by Lilly Lewin
For Lent this year, our thinplaceNASHVILLE community is reading Sabbath as Reisistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann. My husband Rob and I read this book together while on vacation last summer, and it’s perhaps the most important book we’ve read in five years. And it’s only 89 pages! Walter Brueggemann is an Old Testament scholar who invites us to look at the Exodus story and the workaholic nature of Pharaoh in contrast to the radical gift of Sabbath rest that is given to us by God.
The new edition of the book comes with a study guide included, but to get you started on your Sabbath practice, here are the questions we used for our journaling time on Sunday. Take some time this weekend to journal these questions yourself. But more importantly, actually pause, rest and practice Sabbath.
- When you hear the word Sabbath, what things come to mind? Positives? Negatives?
- How much of your self worth is based on Work, or your performance?
- What is the difference between Restlessness and Restfulness?
- How can the Gift of Sabbath give you the margin you need to LOVE others?
- If you actually planned a Sabbath day with God, what would that day look like? What would you delete from your day, what would you add?
- Read the verses below: How do you feel about them? How does it feel to have a God who values REST? To have a God who actually RESTS?
Matthew 11:29-30 New International Version (NIV)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30 The Message (MSG)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Genesis 2: 1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
If you are looking for a book to challenge and encourage you this Lenten season, or you just want to learn more about the practice and gift of Sabbath rest, take time to read Sabbath as Resistance.
