Baseline practice: A weekly Sabbath – a 24-hour period to stop, rest, delight, and worship.

Sabbath is a 24-hour period of time set aside to cease from our usual labor, to find deep rest, to delight in God’s gifts, and to worship him. It is an entire day dedicated to enjoying a foretaste of the world to come, celebrating the finished work of Jesus. It is, as one writer put it, a “cathedral in time” – not a holy place, but a holy time to dwell in loving union with our Creator.

Sabbath

The Four Movements of Sabbath

01 | Stop

We refrain from doing what we “must” do the rest of the week, whether the jobs we are paid for or the tasks on our to-do lists.

02 | Rest

We pursue what nurtures deep, soul-level rest and renewal in our lives, both alone and in close relationships.

03 | Delight

We engage in activities and relationships that stoke joy deep in our hearts. We embrace our God-given desires and receive all that he provides as a gift.

04 | Worship

We spend time in God’s presence to encounter him and experience his love, giving him our stopping, resting, and delighting as an intentional offering.

  • • What responsibilities beyond your regular job need to stop for you to experience Sabbath?

    • What distractions (like technology) do you need to build boundaries around?

    • What preparations do you need to make to keep your Sabbath free?

    • Make a list of life-giving activities. How can you plan to include them in your Sabbath?

    • What people or community could you practice Sabbath with? Can you share a meal together?

    • How do you best connect with God? What could your Sabbath include to help you connect? (We recommend Gary Thomas’ book, Sacred Pathways, to explore this.)

  • Experience

    The Sabbath Practice (a four session learning and practice experience from Practicing the Way) 

    Read

    Sabbath, by Dan Allender

    The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer

    The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan

    Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, by Ruth Haley Barton

    Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, by Marva J. Dawn

    The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel

    Subversive Sabbath, by A.J. Swoboda

    Listen

    The Gift of Sabbath - Soma Midtown

  • When you want to try other rhythms beyond the baseline invitation:

    • Sleep a full 8 to 9 hours every night for a week

    • Practice a digital Sabbath (abstaining from your usual technology usage)

    • Use a Sabbath box (a physical container to keep devices, distractions, or even money out of reach)

    • Go on Soma’s next Day Sabbatical (a one-day guided spiritual retreat)

Rule of Life