The Sabbath was one of the most countercultural commands in the ancient world - no other nation practiced it. It was a public declaration that Israel was no longer enslaved, and that their God was radically different from the false gods surrounding them. But what about today? In a world where we’re constantly plugged in, where convenience is king and everything is available 24/7, are we truly free - or have we become slaves to our own devices, our own striving, our own illusion of success? What if the Sabbath wasn’t just for ancient Israel, but a gift of freedom for us too - freedom found in the Gospel? Join us today and discover the rest your soul has been craving through the ancient practice of the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-11

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

For Adult Homes and Groups

1. What are the promises you hear God making to you in the Sabbath command?

2. What does your current pace of life reveal about what you fear, love, or trust most?

3. What keeps you from regularly practicing Sabbath rest - externally (schedule, responsibilities) and internally (identity, expectations)?

4. How could practicing Sabbath be a way to trust God more deeply and remember who you are in Christ?

For Families with Kids

1. Read Exodus 20:8-11 and Luther’s explanation of the 3rd Commandment together. Next, read Genesis 2:2-3; how does the story of creation connect to the Sabbath and what Luther says?

2. How is God’s command to rest a blessing and not a burden?

3. How can Sunday feel and be different (holy) from the rest of the week? Think of and write down some concrete ways that you, as a family, can set aside special time to rest and solely focus on Jesus. 

Here are some ideas: family worship, making and eating meals, spending time in nature, serving others, doing something creative, praying, and reading God’s Word.

4. Key point: resting is not meant to be a rigid rule; it’s God’s way of helping us to live joyful and meaningful lives together!