Week #1: Sabbath: Remember What’s Real
The Sabbath is a day that is "holy," or "other," set apart from our typical six-day grind. You'll find this rhythm throughout scripture, from creation, when God rested, to the Israelites being freed from slavery. The message is clear: God's people are meant to be free from the endless cycle of work.
To help us put this into practice, we focused on the RPMs framework (Relationally, Physically, Mentally, Spiritually) as a guide for how to spend our Sabbath. This framework helps us intentionally restore ourselves in all areas of our lives, allowing us to be more present with God, with others, and with our truest selves. By making time for intentional rest, we can finally begin to believe and live the truth: "I am more than what I do."
If you couldn't attend the worship gathering this week, keep tracking with your church by watching or listening at the links below.
Week #2: Sabbath: Play Louder, Grip Looser
This week, Brian highlighted that in adulthood, we often forget how to simply play. Life becomes a series of "got to" tasks, leaving little room for the "get to" joys that once defined us. This is where the biblical concept of Sabbath becomes crucial. He reminded us that the commandment to rest is right there alongside "don't lie" and "don't murder." God designed us for a rhythm of work and rest. Resting isn't a sign of laziness; it's an act of faith, trusting that God will hold things together even when we let go of our control for a day.
He encouraged us to reclaim our inner child, not just for our own well-being but for the sake of our families and the world around us. By giving ourselves permission to play, we restore our souls, loosen our grip on control, and embody the full life that Jesus promised.
Week #3: Sabbath: Tired of Being Tired
There's a big difference between the wisdom of the world and God's wisdom. The world’s wisdom tells us that our worth is measured by what we accomplish, driving us to a relentless pursuit of "more"—more work, more achievements, and a pace of life that leaves us exhausted. But God's wisdom, as revealed in scripture, is often counter-intuitive and calls us to a different way of living.
This is why the Sabbath is so vital. It is not just a religious practice; it is an act of trust. By choosing to rest for one day, we reject the world's demand to always be striving and instead surrender our control to God. This pause allows us to step away from our "got to" lists and embrace our "get to" list, practicing the truth that we are more than what we do. It is in this discipline of rest that we build the faith to trust God with every other area of our lives.
Week #4: Sabbath: Flip the Script on Normal
There's a tension between our desire for freedom and the "culture of more" that constantly adds to our to-do lists. Adulthood has trained us to believe we can't rest until all our chores are done. This relentless pursuit of more leaves us tired and unfulfilled, ironically adding complexity to our lives even when we crave simplicity.
The Israelites, who, after escaping the endless work of slavery, quickly forgot their freedom and longed to return to the way things were. Just as they were worked to the bone by their culture, we often build up more and more "have-to's" until there are not enough hours in the day/days of the week to stand a chance, which is why God commands the Sabbath. It's a counter-cultural act of rest that frees us from the trap of endless striving.
If you couldn't attend the worship gathering this week, keep tracking with your church by watching or listening at the links below.
To help you take a step toward practicing Sabbath, we’ve included a “Build Your Own Sabbath” worksheet you can download and use this week.
Week #5: Sabbath: Step Back to Step Up
This week we ended our Sabbath series with an excuse-killer: God rested. If the Creator of the universe set the pattern for six days of work followed by one day of rest, then our busyness is not an excuse—it's a choice. We took a dare: try four intentional Sabbaths in a row. See if you can’t get more done in six days with rest than you ever could in seven.
We also got real about why this is hard: sometimes Sabbath is just rough! It forces us to slow down, and when the entertainment stops, the mask comes off. The restoration you need won't just happen; it requires intentionality. We encourage you to craft your own Sabbath plan—a "get-to list" that prioritizes spiritual, mental, physical, and relational health over obligation.
Now we pivot. Next month, we launch into our new series, "Simplify." This is the complement to Sabbath, teaching us how to take the rest principles of one day and apply them to the other six. Next Sunday is the kickoff! We're having a free Pig Roast and an Open House to celebrate the completion of our new kids and student spaces. Bring a friend, grab some great food, and take a tour to see where the next generation is being equipped.
To help you take a step toward practicing Sabbath, we’ve included a “Build Your Own Sabbath” worksheet you can download and use this week.
Week #1: Simplify: Everything
Hurried lives lose touch with who we are, lose presence with the relationship most important to us, and lose our place of Asking & Imagining inside a God who loves us. The solution: Simplify.
This is our time to Ask and Imagine a simplified life in the ways of Jesus. Fewer and more decisive yeses. Clearer and more confident nos.
Week #2: Simplify: Relationally
Simplifying relationships like Jesus starts with knowing who is your 3, 12, and 70+, then hears the macro invitations to relationship of the Father and micro invitations of the Spirit, and ends with incarnational routines like the Son.
Week #3: Simplify: Physically
The Jesus way into contentment starts in defining your “enough” and ends in generosity toward others. Your stuff and storage, your body, your use of technology, all add up to whether your physical environment opens space for Jesus, or crowds him out in the pursuit of more..
Week #4: Simplify: Mentally
Schedule worry, and then turn worry into prayer. The way of Jesus gets mental health back to being like the worriless birds of the air and lilies of the field - especially with your money.
Podcast Links
Many of us listen to this content on the go. Here are the different podcast platforms that you can find these sermons:
Shape of the Circle Podcast
This is our attempt to bridge the gap between what we teach on Sunday and how it affects your everyday efforts to be a disciple-maker for Jesus. Brian and Cammie will bring insights and extras that will help you throughout this sermon series. These are short conversations that are very much worth a listen.
Apple | Spotify | Google Play