One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Week 5: Chapter 4 — "A Sanctuary of Time"
Read Chapter 4 of One Thousand Gifts. Key Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Psalm 90:12.
Previewing Week 5 of One Thousand Gifts
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Voskamp turns to the gift of time itself — and the Sabbath — as she explores what it means to receive each moment as a holy thing rather than a resource to be managed. These questions invite you to examine your relationship with time.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Voskamp makes the striking claim that time is not ours to manage but God's gift to receive. How does that shift in framing change the way you think about a full calendar or a wasted afternoon?
2.She reflects on the Sabbath commandment not just as a rule but as a gift — God carving out time for delight and rest. What has been your own relationship with Sabbath? Has it felt like gift or obligation?
3.Voskamp describes the way busyness can be a form of unbelief — a failure to trust that God can accomplish what needs to be accomplished without our constant frantic effort. Do you recognize any busyness in your own life that functions as a control mechanism or a flight from presence? What might you be avoiding?
a.What is one thing you could remove from your schedule this week, not because it is bad, but as a small act of trust?