StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
We understand that people may be traveling and that families may be squeezing in one last getaway before school starts. Summer Light is a 5 week, message series that will carry the StoneBridge community through the dog days of summer. The series is not consecutive, allowing for you to attend when you can and not feel like you've missed out!
Exodus 20:8-11 NRSV
Sermon Outline
To help you follow along, here is a loose outline of this week's sermon.
I. Our experience of time in the pandemic has changed.
A. More time at home
B. Schedules disrupted
C. Forced down-time.
II. God cares about how we structure our time.
A. The Sabbath is one of the key commandments in scripture.
B. The Sabbath is a sanctuary in time.
C. What makes the Sabbath sacred?
III. Creation
A. In Exodus, God ties the Sabbath commandment to God's act of creation.
B. When God rested on the seventh day, though, God rested inside the temple. The image that is crafted in Genesis 1 is of God ascending to the throne in the temple.
C. Sabbath reminds us of God's current place - sitting over the world, in control of it, ruling over creation.
D. Sacred time is time that reminds us that God is in control.
IV. Personal Example
A. Breathing exercises and a "mantra" remind Pastor Jon of what is actually happening.
B. Sacred time reminds us of what is actually happening - God is ruling over creation and is in control.
V. Sacred Time
A. Sacred time is a commandment, but it is also an invitation. God invites us into this practice.
B. Accept God's invitation of sacred time and find rest in the knowledge that God is truly in control.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. How has your schedule changed in the past year and a half?
2. What best reminds you that God is in control? Are there practices, places, authors, conversation partners that remind you of God's sovereignty? How so?
3. Do you currently have a practice of sacred time? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
4. How can you either begin, or deepen, your experience of sacred time?
NEXT STEPS
1. Reflect on what has reminded you of God's sovereignty in the past.
2. Block out some time this next week to engage in those practices that remind you that God is sovereign.
We encourage you to use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media to share images, quotes, links, or what you've learned from this week's message and YouVersion message notes. Social media can also be a great way of inviting your friends to worship and special events.