The Big 10 - Week 3: God’s R & R
Small Group Discussion Guide
For the week of May 10th, 2020
Connecting (Aim for 15 minutes)
Breaking the Ice/Think Time
What do you find to be truly restful ways to spend your time? How often do you actually spend your free time doing these things?
Quick Review… Looking back at your notes from this Sunday’s sermon, what caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Understanding the Truth (Aim for 30 minutes)
Read Exodus 20:8-11
1. Life often seems like a competition. A day of Sabbath seems counterintuitive in our “hustle” culture. However, it clearly has value because God has commanded it.
a. How does the Sabbath seem like you are losing out on the competition?
b. How is the Sabbath actually a gain?
2. How is the Sabbath a test of trust? What does choosing to take a Sabbath reveal about our hearts towards God (or what does NOT taking a Sabbath day reveal about our hearts towards God)?
3. Read Exodus 20:2,8-11. Notice how God describes himself in verse 2, and then who is supposed to observe the commandment in verse 10. Knowing that we also have been redeemed from slavery, what does it mean to “Sabbath to the LORD your God”? What does this reveal about God’s desire for us? (Turn to Matthew 11:28 if you are having a hard time)
4. The Pharisees added extra rules specifying how to keep the Sabbath in order to bargain with God so Israel would prosper. In Mark 2:27, Jesus replies that the Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath. How do these added rules go against God’s intention for the Sabbath? Why do we resist rest and remembrance?
Living the Truth (Aim for 20 minutes)
1. Part of building strong relationships is intentionality. Have you set up time to rest and reflect and show that you trust God? If you haven’t, what are steps that you can take to truly rest and remember on your Sabbath days? With your group, brainstorm some ideas for next Sabbath and then put it on the calendar. Share next week about your Sabbath experience.
a. “Remember” in Hebrew means to “relive a moment.”
i. What is a promise of God that you would like to remember?
ii. What is an action of God that you would like to remember? (Could be something from the Bible or from your life).
2. What part of your labor this week can you look back upon and say, “It was good”? What made it good? How did your work glorify God or demonstrate your love for Him and your love for others?
God not only hears but loves to answer prayers that are “according to His will.” (1 John 5:14-15). We can pray confidently when we pray obediently to this truth. You have just spent time discovering God’s will for you. Now, ask God for what you need to fulfill His will in your life, your friends & family, neighbors, church & community. Don’t be afraid to ask forgiveness where you have blown it, strength where you are weak, courage where you are afraid.
Prayer Requests (Aim for minimum of 10 minutes)
Pray that God reveals to you who He truly is