichever day it is, be consistent each week as much as you can.
- Talk about what you do on a typical Sabbath or could do on a Sabbath to make it more of a reality to live into.
- Walter Brueggeman said, “People who sabbath live all seven days differently.” Discuss Walter Brueggeman’s quote and how this could help us see cities renewed by living countercultural.