Gate 5:2

Are you tired? In a culture where low-grade exhaustion is the new normal, Jesus invites us into a life of rest in him. Through the practice of Sabbath, we practice entering this promised rest. This plan, Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer, provides an introduction into the practice of Sabbath, featuring key ideas and practical suggestions for you to find rest for your soul.

God has created all people to be free – moving from darkness to light. In the book of Exodus, we find an early account of slavery in the lives of the Israelites. As we look at this story and witness God’s response to the plight of his people, how can we respond with courage and compassion in prayer and petition for people who experience modern slavery and human trafficking?

How do I humble myself? Humility, according to the Bible, is not something we can just up and do. Humility first comes from the hand of God. He initiates the humbling of his creatures. And once he has, the question confronts us: Will you receive it? Will you humble yourself in response to his humbling hand, or will you kick against him?

Advent is a season of reflection, preparation, and anticipation for the coming of Jesus Christ. The Book of Exodus, on the other hand, chronicles the Israelites' arduous journey out of slavery in Egypt and their quest for the Promised Land. While these two may seem unrelated at first glance, through this plan we discover how Exodus foreshadows Jesus' miraculous birth over a millennium later, and what we can learn from the Hebrews' period of trust in waiting, even today.