June 14th, 2024
by Matt Miofsky
by Matt Miofsky
I just returned from spending time speaking and teaching at the North Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC. They bought every participant there, lay and clergy, a copy of The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer, and then graciously invited me to speak about the importance of sabbath, rest, and having a spiritual healthy rhythm of life. It was a special time to be in the conference where I started my ministry both as a student at Emory and as a youth pastor at a church in Decatur. As I finished up and prepared to fly out, I was thinking about the responses from the clergy on my reflections about Sabbath. One clergy nearing retirement and passionate about the growth of the church said, “next time they should have you talk about growth and not rest!”
I understand the sentiment. I am wired to work, and I am passionate about working in the church. I want to do ministry alongside other people (both lay and clergy) who care so much about reaching people with the good news of Jesus that they will do anything. The work of God is the most important in the world, and I wish sometimes that we would treat it with the urgency and the passion it deserves.
So it is strange that God tapped me on the shoulder, nudging me to write a daily devotional that centers on prayer. Even stranger that out of that work, I became convinced that honoring the sabbath is the most overlooked and under-appreciated commandment there is. In a world that demands productivity, effort, results, busyness, achievement, and efficiency, establishing a weekly rhythm of rest and sabbath could be one of the more radical habits Christians are called to keep.
God in God’s wisdom decided that six days a week we should work, and work passionately – valuing the tasks that we have been called to do and people we have been given to serve (both at home and in the workplace). But one day a week, God set aside, God marked it as special, and God gave it to us as a gift. On that day, we are called to put God over self, relationships over responsibilities, enjoyment over productivity, boredom over busyness, and the present over worrying about the future.
Rest and work are not opposing forces. Stressing the importance of Sabbath does not take away from the need to pour the best of time, energy, and work into God’s mission. Sabbath is not God saying that the work we do is bad, or that we ought care less about it. Instead, resting allows us to do that work with greater joy, deeper passion, and lasting sustainability. We rest not to escape the work that God has called us to do. But we rest to do that work even better.
If you’re here this weekend, make worship a priority. I would love to see you at church as I continue our series, “Why Do We Do That?” by talking about the part of worship that is maybe the most misunderstood – offering! Enjoy your day, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. We’re preparing for Pride Fest at the end of the month, and I invite you to come and help us to show God’s love for all people. You can join us at Pride no matter who you are or how you identify - we’ll provide all the training you need to work the booth. It’s always a fun and powerful event. I hope you’ll join us. Maybe your Core Group can make it a mid-summer social and work the booth together!
I understand the sentiment. I am wired to work, and I am passionate about working in the church. I want to do ministry alongside other people (both lay and clergy) who care so much about reaching people with the good news of Jesus that they will do anything. The work of God is the most important in the world, and I wish sometimes that we would treat it with the urgency and the passion it deserves.
So it is strange that God tapped me on the shoulder, nudging me to write a daily devotional that centers on prayer. Even stranger that out of that work, I became convinced that honoring the sabbath is the most overlooked and under-appreciated commandment there is. In a world that demands productivity, effort, results, busyness, achievement, and efficiency, establishing a weekly rhythm of rest and sabbath could be one of the more radical habits Christians are called to keep.
God in God’s wisdom decided that six days a week we should work, and work passionately – valuing the tasks that we have been called to do and people we have been given to serve (both at home and in the workplace). But one day a week, God set aside, God marked it as special, and God gave it to us as a gift. On that day, we are called to put God over self, relationships over responsibilities, enjoyment over productivity, boredom over busyness, and the present over worrying about the future.
Rest and work are not opposing forces. Stressing the importance of Sabbath does not take away from the need to pour the best of time, energy, and work into God’s mission. Sabbath is not God saying that the work we do is bad, or that we ought care less about it. Instead, resting allows us to do that work with greater joy, deeper passion, and lasting sustainability. We rest not to escape the work that God has called us to do. But we rest to do that work even better.
If you’re here this weekend, make worship a priority. I would love to see you at church as I continue our series, “Why Do We Do That?” by talking about the part of worship that is maybe the most misunderstood – offering! Enjoy your day, and I will see you Sunday.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. We’re preparing for Pride Fest at the end of the month, and I invite you to come and help us to show God’s love for all people. You can join us at Pride no matter who you are or how you identify - we’ll provide all the training you need to work the booth. It’s always a fun and powerful event. I hope you’ll join us. Maybe your Core Group can make it a mid-summer social and work the booth together!
Posted in M-Note
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24Why? Discussion Guide - Week 1
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