Sam and I chat about what led us to implement a weekly Shabbat meal and Sabbath rest into our family routine.  We discuss challenges and benefits from our experience.

0:34 What led us to begin a weekly practice of Sabbath rest?

Sam: “We had started looking at some of the family teams stuff with Jeremy Pryor and Jeff Bethke and some of the research they were sharing about people leaving the faith in western Christendom versus religions like Mormonism and the Hebrew faith….Part of it was that there weren’t rhythms that were part of the standard daily family cycle. And so for me, we were researching that and it really hit me that it was something I wanted to give to my kids to help them see the realness of our faith, but also to give them a practice that gave us an identity as a family.”

3:20 As a family of 5 (3 kids 10 and under) we understand the challenge with actually getting to rest, so what does our weekly Sabbath look like?

Our family currently Sabbath’s from 5 p.m. on Friday-12 p.m. Saturday. Shabbat meal Friday evening followed by 5-10 minutes of quiet time, then family game time. Tips:

• Choose a day that works for your family and can be repeated
• Form a habit of removing digital distraction
• Make the Shabbat meal special. Ex.) plates only used for that meal, special drink for the kids, table cloth, etc.

Shabbat meal practice:

• Stand behind our chairs
• Pray
• Sing Doxology
• Read Deut. 5:15: 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
• Light the candles
• Oldest generation present blesses any sons and daughters present
• Kids speak Aaronic Blessing (Num. 26: 22-27) over us in Hebrew
• As a family we bless one another with the Aaronic blessing
• EAT!

Amber: “It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s not like you just wake up in the morning and are like, Okay, I’m going to rest now and it just happens you actually have to plan for rest.” EP. 49: Jeremy Pryor | Family Teams Tips for intentional rest:

• Ask yourself, “What fills my soul?”
• Ask yourself, “What brings me rest?”
• Pursue those things

EP. 68: Doug Gamble | Learning to Rest with Intention 13:48 To help your children learn to rest and commune with Jesus early on ask them these 3 questions:

• When do you feel the most rested?
• When do you feel the closest to Jesus?
• what is something that helps you feel at peace?

15:23 What are some of the challenges we have faced?

1 Peter 1:3-9

23:47 What are some of the benefits we’ve experienced?

30:58 Resources

EP. 67: Dr. Matthew Sleeth | 24/7 ER Doc to 24/6 Sabbath Rest EP. 68: Doug Gamble | Learning to Rest With Intention Family Teams Family Teams Instagram Jeremy Pryor Instagram The Art of Rest by Adam Mabry The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley 24/6: Prescription for A Happier, Healthier Life by Dr. Matthew Sleeth The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer To Hell With The Hustle by Jefferson Bethke Bridgetown Church: Practicing the Way: Sabbath Series

Deut. 5: 12-15

¹² “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹³ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁴ 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 ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 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. Sam: “And so in that same way, we’d like to remind ourselves and our family and even you today that you were a slave to sin, and you were brought out by Jesus into freedom. And so in living in that freedom, Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, and we would invite you in whatever way you can to go and live in it as well.”