10: Sabbath Rest -Teaching Plan

Key Thought: The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless activity. We must devote these sacred hours to rest, worship, and holy deeds
.September 4, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 1:26,27: Genesis 9:6.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
How do these verses show us how special and different we are from the rest of Creation? Why is it important for us to understand this difference?
How are we to respond to and interact with Creation? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Does Sabbath-keeping in relation to Creation have any impact on our responsibilities in being good environmental stewards?.” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read Romans 6:1-7.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
What kinds of slavery are we subject to today? How is this linked to the Sabbath?
Personal Application: What is your experience with slavery to sin? How can we appropriate the promise in Jesus for freedom from that slavery? Share your thoughts
Case Study: One of your friends states, “Nobody can stop sinning. I’ll bet many people still struggle with overcoming one sin or another and haven’t gotten the victory over it. They are not really free. They are still in slavery. So can God give them true freedom or not? What’s the problem?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 31:13,16,17.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
What is the Sabbath a sign of? How can we apply this to ourselves today?
Personal Application: How can we have a deeper experience with God on the Sabbath day than what we are used to? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states: “How can we be more community minded in serving others? How can the Sabbath provide opportunities to do that?“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 58:12-14.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
How are we not to do our own pleasure, nor find our own ways, nor speak our own words on the Sabbath?
Personal Application: How are we to honor God on the Sabbath? In what ways can we honor God on the Sabbath?” Share your thoughts.
Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!