Busy, busy, busy. Busy people are important and valued in our society. But God invites us to Sabbath, to rest, reflect, and get re-oriented to Kingdom ways as we enter sacred space to seek the presence of God in our lives and in our world.
The scriptures bring the powerful message of Sabbath practice to us in different ways.
(Third) Isaiah 58 is all about practicing a meaningful spirituality, focusing first on a faithful fast, and then turning attention to Sabbath. Isaiah makes it clear that such spirituality is at the heart of God's promise for God's people. The prophet contrasts their typical practice with what should be happening, reflecting on the bankruptcy and corruption of their society as indicative that their spirituality is worthless. They may feel abandoned by God once again, but in fact, they've created their own problems.
In Luke, Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath at the synagogue. He get chastized by the synagogue ruler who claims that the other six days are when helaings should be performed, condemning Jesus' "labor" on the Sabbath. Winning friends once again, Jesus calls then all "hypocrites!" He is saying that the Sabbath is the precise time when healing should be occurring. He stands against the idea that performing sacred action more scrupulously, literally, and precisely is more faithful. Jesus brings them back to the ideas of the Kingdom, of the healing and life-giving taht is central to the Kingdom, not rules and disconnected acts of devotion.
Sabbath can be transformational. But you'll have to check out the sermon video below to find out how that is. Also note the downloads below the video panel.
The scriptures bring the powerful message of Sabbath practice to us in different ways.
(Third) Isaiah 58 is all about practicing a meaningful spirituality, focusing first on a faithful fast, and then turning attention to Sabbath. Isaiah makes it clear that such spirituality is at the heart of God's promise for God's people. The prophet contrasts their typical practice with what should be happening, reflecting on the bankruptcy and corruption of their society as indicative that their spirituality is worthless. They may feel abandoned by God once again, but in fact, they've created their own problems.
In Luke, Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath at the synagogue. He get chastized by the synagogue ruler who claims that the other six days are when helaings should be performed, condemning Jesus' "labor" on the Sabbath. Winning friends once again, Jesus calls then all "hypocrites!" He is saying that the Sabbath is the precise time when healing should be occurring. He stands against the idea that performing sacred action more scrupulously, literally, and precisely is more faithful. Jesus brings them back to the ideas of the Kingdom, of the healing and life-giving taht is central to the Kingdom, not rules and disconnected acts of devotion.
Sabbath can be transformational. But you'll have to check out the sermon video below to find out how that is. Also note the downloads below the video panel.
| 08-21-16-ff-answers.pdf |
| 08-21-16-sabbath_for_healing.pdf |