The Oasis is our new intergenerational act of worship. Each month we will be exploring a different topic together, asking questions about faith and the Bible, and applying what we learn to our lives.
This month’s topic is:
Rest
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." - Psalm 23
Song of Worship
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11
Memory Verse
Print off this weeks memory verse and put it somewhere to help you memorise it.
Bible Reading
In Genesis 2:1-3 God finishes making the entire universe, and afterwards He rests. This time of rest was so important, that in the 10 Commandments God instructs His people to keep the Sabbath:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” – Exodus 20:8-11
Rest is something holy – set apart and sacred! Jesus made sure that he and his disciples not only obeyed the Sabbath, but also found the time to rest when they needed it:
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. – Mark 6:30-32
Questions for Discussion
- Do you take a Sabbath (rest) day each week?
- What signs or indicators let you know when you need a rest?
- What things help you to relax and recharge?
Reflective Exercise
Here’s an opportunity to practice resting in God…
Space to Pray
Song of Worship
We can rest in God’s promises…God keeps his promises… All your promises are YES AND AMEN!!
‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.’ – Psalm 4:8
Final Thoughts
- What changes can you make to your routine to ensure you can rest?
- Do you need someone to help you to do this? Who could you ask?
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you knew when it was time to work and when it was time to stop and rest. It can often be hard to find space in our lives, and often we can feel weighted down by our responsibilities. So please help us to find rest for our minds, rest for our bodies, and rest for our souls this summertime. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for this month’s Oasis! Remember to join us on Zoom at 11:30am for a catch up. If you need an invite, then please email me by clicking here!