SABBATH VALUES
The Sabbath is a gift given from God that enhances life in every aspect!
In a culture where hurry and work dominate our time, the Sabbath invites us to Stop, Rest, Delight and Worship. It allows us to not only dictate the pace of our lives, but is an opportunity to refresh ourselves in a complete day of surrendered attention to our Savior, Lord and Friend.
Here are some Sabbath values to help your Sabbath be a time of stopping, resting, delighting and worshiping:
Stop:
Stop from working for ourselves and our own pleasure
(Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13,14)
Stop from having others work for us
(Exodus 20:8-11)
Rest:
Rest from work to focus on God as our Redeemer, recognizing the free gift of grace.
(Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Give others rest from working on our behalf, valuing them as God’s children and seeking to give them the rest that God grants us every 7th day.
(Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Rest from worry, stress, selfish pursuits, and hurry.
(Exodus 20:8-11, 16:4-30; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Delight:
We delight in intentional fellowship, choosing to participate in fellowship that will help us grow in our understanding of God and His love for us.
(Genesis 1-2:1-3; Leviticus 23:3; Acts 13:42, 44)
We embrace a childlike trust in God as Savior and Provider and therefore, can really let go and rest.
(Genesis 1-2:1-3; Mark 10:13-15)
We play in creation, learning more about our loving God, who is the Creator.
(Genesis 1-2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
Worship:
We worship God in song and music.
(Psalm 92)
We worship God by serving others and bringing about His restoration.
(Mark 3:1-5)
We worship God by spending intentional time with Him in prayer and Scripture. (Psalm 1)
Want some ideas on what to do on Sabbath?
Taken from the book 52 Things to Do on Sabbath by Glen Robinson,
here are some ideas:
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Orienteering (or Geocaching)
Invite someone over for lunch
Act out and record a Bible story
Visit church members (shut-ins)
Read or write for an elderly person
Call or write someone who needs encouragement
Have a box with special toys
Learn the stars
Rewrite a Bible passage in your own words
Friday evening supper
Bible charades
Write a parable
Bible sword drills
Write God a letter
Make a list of thank-you's
Sabbath jigsaw puzzles