NOTE: If you missed Sunday’s message, click here to listen and/or watch.
- Read John 10:10 together, where Jesus told us that he came to give us a full and abundant life. What do you think this full & abundant quality of life look like?
- Think about your own life, your current energy levels and emotional & spiritual health. How full is your tank right now? Take some time to go around the room and share with one another where y
- Read Matthew 11:28-30 and talk about the kind of rest that Jesus offers us. What do you think “rest for your soul” looks like? How is it different from (or greater than) regular rest and R&R?
- What makes experiencing this kind of rest so difficult for us? Why do we so often resist it?
- Look at Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:2-3 together. What do these verses show us about God’s design for our lives? And what do these verses show us about a healthy work & rest rhythm for our lives?
- Think about some of the ugly symptoms of living life with little-to-no-rest and with the needle of your gas gauge pointing close to empty (i.e. impatience, cynicism, anxiety, anger etc). What attitudes and behaviours have you noticed in your own life when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long? Explain.
- Jeff talked about the practice of Sabbath-Keeping. What is your understanding of the Sabbath? Do you think Sabbath-Keeping is an important practice to keep? Why or why not?
- Do you regularly practice Sabbath in your own life? If yes, what does it look like for you? If not, why not?
- Jeff shared “Four Steps to Practicing Sabbath”:
- Stop Working (all paid and UNPAID work, i.e. chores, errands etc)
- Enjoy Rest (i.e. do something that refreshes and restores your soul)
- Practice Delight (celebrate delight in the gifts God has given you, i.e. music, sports, family etc…)
- Contemplate God (take some time to reflect on God’s endless love for you and to worship him)
- Which of these four steps excite you the most? Why?
- Which of these four steps do you think would be most challenging for you? Why?
- Considering the weekly rhythm of your life, when could be (or is) the best time for you to practice Sabbath? What could this look like for you?
- How can this group help you ensure that you are getting to Sabbath rest that your soul needs?
- Spend some time in prayer as a group. Pray especially for those who said that they feel like their gas tanks are getting closer to “empty”, encouraging them to take the next step of practicing Sabbath this week.
