Slowing

At your tables you all were supposed to talk through what your heart most longs for, it's okay if you didn’t. If you didn’t try to think through something now. And be honest with your self because this isn’t a time of shaming but growth. The next question was to make it a little more specific, what do you long for in times of stress? A long day of work? A day where you are peopled out and can't take any more? What does your heart and your body long for in those moments? And does it work? Do you feel rested, rejuvenated? Or do your kids and family and friends just feel isolated from you?

IN Genesis 1-3 we see foundational patterns set forth that are teased out and used for the rest of scripture. If we slow down to read Genesis 1-3 and understand that Hebrew authors were very intentional with the words they used then we are going to begin to scratch the surface of the beauty of scripture.

IN Genesis 1 we see creation taking place and how does God create? He gives order and purpose. Everything that God does in Genesis 1 is he gives order and purpose. When everything is in it's proper place of oreder and fulfilling it's purpose then that is what God says is good. The word good is repeated in Genesis 1 7 times. Then we see with humans God says their order and purpose is very good, why? Because their purpose involves the flourishing of others and of creation.

Genesis 1:28

One scholar says: “It's as if the author of Genesis is painting the picture that to God “good” is defined as concrete steps forward in human flourishing on earth. It is clear that Gods heart is for human flourishing, and anything that produces this is good in God’s eyes.”

God has defined good as that which leads to the flourishing of humanity and creation. Which means anything that doesn't do this is not good. So what do we do? We walk with our creator trusting that what he says is good is actually good. This is foundational. Because we fast forward to Genesis 3 and we see humanity in the garden and we see Adam and Eve take from the tree that God said not to.

- Two questions, why did they? and why is it not good?

o Gen. 3:5-6 – Look at the enemies temptation it involves good and not good. Notice they saw that it was good but God said it wasn’t. So right in this moment they are faced with a decision. Trust what God says is good even though that looks good. Or think we know what good is and God doesn't. We know what they choose

o Why is it not good? Because it doesn't lead to human and creation floursishing. We can see the examples of that today, the results are around us.

But this is foundational because nearly every story in scripture and every situation we place ourselves in it is as if we are back in the garden, wrestling through do I reach out and take defining what is good on my own or do I trust what God says is good. Abraham reached out and took, David saw that it was good and took.

The world we live in, the temptations around us, and even the messed up garbage within us is all about human beings defining good on their own. I think this is good and will lead to my flourishing therefore ill do it. Instead of creating a world of flourishing for others and for creation we have created hell on earth by thinking we know what good is and what it takes for us to floursish.

This is important because the consequences of this is in our bodies. At times we even feel it where our bodies just long for things, the temptations, the cravings, where our body is tellking our minds that is good I need it, I want it. So I want you all to talk through that at your tables as well as whatever questions you get to and we can circle back in a few minutes.

Read Matthew 11:25-30

1. What is your optimal day of rest?

2. What is keeping your from it?

3. How do you think you enter into rest?

One of the most profound ways that this reality of our bodies directing our lives is in the lack of rest, it's not something we talk about a lot.

John Ortberg says

- “I cannot live inside the Kingdom of God with a hurried soul” Ortberg

- “For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives in stead of actually living them.” Ort

Think about, in Gods kingdom what is good? We just definied it, the flourishing of others and of creation. Do we believe that when we are tired and exhausted and stressed? No, we just want to escape then we do what? Change? Nope. We wake up the next morning and do the same thing over again.

Comer in his book writes

Hurry is not a disordered schedule but a disordered heart.

- All too often hurry is a sign of something else. Something deeper. Usually that we’re running away from something, deep insecurity or deficits of self-worth, fear of failure, pathological inability to accept the limitations of humanity or running to something that is the next high.

What does the good news of Jesus have to say about this?

Matthew 11:25-30

Frederick Dale Bruner – Scholar on Matthew – A yoke is a work instrument. Thus when Jesus offers a yoke he offers what we might think tired workers need least. They need a mattress or a vacation, not a yoke. But Jesus realizes that the most restful gift he can give the tired is a new way to carry life, a fresh way to bear responsibility. Realism sees that life is a succession of burdens; we cannot get away from them; thus instead of offering escape, Jesus offers equipment. Jesus means that obedience to his Sermon on the mount, his yoke, will develop in us a balance and a “way” of carrying life that will give more rest than the way we have been living.”

One last quote and we will go back to the tables

Tony Schwartz – addiction is the relentless pull to a substance or activity that becomes so compulsive it ultimately interferes with everyday life. By that definition, nearly everyone is addicted to some measure of the internet.

Teaching on Matthew 10:25-30

1. Why is slowing so hard for you?

2. Could a hurried, stress filled life show what your heart truly desires?

3. Whats at risk for you to slow down in life?

4. In what area this week are you going to slow?

1. Specify this question in the teaching to help them slow down and notice how their body reacts and why. Then to allow the Spirit to shape me with the truths of the reality of the Kingdom.

Podcast pastor

- “We have a church culture that says if we believe the right things I’ll be okay and that is not working. Rather we need to put into practice the ways of Jesus because we are formed by what we do not what we believe.”

The reason I want you to think through the literal cravings of your body is because we so often over look them. Thinking I am good because I mentally believe in Jesus yet neglect my kids and family and friends because I have had a long day at work. At that point it doesn't matter what you mentally believe, in your body you don’t believe the good news of Jesus is a reality. We are addicted to work, driven by our insecurities, and living out of escapist behaviors.

One pastor was even interviewed about the spirituality that s becoming popular in urban areas. Various things of meditation and fasting and simplicity are becoming big. So what is the difference between those and the way of life of Jesus?

Eveything we do forms us and directs our heart. We are either going to be what God says is good or constantly controlled by our desires and enslaved to culture and others opinions.

“Silence exposes the activity of the soul” Brian Croft

From Dru Johnson - Professor

- I’m familiar with the pangs of addiction. I used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day for ten years. In addiction’s loving arms, I couldn’t go long without a hit. Fifteen or 20 minutes after my last drag, my anxieties would crescendo to a frenzied need for relief. My entire being grew restless until it found its rest in smoke—40 times a day. It was exhausting.

- Making myself still, mentally or physically, has always been hard for me. I often have many irons in the fire. But maintaining the discipline of stillness requires a certain level of security with oneself and with God. My smartphone, on the other hand, offered an all-too-easy way to focus my constant motion, without truly slowing me down.

- Scripture commands weekly stillness—Sabbath. Our bodies are designed for the daily stillness of sleep, where we trust the sovereignty of God to uphold all things together and “my soul to keep” while we slumber. The burdened find their rest in Jesus (Matt. 11:28). And yet, my phone was becoming my main source of mental burden. It’s always on. It provides instant access to work that needs doing.

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