
CHECK IN
What did you sense Jesus inviting you into as you read Luke 3-5 and practiced Lectio Divina?
BIBLE
Read Luke 6:1-11 together. As part of this time, consider reading Luke 6:1-5 as a Lectio Divina exercise.
THIS WEEK’S READING: LUKE 6-7
Jesus takes on the Sabbath in the first part of chapter 6. You’ll see Jesus break “Jewish rules” for the sake of compassion for both insiders and outsiders as a theme in Luke. Jesus calls 12 disciples or apprentices (Luke calls them apostles) to help him fulfill his mission. Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, which is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain, follows in this section. Jesus is teaching his disciples the core tenets of what it means to follow him.
Jesus raises the dead, talks with and about John the Baptist, and finds himself at a dinner that doesn’t at all go the way his host had planned. Jesus is drawing lines of faith, acceptance, and belief in ways no one expects.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
Why does it often seem like Jesus breaks the traditions of his day?
If Jesus responded to his listeners with a question, should we still hear his voice in a similar manner today?
Has Jesus ever made you “furious” like He made the Pharisees?
PRACTICE: SABBATH
Sabbath is blessed by God and is one day out of seven each week that is set aside for rest, worship and renewal (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
ONE WAY TO PRACTICE SABBATH: READ & CONSIDER
Read Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Mark 2:23-28. Notice that God is the first to practice Sabbath keeping and consider what implication that might have for you. Also, spend some time pondering Jesus’ statement in Mark 2:27: “The Sabbath was made for the needs of human beings, and not the other way around.”
PLAN FOR 3 BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK BLOCKS
Jesus and those who came before him in Hebrew faith and culture would observe Sabbath from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. A twenty-four hour period of rest, worship, delight, and community. Below you will find a grid with three blocks for each day. A morning block, afternoon block, and evening block. What three back-to-back-to-back blocks will you set as a time of worshipful rest and renewal? Jesus’ would have been the Friday evening block, the Saturday morning block, and the Saturday afternoon block.
HELPFUL QUESTIONS WHEN THINKING OF HOW TO SPEND A SABBATH DAY
What is restful for me?
How do I most freely connect with God?