10: Part 4 - 'Catch Your Breath'

This Sunday, Steph Littlejohn brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

Exodus chapter 20 verses 1 - 11

And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them…
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 
9 Six days you shall labour 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. 
Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Deuteronomy chapter 5 verse 15

15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. 
Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.



 

Prayer & Reflection

Father and creator God we thank you that you have breathed your life into us.
Help us to be the 16/6 people that you have designed us to be.
Forgive us for squeezing you out with our busy distracted lives and help us to have no other Gods before and no idols that take your place.
Help us to be true followers of Jesus as we carry your name on us.
Help us to take a life giving breath so that you can reset our souls in Jesus likeness.
demonstrating with our lives that there is a better way to live than the culture around us.
As we take a breath, help us to be a breath of fresh air to all around us.
 
AMEN




Questions to Consider

1. Read the passage a couple of times. What jumps out at you or surprises you? Why is that?
2. What is your understanding of observing the Sabbath? Is it a thing to be enjoyed or endured?
3. This passage gives us 2 main reasons to observe the Sabbath? What are they and how does that help your understanding of what Sabbath is?
4. What is it that you gain from being in a community of worship together with others?
5. We are constantly encouraged to think that being part of a 24/7 culture is a good thing, but what are the disadvantages?
6. If God designed us to be 16/6 creatures, then what must we do to follow the manufacturer’s instructions?
7. What will you put in place to ensure a day a week that is separate and different and holy to the Lord?