Sermon preview, week of July 22, 2024
Sabbath as Salvation for God's People
This Sunday’s order
- Sunday
- Reading
- Hebrews 4:1-16
- Series
- Downtime: Entering God’s Rest
- Preaching
- Kendall Ellis
This is a sermon preview for the fifth week of our “Downtime: Entering God’s Rest” series.
The readingHebrews 4:1-16
Visit FBCM’s YouTube channel to view video live stream (live) or audio version of sermon (published week after).
“For this Good News–that God has prepared a place of rest–has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t believe what God told them.” –Excerpt from Hebrews 4:1-16 (NLT)
Read Hebrews 4:1-16
1Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. 2For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said:
“So I swore on oath in My anger,
‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. 4For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.” 5And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.” 6Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience, 7God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Berean Standard Bible, public domain
Greetings from Indian Creek Baptist Camp! We’ll save all the good camp stories for the teens to share when we get back to Muncie. But for now, I have a funny anecdote that all our previous cabin leaders will appreciate. As we were leaving our cabin for the day, I made sure to tell the students several times that they needed their devotion booklets for the next activity. Can you guess what happened?
We walked all the way from the cabin to the next activity, only for half the cabin to tell me they needed to go back because they “didn’t know” that they needed their devotion booklet for devotions. (Even though I JUST said it!)
Of course, we laughed it off. It’s no big deal that the students got a few extra steps in during their camp day. But the experience really reminded me of Psalm 95 and Hebrews 4.
How many times do we refuse Sabbath because we pretend we “didn’t know” about this good news from God?
God gave this incredible instruction for the people to Sabbath, but they didn’t listen to it. They never entered into the day of rest. As a result, this good news really wasn’t any good for them because they never took God’s word to heart. AND, since this good news wasn’t good news for the people of God, then it wasn’t good news for the people around them either.
Last night at chapel, Camp Pastor Seth Alexander told our kids: “God’s always speaking–but are you listening?” It’s a good question for us at FBCM, too. Are we listening to what God’s saying about Sabbath rest during this series? Are we opening our ears and hearts to hear this Word which is living, active, sharper than any sword, and will cut through our desires to leave only that which is for God?
Psalm 95 and Hebrews 4 are good reminders to us as we wrap up this series. Yes, Sabbath is a gift from God. Yes, Sabbath is something that will transform our personal faith, health, and wellbeing. But it’s more than that, too.
Sabbath is part of the good news that transform the whole community. When Christians practice Sabbath–especially in a world that regularly ignores that part of God’s Word–people are going to take notice. People are going to ask questions. And you, child of God, will have the beautiful opportunity to give witness to God’s good news: that we get to rest because Jesus Christ has finished it all for us.
Let’s listen carefully to the Word of God which is speaking to us and through us this week.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever thought about Sabbath being part of God’s good news for us? Why do you think the author of Hebrews calls Sabbath good news?
- How would your personal life change if you allowed God’s word about Sabbath to cut through to the core of your life?
- How might you use the spiritual habit of sabbath rest to witness the gospel to your neighbors?
