The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
Week 5: Chapter 4 — The Sanctuary in Time
Read Chapter 4 of The Rest of God. Primary Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:1-3.
Previewing Week 5 of The Rest of God
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Buchanan introduces the beautiful idea of Sabbath as a 'sanctuary in time' — a holy space we enter not by going somewhere but by stopping and paying attention. This week, consider what it would mean to treat time itself as sacred.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Buchanan draws on Abraham Joshua Heschel's famous idea that Sabbath is a 'cathedral in time' — a holy structure built not from stone but from hours. How does this image reshape the way you think about what makes a place or moment sacred?
2.In the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is the only commandment that concerns time rather than action or relationship. What does it mean that God chose to make time itself holy? What implications does that have for how we view our schedules?
3.Buchanan argues that we often treat time as a commodity — something to be managed, maximized, and spent efficiently. How does the Sabbath commandment challenge that utilitarian view of time?