REST: How To Rest Well
Welcome to the third week of our series on the Sabbath, where we transition from theology to the practical steps of how to actually rest well in a busy world. In this message, we explore six key principles for honoring the Sabbath, including why your day of rest doesn't have to be on a Saturday and how true rest relies on a healthy rhythm of hard work. By intentionally centering our time on God and discovering what uniquely restores our own body and soul, we can experience the deep spiritual refreshment promised in Psalm 23.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Series Recap
0:43 The Big Question: How Do We Rest Well?
1:42 Point 1: Freedom from the Traditional Saturday (Colossians 2:16)
3:04 The 24-Hour Rhythm vs. An Hour of Rest
4:01 Point 2: Working Out Your Own Rest Pattern (Philippians 2)
5:51 Direction Over Perfection: The Process of Learning
6:27 Lessons from the "Splitting the Day" Season with Kids
8:44 Point 3: Intentional Effort and Sweet Sleep (Ecclesiastes 5)
10:00 Avoiding the "Jazz Drummer" Lifestyle Rhythm
12:15 Point 4: Psalm 23 and Centering on the Shepherd
14:11 Putting God First to Avoid Empty Refreshment
17:15 Point 5: The Practice of Intentional Reflection
18:41 The Umbrella of Values: Assessing Spiritual Health
22:06 Point 6: Identifying What Truly Restores Your Soul
26:45 The Tactical Switch: Engaging Your Mind vs. Your Hands
Deep Dive Podcast
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-resolutions-of-jonathan-edwards
Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions starting in December 1722 at age 19, continuing to add to them until August 1723 to guide his spiritual life and personal conduct. He instructed himself to read over these resolutions once a week and marked his progress in his personal diary alongside them.
The resolutions cover a comprehensive framework for Christian living, including:
God-Centered Purpose: Resolution 1 states, "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good... throughout my duration."
Time Management: Resolution 5 commands, "Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."
Moral Integrity: Resolution 7 advises, "Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life."
Emotional Control: Resolution 14 states, "Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge," and Resolution 16 warns, "Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone... upon no account except for some real good."
Spiritual Discipline: Resolution 28 resolves to "study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same."
Self-Examination: Resolution 37 requires him to "inquire every night... wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself."
Other helpful resource:
Comprehensive Study Guide: The Theology and Practice of Biblical Rest
This study guide synthesizes the biblical imagery of divine provision found in Psalm 23 with the practical, theological insights regarding Sabbath and rest presented in the Mercy Church sermon transcript. It is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of how to actively engage with the gift of rest.
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Part I: Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following ten questions in 2–3 sentences based on the provided texts.
According to the sermon’s analysis of Colossians 2:16, what is the primary rule regarding when a person should observe the Sabbath?
What is the distinction between working for salvation and "working out" salvation, and how does this apply to the practice of rest?
Explain the author of Ecclesiastes' perspective on the "sleep of a laborer" versus the sleep of the wealthy.
Based on the transcript, why is it necessary to have a "work week" in order for the Sabbath to be truly restful?
What does the imagery of "green pastures" and "quiet waters" in Psalm 23 suggest about the nature of God’s guidance?
The speaker describes a "split Sabbath" he and his wife attempted when their children were young. Why did they find this arrangement stressful rather than restful?
How did the historical nation of Israel integrate rest into their national rhythm beyond just a weekly Sabbath?
According to the Gospel of Mark, how did Jesus respond when the disciples found Him in a solitary place after a period of intense healing and ministry?
What is the "phrase that pays" regarding the process of learning to rest, and what does it imply about the learner’s expectations?
How should a person choose their Sabbath activities if they spend their work week primarily performing mental labor, such as staring at a computer?
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Part II: Answer Key
The primary rule is that the Sabbath does not have to be restricted to Saturday (Shabbat). Following the teaching of the Apostle Paul, the sermon emphasizes that while a 24-hour rhythm of rest is biblical, the specific day—whether it be Saturday or a Tuesday—should not be used as a basis for judging others' religious devotion.
Working for salvation is the incorrect belief that one must earn forgiveness, whereas "working out" salvation is the process of living out the relationship already entrusted to the believer through Christ. Similarly, rest is a gift from God, but believers must "work out" the practical steps and disciplines required to learn how to rest well in their daily lives.
Ecclesiastes 5:12 states that the sleep of a laborer is "sweet," regardless of how much they have to eat, because their hard work prepares them for rest. Conversely, the abundance of the wealthy can lead to anxiety or a preoccupation with maintaining resources, which ultimately "permits them no sleep."
