July
Sabbath
Guide

Sabbath (or shabbat):

To stop, to cease, or to keep.

STOP

Take a moment to breath, take stock, and listen to God.

REST

A vehicle cannot run on an empty tank of gas (or expended battery) and neither can you. Refuse to run.

CEASE

Whatever work needs to be done will surely be there later; you must choose to take time away for yourself and your loved ones. Refuse to be bound.

NO

Become comfortable with saying no when you begin to feel overwhelmed. Refuse to drown.
Friends: we simply run too hard, go to fast, do too much, say yes to often, and hustle more than our minds and bodies can take. We are bound to schedules, we drown under the fear of coming up short. The truth is we are often too busy to realize we are overwhelmed and too overwhelmed to realize we are too busy.

And God knew we would be this way.

In fact, God at creation spoke to us about the struggle this would be.
God even modeled, in Genesis 2, that on the 7th day after he finished his work and his work was done, he rested.
Then be blessed the 7th day and made it holy because on it He rested from all His work that He had done in creation.
God did more work than you will ever do in creation, then rested and called that rest holy.

Want to be holy?
REST.

Take God's Word seriously and rest
Set aside minutes, hours, or a day.

Some is better than none.

3 Things to Consider as You Enter Sabbath

Not Just a Good Idea; A Command

The Sabbath is not simply a good idea, it is a command from God. Some would say it is the first command God ever gave, which He later followed up by codifying it as the 4th commandment:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." - Exodus 20:4 

Not Just a Religious Action; A Delight

The Sabbath is a time to rest because of God and what He has done. We find delight in the Sabbath by remembering we can rest thanks to Christ's work on the cross. We have nothing to earn for the work is already done; He did what we could not on our own.

Not Just Here & Now; A Vision of Heaven

The Sabbath anticipates our future in the New Heavens and Earth with God's people for all eternity. Just as Adam and Eve did before the fall, we will walk with God and know Him face to face. Part of our rest is the reminder of what is to come!

July's Thematic Scripture

[25] At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; [26] yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [27] All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:25-30

A Sabbath Prayer, based on Matthew 11:25-30

Lord teach us to first come to you daily.
Lord as we learn to come to you daily, teach us to bring to you with everything.
Lord teach us labor alongs side you
Lord where things are too heavy for us, teach us to come to you with them
Lord show us the true heaviness’s of life that weigh our hearts down
Lord teach us to REST
Lord teach us to SABBATH
Lord teach us to trust you in REST
Lord teach us to trust you in SABBATH
Lord teach us to rest and be holy as you declared in Genesis 2
Lord teach us how to rest in your finished work on the cross
Lord teach our hearts that your yoke is light
Lord let us learn from you
Lord help us to experience you lighter yoke
Lord help us experience your gentleness towards us
Lord help us experience your lowliness 
Lord help us to learn to find rest for our weary souls in being with you
Lord lighten out yoke and our burden as we learn to grow in deeper intimacy with you.

Sabbath Weekly Guide

Our goal as a church for this Sabbath month is to rest in Christ by spending time with Him and others who love Him. We have prepared a downloadable guide to assist you in this; simply click or tap the button below to get your copy and begin your Sabbath!