Growing in Christlikeness - day 3

Introduction to Sabbath

Jo Johnson:

Growing up, I had parents who were very committed to observing Sabbath. I think their motivation was good but I never understood their “why”. As a result, for me, observing the Sabbath became a list of things I wasn’t allowed to do rather than an experience of the joy of God’s rhythms of rest and work. Those childhood lessons have stayed with me and there is always a day in the week when I don’t open my email. However, that day is not always really a day of rest.

Sabbath is a discipline, part of the spiritual framework we can put in place to stay spiritually and physically healthy. Learning how to Sabbath is a journey and for some, today will be just the first step. Our invitation to you is, wherever you are on the journey, wholeheartedly embrace it. I’ve asked Katharina to share her story about why she has developed a rhythm of Sabbath in her life

Katharina: 

"I grew up in a family, where Sunday was observed, even though my Dad, as a pastor, had to work. But I learnt that Sunday was not a day for homework or household work (apart from cooking etc.). Also in Germany, there are many regulations (no lawn-mowing, shopping, hanging up laundry outside etc.) which helps to have a sense of peace in general (even though nowadays they are being compromised more often).

Then I became a teacher, which is one of the jobs where many people use Sundays to get ready for the week, prepare lessons etc. However, I had already experienced the blessing of giving part of my God-given resources (finances, time, gifts) back to him, so I decided to also share Sunday with him. In Jewish understanding the day starts in the evening (e.g. Gen 1: 13 “Evening came, then morning” etc.) and thus also ends in the evening. So, I formed the habit of starting my Sabbath on Saturday night and ending on Sunday night with my preparation for the new week. Until about 6 pm, my Sunday was carefree. It helped me a lot to get used to having time where nobody else claimed my attention and there were no obligations to fulfil other than having time off.

Later on I lived in the South Pacific, where Sunday celebrations with a church service and a good “toonai” (Sunday lunch) are part of the culture. What a bliss to enjoy worship together, then go home and eat the food that often had been prepared the previous day, fellowship with one another and rest. For a while we spent Sunday together with some friends, had a potluck lunch and shared good fellowship. For me, keeping my Sabbath, usually on a Sunday, is a crucial part of replenishing and gaining new energy for the new week. The idea of celebrating the “Erev Shabbat”, the evening before the Shabbat in biblical times and modern-day Israel, is also a tradition that I enjoy, when I am together with Messianic believers. The idea of working during the week on what needs to be done and then quieting down for a day of rest is one that, I believe, God has put in our hearts. It reminds us that we are not ‘slaves to work’, but free to fellowship with God."

In this session, we will take time to STOP

I invite you to calm your heart and focus your mind on God. You may want to take a few deep breaths or pray a breath prayer.

Pause to pray

In silence, I invite you to give all those things that are weighing on your mind to God and ask him to take care of them.

Pause to pray

Together let’s pray

God of rest,
Today I make the active choice
To enter into your rest,
And to join with you
In delighting in this good world you have made,
And dreaming of the perfect world you will remake.

I choose to disengage,
From demands and deadlines,
From performance pressures,
From flickering screens,
From that which robs my soul of joy,
And the ways in which the world
Seeks to define and shape my identity.

I choose to focus,
On your affirmation and love,
On the celebration of freedom,
On worship and your word,
On the enjoyment of that which fills my soul with joy,
And reminds me of my identity in Christ,
As a deeply loved child of God. Amen.

From “a prayer for the Sabbath” https://christchurchlondon.org/2021/05/a-prayer-for-sabbath/

Introduction to Sabbath

It seems fitting as we are observing Sabbath together to spend some time reflecting on what it is and how we can encourage the principles of Sabbath in our organisations.

We have shared something of our experience of Sabbath and how God has challenged our understanding and mindsets. Jesus observed the Sabbath but we see stories throughout the Gospels where he did not conform to human rules but focused on the principles of what Sabbath is. He went to the Synagogue and was involved in corporate worship (John 5:1-9). He spent time in community and ate with others (Mark 1:21). He healed those who were hurting (Mark 3:1-5). He reminded us that the Sabbath is made for our good as well as a way to honour God (Mark 2:28).

In many of our cultures, working hard is a sign of success. I have rarely seen those who work harder than many in Bible translation movements. Our passion for God, our sense of urgency for the tasks to which he has called us, and maybe even our own driveness can cause us to work too much and rest too little. Let’s look at a story in Luke 10 which speaks to this.

Rendition of the Mary and Martha story in Luke 10:38-42 as an oral Bible story.

In our groups let’s discuss the following questions

Discussion Questions:

• Is Sabbath a part of your current life rhythm or not?
• Has anything that you have heard today surprised or challenged you?
• What are the obstacles that get in the way of practising Sabbath? Which parts of Sabbath do you find difficult to maintain?
• What ways can you encourage those in your organisation to practise Sabbath? Are there things you can do together?

Last year Wycliffe Germany focused the whole year on the theme of Sabbath. We asked Susie Krueger to explain more.

Susie’s video - https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/943989167/4f8956ff84