The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Eliminating the Clutter: Sabbath Simplicity
Read Chapter 7 of The Rest of God. Primary Scripture: Luke 10:38-42; Philippians 4:11-13.
Previewing Week 8 of The Rest of God
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Buchanan turns to the practical problem of clutter — not just physical mess but the internal noise of too many commitments, too many worries, and too many voices competing for our attention. The story of Mary and Martha anchors this chapter.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Buchanan uses the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 as a lens for this chapter. How does Martha's distraction and Mary's stillness illustrate the tension between a cluttered life and a Sabbath life?
2.Jesus says Mary has chosen 'what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' Buchanan reflects on what it means that stillness and attentiveness at the feet of Jesus is what 'will not be taken away.' What does that say about the eternal value of rest versus the temporal value of activity?
3.The author argues that clutter — whether in our calendars, our homes, or our minds — is the enemy of Sabbath. What kinds of clutter tend to colonize your life most aggressively: relational, professional, digital, emotional?