Recently as a Church we worked through Mark 2:23-3:6 and considered what it means for us to celebrate the Lord’s Day following God’s pattern for human flourishing by the means of rest through worship. If you missed the sermon and would like to catch up you can find the recording here.
This will lead us as a church to consider who we are as the people of God and how we worship him as his church. Although for now, we wanted you to take some time to consider how we can follow God’s pattern for human flourishing, by setting a day aside each week, keeping it as holy, and resting through worship. To do so, we were challenged to consider five questions as individuals and families, on how we might best do this. If you haven’t had a chance to think and chat about it, then you can find them below. Would you take the time to bring these before the Lord and consider your patterns?
- Do you treat a day of your week as set apart to worship God? Do you honestly see all as unto the Lord and therefore joyfully set aside a day in our 7 to worship him? If not, how can you do that?
- What things, activities, and types of entertainment should you keep out of your Sunday seeking to keep it holy? Do you need to stop work, stop checking emails, stop social media and/or stop practices that are void of worship?
- Since you have stopped a bunch of things, what can you start to make your Sunday a special day of Worship to God? Prioritise gathering with the saints for corporate worship. Prepare, feast, worship.
- How can you do good on the Lord’s day? Can you be generous, open your home, share a meal, spend time with someone in need, go and pray for a friend…?
- What restful practices can you put in place? If much of your week is spent sitting down, maybe you should make a habit of going for a walk or a bike ride. If your week is full of physical labour, then lay down and take a nap.
If you have kids, resting through worship can be challenging, but here is how you can get moving:
Start: Begin your Sunday’s well. In the Lomman house, we have a special breakfast (Croissants or Pancakes) and do a devotion around the table before heading off to church together.
Rest: After church and/or lunch engagements, aim to rest. If your children have a nap, do the same, or read a book whilst they do. If not, how can you help them slow down?
Play: Our weeks can be full, and Saturdays can often be taken up with jobs or events, so take the opportunity to play with your children. Remember, (especially you Dad’s), you are the toy! There are times when our children just want to play with us -find rest and joy through play and family.
Ultimately, may these practical things always lead us back to finding true, everlasting rest in Christ our saviour, who has set us from from the futile and endless toil of trying to make ourselves right with God.
Matthew 11:28–30: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Grace to you, glory to God.