The Center of Our Week
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Sabbath
Genesis 1:26-2:3; Exodus 20:8-11 (ESV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Exodus 20:8 “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 heaven and 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.
Sermon Outline
Take the day God has given you: rest in Him and make that the center of how you organize your time.
1. Patterns of Work and Rest
Exodus 20:9-10 “Six days you shall labor… but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
2. Inverted Reality
Genesis 2:2-3 “And on the seventh day God finished his work… and he rested…”
Genesis 1:26-27 “God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
3. A Day to Look to the Eternal God
Exodus 20:8 “remember”
Genesis 2:3, Exodus 20:11 “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy”
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, you have made all things good and blessed us with the dignity of bearing your image. We admit our sin and shortcomings to you. Instead of imitating you, we have attempted to replace you. We have not made you the center of our lives. We have rested when we should be working, we have worked when we should be resting. We are tired. Forgive our disobedience. Thank you for the work of Christ which brings rest to our weary souls. Thank you for gifting us a day to assemble in your presence. Cleanse us from all sin, and refresh our hearts for the work of this week. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What does time off look like for you? How often do you take intentional breaks? What do you do?
Which is more difficult for you: resting or working? Why?
What is good about setting aside one day in seven for rest and worship? What are some benefits?
What makes taking a whole day off hard?
What has misplaced God in your life? What corrupted thoughts keep you from enjoying God? Imitating God? Trusting God?
Why is it impossible for our work to ever be good enough? How can you cease when it feels like more needs to be done? What do you need to remember?
How does Jesus completing the work of redemption free those who trust him? What does his work on the cross free you from?
How is sabbath a gift?
What is helpful to remember on the sabbath?
How can make Sunday a special day? What would make it joyful? What can be part of your weekly routine to connect with God on the first day of the week?