We Need a Rhythm of Work and Rest

Short Talk (SHT100) We need a rhythm of Work and Rest © Jane Hulme 2018 SHORT TALK: “We need a rhythm of work and rest” Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To teach that God created us to have a rest day, a Sabbath, one day in seven. He gave us this day so that we can recharge and give priority to our relationships, both with Him and with other people. This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Sabbath, rest, relationships Mark 2:23-3:6 Year B – The 1st Sunday after Trinity You need a variety of props that contain re-chargeable batteries eg:  A battery operated toothbrush,  A cordless drill or screwdriver,  A torch with batteries,  A battery operated razor If possible use quite old batteries in the items so that there is potential for the item to stop working after a couple of minutes. ........................................................................................................................ (Lay out your props on a table in front of you) I wonder if any of you can tell me what all of these things have in common.  I have a toothbrush, a drill, a torch and a razor.  What do these things all have in common? (Receive answers) All of these things have re-chargeable batteries in them.  The battery gives the toothbrush, the drill, the torch, and the razor the “strength” to do the job that they were made to do. Now what would happen if I left these items switched on all the time like this? (Switch on all of the items and leave them switched on for the duration of the talk)  The battery would eventually run down wouldn’t it and the toothbrush, the drill, the torch and the razor would stop working?  We would then need to recharge the batteries so that our items could work again. In a way, you and I are rather like these items on the table.  We all have work to do, whether that is school work, or working at home or working somewhere else,  and God gives us the strength that we need to do that work. © Jane Hulme 2018 2 But just like the electrical items that we have left switched on, if we keep going and going and going without stopping, we can gradually run out of strength. God knows this and when He created us, He created us to take a rest day once a week.  In the Bible this rest day is called the Sabbath and it was a day when God’s people took time off from working to worship God and to recharge again.  Jesus told His disciples that “The Sabbath was made for the good of human beings” (Mark 2:27) Important as work is, we too need a rhythm of working and resting in our lives so that we can live the life of love that God has created us to live.  I don’t know about you but when I am tired and my batteries are running down, I find it can be hard to love other people, and I can be grumpy and irritable instead. We all need one day a week to rest from work so that we have time to worship Father God, recharge and enjoy the relationships that He has given us. So can I encourage you to resist the temptation to stay busy and never stop, a bit like our items here that are wearing out their batteries,  and to follow our Maker’s instructions and rest one day a week,  for you will find that your relationship with Him and with other people will benefit as a result. © Jane Hulme 2018 3