Weekly Teaching Reflection
October 19th Reflection
Sermon Notes and Discussion Questions
Luke: Identity of the King
The Lord of the Sabbath
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Luke 6:1-2
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?
NO Planting, NO harvesting, NO winnowing, and NO preparing meals
“his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.”
Luke 6:3-5
3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:6-11
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Rest is a state of being, where you are not under threat, and you live safely in God’s good world.
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Every rabbi had a yoke—a way of interpreting and living out the law. Jesus says: My yoke fits. It doesn’t crush you. It restores you.
The Sabbath is a form of resistance against the powers of this world that say that people are mere cogs in a machine.
Subversive Sabbath – A.J. Swoboda
Rest is not weakness. It’s allegiance. When you rest, you declare: Jesus is King, and I am not.
The great irony of Sabbath-keeping is how hard it is for us to say no to people but how with such ease we say no to being at rest with God.
A.J. Swoboda - Subversive Sabbath
The problem with the Sabbath is there are huge rewards and incentives for not actually doing it. Modern church growth has basically been built on no rest. Our church industrial complex generally rewards Sabbath-breaking as a rule.
A.J. Swoboda - Subversive Sabbath
Benediction
So may we walk at 3mph, in the dust of the Rabbi, and discover the deep rest of living under the gentle rule of the King of all creation.
For Group Discussion:
Recap Practice from Last week:
"Carry someone to Jesus."
Last week we talked about intentionally “carrying” someone — spiritually, emotionally, or practically — toward Jesus. That might mean:
Praying daily for someone who is spiritually or emotionally stuck.
Inviting someone to a meal or coffee and be fully present with them.
Meeting a tangible need for someone who’s struggling (meals, time, presence).
Literally carrying someone in an act of service they can’t do for themselves.
How did you experience this practice? How did it cause you to see others differently?
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why do you think the concept of Sabbath rest is so countercultural today?
What pressures or values in our world make Sabbath difficult to embrace?In Genesis 2:1–3, the seventh day has no “evening and morning.”
What do you think that means about God's intention for the Sabbath?
How does that shape our understanding of what rest truly is?Jesus says, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5).
What does that mean for how we observe or think about Sabbath now?
How is Jesus redefining what true rest looks like?Read Matthew 11:28–30.
How does Jesus’ “yoke” differ from other kinds of spiritual or cultural burdens?
What have been some heavy yokes you’ve carried, and how does Jesus invite you to trade them for rest?Sabbath is described as “a burst of Eden rest into ordinary time.”
How does that image challenge or inspire you?
What would it look like for your Sabbath to be a “taste of Eden”?What are some areas in your life where you’re still trying to be king instead of trusting Jesus as King?
How might embracing Sabbath be a way of surrendering control?What’s the difference between stopping and resting?
Have you ever stopped working but not actually rested? Why is that?“Rest is not weakness, it’s allegiance.”
What does it look like to practice rest as an act of trust and worship in your current season?
SCRIPTURE FOR REFLECTION
Encourage the group to read and meditate on these verses during or after the discussion:
Genesis 2:2–3
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy…”
→ This is the foundational rhythm God sets into motion—rest is part of creation, not an escape from it.Luke 6:5
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’”
→ Jesus isn’t abolishing Sabbath, He’s revealing its true meaning: rest under His Kingship.Matthew 11:28–30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest... My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
→ Jesus invites us into a rhythm of rest that isn’t about performance, but partnership.Hebrews 4:9-10
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
→ A reminder that rest isn’t just past or future—it’s a present reality we’re invited into.
FOR PRACTICE THIS WEEK
Practice: A Subversive Sabbath
This week, intentionally carve out 24 hours (or a defined block of time) to practice Sabbath. Not just a day off, but a time of restful worship. This doesn’t mean inactivity but choosing activities that restore your soul and celebrate God’s goodness.
Guiding Questions to Shape Your Sabbath:
What brings life, delight, and joy?
What helps me remember that I’m not in control?
What would it look like to “stop producing” and just be?
Optional Prompts:
Unplug from work email or social media.
Prepare in advance to not cook, clean, or run errands.
Go for a walk, journal, play, feast, worship, or simply nap in peace.
Reflect on this question: Where am I trying to be king, and how can I let Jesus reign here instead?
Sabbath isn’t about being lazy. It’s about being faithful. A “resting” to declare, “Jesus is King, and I am not.”