Small Groups – Week of October 14Preparation (do this prior to attending your small group)
Contemplate: What is rest? Is it important for the Christian? Why or why not?
Read: Matthew 11:28-30 (three or four times – slowly)
Reflect: Close your eyes and think about these words of Jesus. How do these words make you feel? What significance do they have for the person who is broken and tired? What significance do they have for the person who is “all-together” and successful?
Pray: That God would meet you and others of the TAC community through rest. That you would have sufficient energy to do what God has called you to do.
Small Group Discussion Questions
1. Describe your perfect day off.
2. Discuss Genesis 2:1-3. What happens in this passage? What questions does this passage bring to mind? Does anything surprise you in this passage?
3. God calls His people, Israel, to rest on the Sabbath day (read Exodus 20:8-11). Why do you suppose God wanted His people to rest on a regular basis? What are the advantages of rest?
4. What are some principles that can be discerned from reading these passages in the Gospels: Matthew 12:1-14 and Mark 6:30-44.
5. The observance of the Sabbath is not a law binding on Christians (read Colossians 2:8-23). Do you think that the principle of six days of work and one day of rest is still a good one to follow? Why or why not?
6. Read Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” St. Augustine of Hippo said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Does your own testimony agree with this statement? How so?
7. Pastor Bill challenged us to allow our Christian service to flow out of our relationship with God – to find the strength for service in God, to do what God is already doing, to find His will and wisdom in times of prayer. Read Mark 1:35-39; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12-16; John 5:19-20; Philippians 2: 12-13 and 4:13. How do these passages speak to this challenge? How might your life be different if you took up this challenge?
8. Share ways in which the spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, etc.) have vitalized your spiritual life and service.
9. What thing in your life is most likely to get in the way of your rest? What can you do to ensure that you find time to rest? How can you make God a part of your rest?
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