Weekly Teaching
Reflection
November 1st Reflection
Discussion Questions
What is shaping your calendar? When you look at a typical week, what does the way you spend your time reveal about what matters most to you?
What does it mean to live as a free person? Israel had been liberated from slavery in Egypt, yet God had to teach them a new way to live. How might we still live as though our worth depends on our productivity?
How do you experience Sabbath? Is it easy or difficult for you to stop working and rest? What fears, responsibilities, or expectations make it hard to stop?
What if joy is part of the purpose of life? The festivals invited Israel to remember, celebrate, give thanks, and enjoy God's provision. How might your life change if these weren't things you squeezed in after your responsibilities were finished?
How are gratitude and generosity connected? In Leviticus 23:22, God commands Israel to leave part of the harvest for the poor and the foreigner. What does this teach us about the relationship between worship and caring for others?
How do rhythms shape us spiritually? How have practices like worship, prayer, Communion, Advent, Lent, or Easter helped form your faith? What happens when these practices are crowded out?
Where do you struggle to trust God's provision? What makes you feel as though everything depends on you? How might Sabbath help you practice trusting God rather than relying solely on your own efforts?
What might a community shaped by sacred time look like? What would change in our church, families, and relationships if we protected time for worship, rest, celebration, and caring for one another?
For Practice This Week: Make Room for Sacred Time
Choose one intentional way to reorder your time this week, not simply to get more done, but to make room for what matters most.
Protect time to rest. Set aside a few hours to stop working, step away from screens, enjoy creation, share a meal, or be present with people you love.
Practice gratitude. Before a meal or at the end of the day, name three ways you have experienced God's goodness or provision.
Turn gratitude into generosity. Share some of your time, resources, or attention with someone who needs encouragement or practical help.
As you practice, ask yourself: What am I learning to trust when I stop striving and make room to receive God's gifts?
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