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Reframing Rest: Stop, in the Name of Rest
Senior Pastor Jeff Maness
November 10, 2024
“Mules aren’t made to go 24-7, and neither are we.”
The Sabbath is not defined in terms of cessation from all activity, but cessation from the kind of activity involved in the labors of the other six days. —A. J. Swoboda
The average American now spends 7-8 hours online each day. We’re on our smartphones 3-4 hours daily, tapping, swiping, or clicking on our phones 2,617 times a day (About 2.5 times every waking minute). We consume social media 2-3 hours daily, and the average American watches 3-4 hours of TV every day.
Busyness is not the sign of a disordered schedule; it is the sign a disordered heart. —John Ortberg
The Sabbath is like a governor on the speed of life. —John Mark Comer
Big Idea: Stopping on the Sabbath is more than getting rest; it is for the re-ordering of our hearts.
Big Question: How does stopping re-order our hearts?
Main Scripture: Exodus 16
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. (Manna) Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. —Exodus 16:4
On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual. —Exodus 16:5
Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.” 24 So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.” 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?” —Exodus 16:22b-28
How does stopping re-order our hearts?
1. Stopping reveals our trust in God.
“Observing the Sabbath is the primary way we put God first with our time.”
We rest when ordinary life is enough. —Ronald Rolheiser
A good definition of Sabbath is this: imitating God so that we stop trying to be God. We mirror divine behavior, stopping, only to freshly discover our human limitations. —Mark Buchanan
You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest. —Exodus 34:21
Sabbath is the day that we rest in God’s presence even when our to-do lists are not even close to done. We choose to enter rest even before the work is complete. Why? Sabbath is not a reward for a job well done. Sabbath is the result of a world that is oriented toward a good and generous and loving God. —A. J. Swoboda
How does stopping re-order our hearts?
1. Stopping reveals our trust in God.
2. Stopping refuels us for the work of God.
Learning to rest actually helps you fulfill your responsibilities. By giving both your body and your soul rest, you become more effective and efficient at everything you do the other six days each week.
Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. —Exodus 16:27
How does stopping re-order our hearts?
1. Stopping reveals our trust in God.
2. Stopping refuels us for the work of God.
3. Stopping refocuses us on what we have in God.
Sabbath challenge for this week - Make your own Stop List.
Jeff’s Stop List:
• No schedule (I let the day come to me.)
• No working out
• No computer
• No email
• No social media
• No news
• No to-do lists (If I get an idea, if it’s a God idea, He will remind me again.)
• No housework (dishes, cleaning, laundry, yardwork, etc.)
• No buying or selling (or talking about what we want to buy)
• No planning
• No sermons, leadership podcasts, or books
• No googling information. “I wonder…”
• Limited TV and movies (Try to keep it to uplifting stuff.)
• Limited phone (I turn off our staff GroupMe and activate “do not disturb” on my phone and only respond to texts as needed.)
❤️ If you have decided to follow Jesus today, we’d like to celebrate with you and help you with some next steps. Please text LIFE to 855-725-2939 or click here.
Resources for this Series
Books -
🔹 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
🔹 Subversive Sabbath by AJ Swoboda
🔹 Sabbath by Dan Allender
🔹 The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
🔹 The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
🔹 Addicted to Busy by Brady Boyd
🔹 Sabbath Resistance by Walter Bruggeman
🔹 Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva Dawn
Online Resources -
🔹 Click here for Jeff and Sabrina’s Podcast - The Naked Party Time Podcast - Episodes 010, 011, 027, 040, 059
🔹 Click here for The Sabbath Practice by Practicing the Way
🔹 Click here for The Sabbath Podcast series on the John Mark Comer Teachings Podcast (July 5, 2024 - August 2, 2024 episodes)
🔹 Click here for a free Sabbath ebook from Pete Scazzero and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality