Do as He Did: Jesus’ Pattern of Rest & Delight

PRACTICE DEFINED:

• A 24-hour time to stop, rest, delight, and worship.

Big Idea

Jesus did not only teach about rest—He arranged His life around it. To follow Jesus means adopting His pattern of purposeful withdrawal and God-centered delight.

Luke 4:16 (NLT) When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read.

I. Jesus practiced sabbath as a rhythm.

“…he went as usual…”

II. Jesus anchored his rest in , not escape.

“…to the synagogue…”

III. Jesus used sabbath to rehearse .

“…stood up to read.”

• Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)

Where does our delight flow from?

Jesus’ Delight Flowed From Trust in his Father

Psalm 16:11 (NLT) You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence…

What Now?

1. Fix the rhythm.

2. Anchor the focus.

3. Name the delight.

Continuing the Conversation

1. Jesus chose rest ahead of time, not only when feeling dead tired.

Question: Looking at a normal week, what usually determines when you rest—exhaustion, convenience, or intention—and what would need to change for rest to become a protected rhythm rather than a last resort?

2. Jesus used Sabbath to engage God, not avoid life.

Question: When you finally slow down, where do you naturally turn for relief or enjoyment, and how do those habits either draw you closer to God or quietly replace Him?

3. Sabbath helped Jesus rehearse who He was before what He would do.

Question: During busy seasons, how does your sense of worth tend to drift—toward productivity, usefulness, or approval—and how might Sabbath help re-center your identity as a son or daughter rather than a performer?

4. Jesus’ joy flowed from trust in the Father, not ideal circumstances.

Question: What brings you the deepest sense of delight when you rest, and what might that reveal about what you’re trusting to satisfy your heart?