Series: Made For This
Sermon Title: Made For Rest and Renewal
Passage: Genesis 2:1-3
Reno Campus
Pastor Jericho Toilolo
Carson Campus
Pastor Dave Pretlove
Campus Announcements / Service Moments
Reno Campus
Carson Campus:
Series: Made For This
Sermon Title: Made For Rest and Renewal
Passage: Genesis 2:1-3
SERMON POINTS:
Sabbath…
Is a day to pause from work, stress, or worry.
Genesis 2:1-3
Exodus 20:8-11
Colossians 1:17
Is Less about duty and more about delight.
Jeremiah 15:16
Is a gift we need more than we realize.
Mark 2:23-28
Galatians 2:20
Isaiah 11:6-9
Is meant to be more than a day of the week… but an actual way of living my life.
Hebrews 4:9-10
Matthew 11:28
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What does Sabbath reveal about God’s design for life?
- In Genesis 2:1-3, God rested, not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for us. What does this tell us about God’s heart for rest?
- How does this challenge the modern mindset that equates busyness with success?
Scripture Reference: Exodus 20:8-10 - How does practicing Sabbath declare our trust in God?
- When we pause from work, stress, and worry, we are declaring that God is still at work. What are the biggest obstacles keeping you from fully resting?
- How might trusting God more deeply allow you to embrace rest?
Scripture Reference: Psalm 46:10 - Why do we struggle to see Sabbath as delight rather than duty?
- Read Genesis 1:4,10,12,18. God repeatedly declared His creation good. How does this shape the way we view Sabbath as a time for delight rather than just religious obligation?
Scripture Reference: Psalm 16:11 - How can you cultivate a deeper enjoyment of God and His creation?
- Jeremiah 15:16 speaks of delighting in God’s word. What are some practical ways you can make Sabbath a time of true enjoyment rather than simply a pause from work?
- Why is rest a gift we often reject?
- In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus reminds us that Sabbath was made for us. Why do we tend to ignore or resist God’s invitation to rest?
- What happens when we neglect Sabbath in our lives?
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 30:15 - How does Jesus redefine rest beyond a single day?
- Read Matthew 11:28. Jesus offers rest not just as a practice but as a way of life. How can we cultivate Sabbath rhythms in our daily and weekly routines?
- What does it look like to enter into God’s rest?
- Hebrews 4:9-10 speaks of a deeper rest that God offers His people. How does practicing Sabbath help us enter into this spiritual renewal?
- How does sabbath shape our identity in Christ?
- What’s one practical change you can make this week to embrace Sabbath?
- Sabbath isn’t just about a single day—it’s about learning to live in a state of trust and renewal. What is one step you can take to set aside time for rest, renewal, and connection with God?
PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
What is keeping me from fully embracing rest as God intended?
- Meditate on: Exodus 20:8-10
- Do I see rest as a command, a burden, or a gift? What thoughts or habits make it difficult for me to slow down and trust God with my time?
- Actionable Step: Identify one mindset shift or practice that would help you embrace Sabbath more joyfully.
How does my current pace of life reflect my trust (or lack of trust) in God?
- Meditate on: Psalm 46:10
- Do I believe that God will take care of my responsibilities if I step away to rest?
- How does my level of trust in God show up in my work, schedule, and commitments?
- Actionable Step: Choose one thing you can release control of this week, trusting that God is at work even when you rest.
What does true renewal look like in my life?
- Meditate on: Matthew 11:28
- What types of rest (physical, spiritual, emotional) do I most need right now?
- What activities, habits, or time with God bring me real renewal rather than just temporary relief?
- Actionable Step: Schedule a time for deep renewal this week—whether through solitude, worship, or simply enjoying God’s presence.
How can I move from a “task-driven” faith to a “presence-driven” relationship with God?
- Meditate on: Luke 10:41-42
- Am I more like Martha—always busy, anxious, and trying to prove myself—or like Mary, choosing to sit with Jesus?
- What would it look like for me to prioritize presence over productivity?
- Actionable Step: Set aside intentional time each day or week to simply be with God, free from distractions or a to-do list.
What is one intentional Sabbath rhythm I can commit to?
- Meditate on: Hebrews 4:9-10 – “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
- How can I build a sustainable practice of Sabbath that fosters joy, worship, and restoration?
- What distractions do I need to limit, and what life-giving activities should I incorporate?
- Actionable Step: Set aside a recurring time for Sabbath, making it a sacred space for delighting in God and resting in His presence.
SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:
RESOURCES:
- LIFECHURCH RIGHT NOW MEDIA
- WEBSITE | PRACTICE THE WAY: SABBATH | JOHN MARK COMER
- PODCAST | EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY LEADER: SABBATH PT 2, A TASTE OF ETERNITY | PETE SCAZZERO
- BOOK | A MAN’S GUIDE TO THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES | PATRICK MORLEY
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE DEVELOPMENT: Longing For More
Rule of Life – Week 1
As we step into a new month, let’s take a moment to reflect—not just on our longing for more of God, but on how we actually cultivate that desire. This month, we’re exploring a practical tool for spiritual growth: a Rule of Life.
We all have a vision of who we want to be in our faith. Maybe you wish you were stronger, more consistent, or less prone to doubt. But without a clear roadmap, we drift. A Rule of Life serves as that roadmap—a set of intentional rhythms and practices that shape us into the people God is calling us to be.
At its core, a Rule of Life helps us cultivate a daily, thriving relationship with God—what could be described as an ongoing “Garden walk” with Him. John Mark Comer puts it this way: “A Rule of Life is a schedule and set of practices and relational rhythms that create space for us to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did, as we live in alignment with our deepest desires.”
The truth is, we all already have a Rule of Life—whether we recognize it or not. Think about your daily routine:
Wake up → Grab phone → Scroll social media → Coffee → News or SportsCenter.
This rhythm shapes you, perhaps fueling anxiety, distraction, or a sense of missing out. Filling your soul with a daily foundation of anxiousness instead of peace. Filling your space with thoughts of others or events, instead of God’s presence and love for you.
But God invites you into something more. He desires for your first inclination to be communion with Him—to strengthen your heart, soul, and mind in His presence.
This week’s challenge: Assess your current Rule of Life. What habits are shaping you? Where might they need to change? Identify one shift you can make to build a Rule of Life that moves you toward the faith God desires for you.
Week 1 Practice:
A Spiritual Workflow for Examining Unhealthy Patterns and Establishing a Rule of Life
Phase 1: Awareness – Recognizing the Unhealthy Patterns
🔹 Invitation to Awareness (Psalm 139:23-24)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
- Pause & Reflect – Set aside time in silence before God. Ask:
- Where do I feel most drained, anxious, or frustrated?
- What patterns in my life are leading me away from joy, peace, and intimacy with Christ?
- Are my habits forming me into the image of Christ, or into something else?
- Notice the Fruits – Use Galatians 5:22-23 as a diagnostic tool.
- Which aspects of the fruit of the Spirit are lacking in my life?
- What patterns are producing unrest, striving, or exhaustion?
- Discern the Root Causes – Ask the Holy Spirit for insight.
- Are these patterns tied to fear, control, distraction, or self-reliance?
- Where have I prioritized productivity, success, or approval over God’s presence?
Phase 2: Surrender – Naming and Releasing the False Patterns
🔹 Invitation to Let Go (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- Confession & Repentance – Name the false rhythms and surrender them.
- “Lord, I confess that I have been relying on __ instead of You.”
- “I release my need for control in __ and receive Your grace.”
- Intercession & Healing – Ask God to renew your heart and heal wounds.
- What lie have I been believing? What truth does God want to replace it with?
- Where do I need to forgive others or myself to break free from unhealthy cycles?
- Practicing Solitude – Step away from the noise and listen.
- Find a quiet space in nature or stillness.
- Journal what God is revealing about your current season.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Let’s be real—slowing down isn’t exactly our default setting. We live in a culture that glorifies hustle, and busyness, where rest can feel like a luxury we can’t afford. But here’s the thing: Sabbath isn’t about getting behind; it’s about getting back in rhythm with the way God designed us to live.
From the very beginning, God built rest into the fabric of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). He didn’t need to rest—He’s God—but He modeled it for us because we do. And when Jesus talked about the Sabbath (Mark 2:27), He reminded us it’s not a religious hoop to jump through; it’s a gift meant to restore us.
So, what if Sabbath isn’t about doing nothing but about doing the right things? What if it’s about being present, slowing down, and enjoying what God has already provided? Maybe it looks like putting your phone down, having an unrushed meal with people you love, or taking a deep breath and actually believing God’s got this—even when you’re not working.
You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Just start somewhere. Pick a moment, an hour, a habit—something small—and let the practice of Sabbath become a rhythm of trust and joy in your week. Because at the end of the day, you’re not what you produce. You’re a beloved child of God.
So what’s one step you can take this week to embrace the gift of rest?
Rob Hans – Spiritual Formation Pastor