The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
Week 3: Chapter 2 — The Ache of Desire: A Sabbath Heart
Read Chapter 2 of The Rest of God. Primary Scripture: Psalm 23; Matthew 11:28-30.
Previewing Week 3 of The Rest of God
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Buchanan turns from the outer practice of stopping to the inner condition of the heart — what he calls the 'Sabbath heart,' a heart capable of receiving rest rather than just avoiding work. Consider: is your heart restless even when your calendar is clear?
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Buchanan describes a 'Sabbath heart' as something deeper than a day off — it is an interior posture of receptivity and trust. How does he distinguish between the outward practice of Sabbath and this inward quality of heart?
2.He suggests that many of us are physically at rest but inwardly frantic — we can stop our bodies but not our minds. Does that describe you? What does your mind do when your body is still?
3.Buchanan uses Psalm 23 as a window into Sabbath rest — the image of the shepherd leading his sheep beside still waters and making them lie down. What does the sheep's posture of 'lying down' say about what kind of rest God is offering us?