Sabbath Worksheet
Key Questions to Consider Timing
• When’s the last time I kept Sabbath? What is endangered in my life by not 1. What day of the week can you consistently keep a 24 hour
keeping Sabbath? Sabbath? Consider if the Jewish conception of Sabbath as sunset
• What hinders me most from observing Sabbath? until sunset may be more fitting for you than sunrise to sunset.
• How can I nurture Sabbath-keeping? How can I best prepare to keep the
S M T W T F S
Sabbath? What might I have to clean or hide to prevent distraction?
• How can I incorporate standard Sabbath practices of worship, prayer, and 2. What hours of the day do you want to preserve as Sabbath?
extending reading and listening of Scripture? What books or portions of
Scripture do I want to read? Start time:_____________ End time:____________
• Which idols surface as I keep Sabbath?
• What does play look like for me?
• What do I consider work? My Ideal Sabbath
• What does it mean to cease productivity and accomplishment? Do this section last. Write down a sketch of how you will spend your
• What relationships do I need to reconnect? Who can I bless/serve? Sabbath in the coming season.
• What activities bring me most delight?
Morning:
• What helps me cultivate my imagination?
Ideas for Sabbath Keeping
For all:
• Light 2 candles to “observe” and “remember” the Sabbath. Afternoon:
• Select a special song to sing/play regularly on the Sabbath.
• Try to minimize conversations that are work-related, and consider
conversations that cause people to dream, imagine, laugh and be grateful.
• Intentionally nurture a sense of self that is not grounded in productivity or
accomplishments but in God’s gracious and unfailing love. Encourage Late Afternoon:
someone else in your community to do the same.
• Think about the past week and do a self-counseling project.
For families and friends:
• A time for short (one sentence or two) blessings on family members:
• A short blessing from the husband to the wife and vice-versa. E.g. Evening:
“Lord, bless X with a deep joy in you in the coming week.”
• A short blessing on the children by parents & parents by children.
• You may want to write these blessings down for each of the 52 weeks.
• Sabbath toy box for children to be played with only on Sabbath.
The two people with whom I will share this document to keep me accountable are: 1. _________________________________ 2.______________________________
Developing a Sabbath Plan
Sabbath Practices Practices
(From Marva Dawn’s Keeping the Sabbath Wholly) Referring to the “Sabbath Practices” section, circle the practices you want to prioritize during
this season. Elaborate on particular practices below. How can you make this more concrete
I. Ceasing (deepens repentance) and specific?
A. Ceasing Work
B. Ceasing Productivity and Accomplishment Ceasing (deepens repentance)
C. Ceasing Anxiety, Worry and Tension
D. Ceasing Our Trying to Be God
E. Ceasing Our Possessiveness
F. Ceasing Our Enculturation
G. Ceasing the Humdrum and Meaninglessness
II. Resting (strengthens faith in God’s grace)
A. Spiritual Rest Resting (strengthens faith in God’s grace)
B. Physical Rest
C. Emotional Rest
D. Intellectual Rest
E. Aids to Rest
F. Social Rest
G. An Ethics of Character
III. Embracing (integrates beliefs into practice)
A. Embracing Intentionality Embracing (integrates beliefs into practice)
B. Embracing the Values of the Christian Community
C. Embracing Time instead of Space
D. Embracing Giving Instead of Requiring
E. Embracing Our Calling in Life
F. Embracing Wholeness—Shalom
G. Embracing the World
IV. Feasting (heightens eschatological imagination)
A. Feasting on the Eternal Feasting (heightens eschatological imagination)
B. Feasting with Music
C. Feasting with Beauty
D. Feasting with Food
E. Feasting with Affection
F. Feasting and Festival
G. Sabbath Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, and Feasting
Center for Faith & Work, David H. Kim, 2016
