Unhurrying with A Rule of Life: Part 4
Sabbath
By Bethany Allen
Begin with prayer (5 minutes)
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Have someone lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief the teaching in triads (5–10 minutes)
If you are in a Community of seven or more, divide into small groups of 3–4 people each (ideally same gender).
Spend a few minutes catching up on life…
Then talk through the following debrief questions:
Were you able to set a time to get alone with God this week? What did that look like?
What was one thing that was new, difficult, or freeing about your time in Silence & Solitude? Was anything surprising to you?
What differences did you notice about your emotional, spiritual, and relational disposition after your time alone with God?
As you consider adding this to your Rule of Life, what are some of the obstacles you may face?
Read this Overview
Ultimately nothing in this life apart from God can satisfy our desires. Tragically, we continue to chase desire. But to what end? A chronic state of restlessness? An underlying anxiety driving us increasingly into a life of hurry? Thankfully, there’s a practice from the life and teachings of Jesus to fight against the chronic restlessness of our condition and culture and to tap into the deep soul rest Jesus offers.
It’s a practice called Sabbath.
In the book of Genesis we read that God, the creator, worked for 6 days and on the 7th day, he rested. He rested. An infinite God, and yet he rests. In his provocative and prophetic act of resting, God builds into the DNA and fabric of his creation an intrinsic need to stop and cultivate rest.
In our current world, the concept of Sabbath may feel a bit outdated or disconnected. It certainly doesn't seem to make a lot of sense when set against the backdrop of our 24/7 culture. But the reality is that this practice is the baseline remedy for the chaos of the day to day grind that we live in.
When it comes to the Practice of Sabbath, there is no perfect formula. Sabbath will demand varying rhythms, times, and implementation for each person — and will likely change as you move through life. However, we do believe there is a blueprint or a set of rhythms, that help practically provide space for us to experience the true gift of Sabbath. These rhythms are: Stop, Rest, Delight, and Worship.
Stop working. Rest in God’s provision. Delight in the gift of rest. And worship God, who gives the Sabbath to us as a good gift.
In the Practice of Sabbath, each of us has the opportunity to lay a foundation in the story of our lives that is rooted in rest, limits, and communion with God.
Rule of Life Workbook
In this workbook, you will develop a Rule of Life for Resting that will become your personal paradigm for embracing a life of deep, abiding relationship with Jesus.
Remember, though it may read like a list of personal rules, it is more so a means of clarifying and articulating your values and purposefully integrating them into your schedule and lifestyle.
Note: Like the entirety of your Rule of Life, your rule for abiding will be unique to you, and much of the specifics subjective.
Do this Practice as a Community right now (15–20 minutes)
Begin by opening your workbook, and turn to the Rest category.
In triads, talk through the following questions. Document your answers and ideas in your workbook or journal as you unpack them.
Is Sabbath a practice you have already incorporated into your life, or no? If so, what does it currently look like?
What are some of the challenges you face or have faced in practicing Sabbath? What gets in the way of this rhythm?
If you are new to this practice, take some time to identify what day of the week, time frame, and rhythms you would like to establish in this practice. (ex: Bible reading, naps, eating a nice meal, etc…)
If Sabbath is something you already practice, share how you would like grow in this area, and in what ways you’d like to grow in your intentionality.
Discuss the Coming Week’s Practice (5–10 minutes)
The Practice for this week is two fold: 1) to take a day and practice Sabbath (ideally, this would be a 24 hour period of time), and 2) to begin filling out the Rest section of your Rule of Life. Remember, your Rule of Life will be a work in progress, and you will likely adapt it more than once along the way.
This week, take time to do the following:
Identify a day of the week to practice Sabbath. Figure out what day and time frame works best for you and/or you and your family. Set a modest goal and then do it.
Under the framework of Stop, Rest, Delight, and Worship, think through a few ways specific to your life and season, to practice each. Identify any obstacles that may keep you from actually following through with these ideas.
In the Rest section of your Rule of Life workbook, begin outlining what will become your rule for Rest. Be as specific as you can and strive for reasonable goals (e.g., If you aren’t able to do a full 24 hour time period, start with 12 or 6 hours). Consider what life-giving practices you can incorporate into your Sabbath rhythm.
Here are some ideas to consider, adapt, or inspire:
Below is list of best practices for Sabbath specifically based on various seasons or stages of life. Take a minute to look through the list and identify the season to which you most relate.
Keep in mind that the following lists do not contain prescriptive Practices – they are simply suggestions from our church community.
Young Families
Put together a box of special toys with your kids, that they get to play with on the Sabbath
Plan a special meal (like a pancake breakfast) or dessert (like donuts and ice cream)
Read a story from the Bible (e.g. from the Jesus Storybook Bible, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, or The Big God Story)
Take a walk in your neighborhood or to the park
Watch or go see a movie together
Go to the zoo or the Children’s Museum
Commit to not doing chores
Parents: Let the kids take a nap or watch a movie while you take a nap or have sex
Parents: Take turns taking time doing your own thing
Single Parents: See if someone in your Community is willing to hang out with your kids for a bit, so you can have some time alone
Single People
Listen to worship music
Spend time with Jesus in meditative, listening, or contemplative prayer
Read the Bible, poetry, or a book of blessing
Read (fiction or non-fiction)
Meet up with a friend for coffee or tea
Watch or go see a movie
Explore a museum or art gallery
Go for a hike with friends
Have a nice meal with friends
Take a nap
Make art
Married Couples (without kids)
Make a meal together or go out
Take a walk
Have sex
Read the Bible and pray together
Get a couples massage
Watch or go see a movie together
Go for a drive
Go for a hike
Hang out with friends
Take a nap
Parents with Teenagers
Sleep in (and let them sleep in)
Limit the amount of screen time (in conjunction with your teens)
Watch or go see a movie together
Explore your teen’s hobbies with them
Ask an intentional set of questions like: What was the hardest part of your week? What was the best part of your week? Where did you see God this week? What do you need from this day? Plan and make their favorite meal or dessert together
Invite their friends over to play (hang out) and participate in part of your Sabbath or let them hang out with their friends for a set amount of time
Empty Nesters
Have and host an intentional family dinner (if family is not close by, then invite friends, neighbors, etc.)
Have sex
Take a nap
Explore your spouse’s hobbies
Find a hobby to do together. (e.g. cooking, pottery, yoga, watercolor, art museums, etc.)
Go to the coast
Read the Bible and pray together
Work through these discussion questions before you call it a night (5–10 minutes)
Which day of the week will you Sabbath? Ideas:
Friday night to Saturday afternoon, starting and ending twenty minutes before Sundown. This is the traditional Jewish Sabbath
All day Saturday or Sunday
Saturday night through Sunday evening
What needs to change in your normal, weekly routine to make Sabbath happen?
What activities will be restful and worshipful for you?
Close in prayer (5 minutes)