A day of rest assumes that work has occurred during the rest of the week; without the "bad news" of labor or intentional effort, the "good news" of rest loses its meaning and rhythm. If a person "sort of" rests and "sort of" works throughout the week, the Sabbath will not feel distinct or truly sweet because the necessary contrast has not been established.
This imagery suggests that God, as a shepherd, provides total refreshment and peace for the soul. It indicates that divine guidance leads to places of restoration and safety ("right paths") where the believer lacks nothing and can "lie down" without fear.
They found it stressful because they had only a four-hour block of time and felt immense pressure to "force" rest within that limited window. The speaker realized that trying to "check all the boxes" of restful activities (hiking, walking dogs, listening to podcasts) in a short period actually prevented true ceasing.
In addition to the weekly Sabbath, Israel celebrated seven annual festivals to refocus on God and observed a sabbatical year every seven years to reset the land. Every fifty years (seven times seven years), they practiced a comprehensive reset of the land and society to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over their lives.
Jesus did not apologize for withdrawing; instead, He told His disciples that they needed to move on to other towns to preach the kingdom of God. This demonstrated that His time in solitary prayer was essential for refocusing on His primary mission rather than being consumed by the immediate demands of the crowd.
The phrase is "direction, not perfection." It implies that finding true rest is a developmental process involving success and failure, and that believers should give themselves grace to try, fail, and try again rather than giving up if they do not rest perfectly on the first attempt.
The sermon suggests following the recommendation that those who work with their minds during the week should work with their hands on their day of rest. Engaging in physical activities like gardening or mowing the lawn provides a sense of completion and "wrapping up" that abstract mental labor often lacks.
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Part III: Essay Questions
Instructions: Use the provided sources to develop comprehensive responses to the following prompts. (Answers not provided).
The Shepherd’s Tools of Comfort: Analyze the imagery in Psalm 23 regarding the "rod and staff" and the "table prepared in the presence of enemies." How do these elements provide comfort and a sense of "Sabbath" even when the believer is walking through the "darkest valley"?
Rest as an Act of Faith: The transcript suggests that Sabbath is "a sign to us" and "a sign to others." Discuss how choosing to cease from labor functions as a public and private declaration of faith in God’s provision.
The Role of Intentional Reflection: The speaker provides a detailed system for reflecting on various life "values" (spiritual disciplines, family, work, etc.) during rest. Argue for the importance of "slowing down enough to consider your life" as a component of biblical rest, rather than viewing rest solely as inactivity or napping.
The Theology of Refreshment: Compare the concept of God refreshing the soul in Psalm 23 with the sermon’s principle that rest should begin by "recentering on who God is." Why is spiritual reconnection considered the foundation for physical and emotional restoration?
Individualized Restoration: The sermon highlights that what is restful for one person (e.g., the woods) may not be restful for another (e.g., the beach). Explore the implications of this for the Christian community, particularly regarding the avoidance of legalism and the promotion of personal "active participation" in the gift of rest.
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Part IV: Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition
Anoint
The act of pouring oil on the head, as described in Psalm 23:5, signifying divine favor, blessing, and abundance ("my cup overflows").
Ceasing
A core component of the biblical Sabbath; the intentional act of stopping work or labor to engage in rest.
Direction, not Perfection
A principle used to describe the process of learning to rest; emphasizing steady progress and grace over the demand for immediate, flawless execution.
Quiet Waters
Imagery from Psalm 23 representing the peace and soul-refreshment provided by God’s guidance.
Rod and Staff
The tools of a shepherd used to guide and protect sheep; in Psalm 23, they symbolize the comfort and security found in God’s presence.
Sabbath (Shabbat)
A day of rest and ceasing from labor, traditionally observed on the seventh day (Saturday), but described in the sermon as a flexible 24-hour rhythm of rest and refocusing on God.
Salvation
Forgiveness for sin accomplished by Jesus; the transcript distinguishes between the gift of salvation and the "work" of living it out.
Shepherd
A biblical metaphor for God’s role as a provider, guide, and protector who ensures His people "lack nothing."
Values (System of)
A reflective tool mentioned in the sermon involving categories like spiritual disciplines, family, and work used to evaluate one's life during the Sabbath.
Work
Defined in the context of the sermon as "intentional effort towards some particular purpose," which provides the necessary contrast for rest.
