Conversation Starters: Rest
Posted by Karah
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: One of the hardest things to do in the midst of the busyness of life is to intentionally take time to hit the brakes and rest. While God desires for us to work hard, He also desires for us to rest hard. What did God do on the seventh day of creation? He rested. Does God need rest? No. But God did set a precedent for how our lives are supposed to work. It’s biblical to work hard and rest with intentionality.
Concept: Rest
PRESCHOOL
Exodus 31
THE POINT: God spoke to Moses and gave him special rules for all the people to follow. God had told Moses His plans to make a special place to worship Him. Then God spoke to
Moses again. “Tell the people that they must have a day of rest. This day of rest will help other people to know that My people are special.” God told Moses that the day of rest
was to be a holy day. People should work six days and on the seventh day rest. God said, “The day of rest is to be kept by My people and all the families that come after them. It is a special sign between Me and them because I made the world in six days and rested on the seventh.” Then God gave Moses stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them.
LIVE IT OUT: Commit to a specific time this week for your family to rest. No work,
practices, or technology allowed. Instead, relax and enjoy the time together. Talk
about how God wants us to rest. Thank Him for this time.
KIDS
Exodus 31
THE POINT: God gave Moses special instructions: “Remember the Sabbath Day. It is a holy day. Anyone who disobeys this law will be punished. People are to work for six days. The seventh day is a time to stop and rest. Do no work on the Sabbath. I made the heavens and the earth in six days. Then I stopped.” Then God gave Moses two stone tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments.
LIVE IT OUT: Rest is an important part of hard work. Help your child recognize that without sufficient rest it becomes difficult to work hard. Schedule a family rest time when everyone in the family will “unplug,” “turn off,” and rest.
STUDENTS
Exodus 31:12-17
THE POINT: Rest is a gift from God. Have a discussion with your student about how each of you likes to relax. Have a conversation around this quote:
“You have made us for Yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
—Augustine of Hippo
LIVE IT OUT: Help your student evaluate how busy his or her life is and areas where it would be good to slow down. Encourage your student to rest during the week. Help your student determine some good guidelines for rest. Plan something you can do as a family that would be a restful break for everyone.
1. Saint Augustine, Confessions: Books I-IV, ed. Gillian Clark (Cambridge University Press, 1995), 84. LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been
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