Title: The Cost of Sabbath
Texts: Luke 23:50-24:7, Hebrews 3:7-4:13, Psalm 116:7, Matthew 11:28-30
The Rhythm of Upcoming Weeks
Childcare Sunday — May 19
Graduation Sunday — May 26
Sabbatical Send Off Sunday — June 2
Let’s Get Practical with Sabbath Keeping
Identify a 12-24 hour block of time to rest (last week)
Prepare ahead of time for that time of rest (last week)
Make a Sabbath List of YES and NO (today)
Write a list of things you enjoy (we’ll cover this next week)
Make a list of ways you can give rest to others (we’ll cover this next week)
The commitment to keeping Sabbath with Jesus will cost you something and require a series of Yes’s and No’s.
Read Luke 23:50-24:7
Look what God can do with a Sabbath!
What it costs to follow God
Following God cost Jesus His Life
Following God cost Joseph His Friends
Following God cost the Women Their Plans
Keeping Sabbath with Christ will cost you significant things, but will give you far more than you can dream for yourself.
Sabbath keeping is not centered on rules of rest, but on the Ruler of rest.
An unrested soul is fertile soil for sin.
In Hebrews 3:7-4:13 we see believers are called to say “Yes” to…
…encouraging one another daily not to sin
…make every effort to enter God’s rest
…tune our hearts to hear His voice
In Hebrews 3:7-4:13 we see believers are called to say “No” to…
…disobedience to God
…skipping or avoiding time with God
…falling short of resting in God
Build Your Sabbath Practice by developing a list of “Yes” and No”
For example…
YES:
I will have a weekly rhythm of 24 hours rest
I will start and end my day with praise
I will take a nap
I will do something that brings me joy
NO:
I will not allow the demands of life to dictate my schedule
I will not ignore God’s voice
I will not answer any emails
I will not listen to the news
Reflection Questions:
Read Psalm 116:7. Begin with silence, meditating on a word or phrase from that verse.
How has it gone entering God’s rest and practicing Sabbath over these past few weeks? What’s been helpful or what’s been frustrating?
Where do you need God’s rest and relief? Before reading, take a moment to ask God for rest and relief in that.
Read Luke 23:50-24:7. In the message we heard that following God costs Jesus his life, Joseph his friends and the women their plans. What else did it cost them? Why is it important to consider the cost?
What else can be learned about Sabbath and Sabbath keeping in this passage?
In following God, we have to say “YES” to certain things and “NO” to other things. Read Hebrews 3:7-4:13 and make a list of things to say “YES” to and things to say “NO” to.
As we consider keeping Sabbath with Jesus, let’s get practical. What are 3-4 things that you want to say “YES” to in keeping Sabbath? And what are 3-4 things to say “NO” to?
Close in prayer. Read Matthew 11:28-30. As you pray, name where you need rest and what burdens you need to lay at His feet.
Daily Reading
In this fourth week of our Renew Series on Sabbath, we are looking at the Sabbath Rhythm that God gave the Israelites in Leviticus 23.
Each day before reading take a moment to read Psalm 116:7. And at the conclusion of the reading, hear Jesus’ invitation to rest in Him from Matthew 11:28-30
Monday: Psalm 116:7; Luke 23:5–; Matthew 11:28-30
Tuesday: Psalm 116:7; Luke 24:1-7; Matthew 11:28-30
Wednesday: Psalm 116:7; Hebrews 3:7-19; Matthew 11:28-30
Thursday: Psalm 116:7; Hebrews 4:1-5; Matthew 11:28-30
Friday: Psalm 116:7; Hebrews 4:6-13; Matthew 11:28-30