Series: The New Humanity
Message: Sabbatarians
Preacher: Jessyka Dooley
Reflection: Tim Gillespie
Live Wonder: Verity Were
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Beyond: Moe Stiles
Live Purpose: Vanessa Rivera
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Exodus 20:8-11 in the New International Version (NIV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: Is the problem with our Sabbatarianism that we have believed in it too little, rather than too much? Why do you think we spend so much time “defending” which day the Sabbath is on, rather than guarding the principle of it in our lives?
One of the principles of Sabbath is that we are living in God’s enough, rather than in our scarcity. We mentioned this when we were talking about a Sabbath economy, but it begs for some more exploration.
Walter Brueggemann, in Sabbath as Resistance, writes
In our own contemporary context of the rat race of anxiety, the celebration of Sabbath is an act of both resistance and alternative. It is resistance because it is a visible insistence that our lives are not defined by the production and consumption of commodity goods. Such an act of resistance requires enormous intentionality and communal reinforcement amid the barrage of seductive pressures from the insatiable insistences of the market, with its intrusion into every part of our life from the family to the national budget.
The concept of the Sabbath was, to Israel in Egypt, the antithesis of what they were being told to do. “More with less” was the call of the Pharaohs. The idea of a time where they were not “productive” in the Egyptian sense of the word would have been anathema to the Israelites.
God’s economy is an economy of enough, not more. This flies in the face of what many people today feel is what God has called us to in the capitalist countries where many of us serve. But God never promised us more; He promised us enough. To believe and practice the Sabbath is to believe that what God will provide will ultimately be enough for us to be sustained and even to thrive.
When the manna was given in the wilderness, it did not keep for multiple days. That was because God was training Israel to be dependent on what He would provide. Manna kept on the Sabbath, so that they could focus on God and not food. In the same way, God has promised provision to us through His Son Jesus Christ, and we should learn to live in the economy of Jesus that is a giving rather than keeping economy.
Recalibrate: Where do you seek more rather than enough? Has it become an issue for you in your life and pursuits? How can you change the focus from more to enough?
Respond: Take 15 minutes and write down all that God has given you and your family. Once you see the list, see if there is something more that you need—or has God provided enough already? Sometimes seeing the list is all it takes for us to recognize that we are already abundantly blessed.
Research: Let’s begin to look at our stuff differently. Read Neither Poverty nor Riches by Craig L. Blomberg.
Remember: “So the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11, ICB).
Dr. Timothy Gillespie is lead pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA. He also teaches at several universities and consults on mission integration for Adventist Health.
Time to be thankful can be scarce if you are busy with toddlers. Make a memory moment today. While you are in the middle of something with your little one that you are both enjoying, take the time to be thankful. For example, if you are eating cookies together watch how your little one eats—how they enjoy every last crumb. Our granddaughter always saves the last little piece of cookie for our dog Leroy. I love that she likes to share. Sabbath is the time to take all of our moments—the good, the bad, and the ugly, and rest in knowing that God can make something awesome out of them.
Make a list of all the things that God has given you and your family. All the people in your family, pets, food, home, air, water, warm blankets, are some of the things you may have on your list. Thank God for all that He has given you. Know that our God shares and He wants us to share too. How can you share what God has given you? Think up some ways and talk about them with your family.
If you were to have a one on one conversation with your pastor what would you tell her or him about your hopes for Sabbath gatherings? I would love to hear your answers sometime!
I recently spent some time with a group of youth discussing the activities they would like to do on Sabbaths when we get together. One idea was a service project. I don’t think I would have given that answer when I was a teen. But it’s interesting that some of my young ones, just like yourselves, would like to spend Sabbaths serving with the rest of the youth group. When we read the life and story of Jesus, we find that He did some real good on the Sabbath. He gathered with others in the synagogue, but He also healed people—and got into a lot of trouble for it! What if Sabbath wasn’t just a day for dressing up, attending church, singing songs, sitting through long sermons—hopefully long and exciting sermons—eating food and then going to sleep? What if it was a day where we also found ways to do good in our neighborhoods and communities. Maybe it’s the day we could invite our non-Sabbathy people to have a meal with us or create traditions such as family dinners! We have some friends for whom Friday nights, especially in winter, became “soup night.” This is great connecting and community-bonding time! What are some of your ideas for Sabbath activities that will make a difference? Suggest them to your Sabbath School teacher and your pastor or elders if you know who they are!
I recently had a day to rest all to myself in the mountains in a cabin by myself. No one else stayed there with me. I had stayed there with my family before but this time I thought, “Wow, what a unique experience to have this whole place to myself!”
I picked the biggest of the four beds just for me. I put my stuff wherever I wanted. I played my music on my bluetooth speakers as loud as I wanted. It was like I had a house all to myself. I sent pictures to all my friends. I was so excited at first that I didn’t realize how quickly I would get lonely. After about four hours, I started thinking about how much more fun it would be if I had a sister or a friend staying with me. Imagine if you had the Sabbath just for you. No one else got to rest, just you. It might feel cool for a moment but then after a while you would want to celebrate with someone else. As you read through the passage this week, notice that the commandment doesn’t just command that you keep the Sabbath; it encourages you to make sure everyone around you rests also! Sabbath is an amazing communal experience. This coming Sabbath, I’d encourage you to observe the Sabbath with a faith community. You’ll notice the difference! It’s how God intended it.
Verity Were is a registered nurse at the largest pediatric intensive care unit in Sydney, Australia. She attends Kellyville Adventist church with her husband and two toddlers.
Zan Long is GRC director for faith development for ages 0-17. She lives in Sydney, Australia, and serves at her local church in nearby Kellyville.
Moe Stiles is lead pastor at Oasis Church in Vancouver, WA. She is married to Adrian and is mother to Caleb and Johnny.
Vanessa Rivera is a therapist at a community mental health center in Denver, CO, and serves as the faith engagement pastor at Boulder Church.