Sabbath Resources
- Stony Plain Alliance Church
- May 30
- 5 min read
This is an evolving page of resources, as we learn to keep Sabbath together as a community. There are links to multiple bookstores below, the links that are listed as Hoopla are free resources (either ebooks or audiobooks) through the Stony/Spruce Grove Libraries for more information you can access instructions here by scrolling down to Hoopla.
"The evening / morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep, and God begins his work. As we sleep, he develops his covenant. We wake and are called out to participate in God’s creative action. We respond in faith, in work. But always grace is previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn. "
-Eugene Peterson
BOOKS
Sabbath | Dan Allender
This book by author and psychologist Dan Allender explores the Sabbath and attempts to dispel misunderstandings of what is and isn’t Christian Sabbath. Instead of a day of rules and duty, Allender presents it as a day for delight focusing on four pillars for sabbath living: Sensual glory and beauty, ritual, communal feasting, and playfulness.
Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence | Ruth Haley Barton
This book by author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton explores two practices that are helpful for Sabbath, Solitude and Silence. It is an invitation to break from the noise and distraction of everyday life, so that in the midst of it we can be attuned to God’s presence and hear his voice.
Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives For Spiritual Transformation | Ruth Haley Barton
This book by author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton is a vision of life that is based around spiritual transformation. Barton sees transformation anchored by engagement in seven practices: Solitude, Scripture, Prayer, Honouring the Body, Self-Examination, Discernment, and Sabbath. This is a highly practical book with guidance on how to engaged these practices.
Sabbath as Resistance: Saying NO to the Culture of Now | Walter Brueggemann
This book by Old Testament scholar and minister Walter Brueggemann, presents Sabbath and a confrontation to the our culture of consumption where we live to achieve, accomplish, perform, and possess. Sabbath reorients us to see life through the values of the kingdom of love.
God Walk: Moving At The Speed Of Your Soul | Mark Buchanan
This book by pastor and professor Mark Buchanan is an invitation to slow down and move at a walking pace instead of running. He takes the idea of how the ancients in Genesis were known to walk with God, and he makes the case that for us to do the same, we need to learn a whole other way of being—one that walks and not hurries.
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath | Mark Buchanan
This book by pastor and professor Mark Buchanan is an invitation to Sabbath life, where we learn to stop and rest in God’s presence. Buchanan makes a case for Sabbath, and its rest providing an antidote to the busyness and exhaustion of modern life. He makes the beautiful connection that when we practice Sabbath we are practicing life in the ultimate rest of heaven.
Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human | John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer is a pastor who has made his focus on helping others to Practicing the Way of Jesus. His book Garden City, is about purpose and calling, and what it means to be human by answering the question of what am I here and what should I do about it. This book includes a helpful study on Sabbath as the way of rest and learning that we are not machines.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World | John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer is a pastor who has made his focus on helping others to Practicing the Way of Jesus. He talks about hurry in an epidemic that is making us shallow, and in this book you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.
Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power | Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch is a author and editor who writes often on culture and its intersection with Christianity. This book is a discussion of power, of using it wisely, and how to use it in light of the kingdom. There is much about embracing limits and allowing Sabbath to reorder our views of power.
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting | Marva J. Dawn
This book by theologian, professor, and author Marva J. Dawn looks at the Sabbath by asking what does it mean to keep Sabbath. This book invites the reader to experience the wholeness and joy that come from observing God’s order for life—a rhythm of working six days and setting apart one day for rest, worship, festivity, and relationships. It tracks four main themes of ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting.
Sabbath Meditations | Practicing the Way
This booklet is a collection of prayers, poems, and mediations for Sabbath. It is a free resource that has been curated by Practicing the Way.
On The Way: A Guide To Christian Spirituality | Gordon T. Smith
Gordon T. Smith is an professor and academic who writes often on the topic of work and vocation. In this short book he focuses on how vocation needs to be balanced with rest and recreation that Sabbath brings.
One of the helpful things in this book is his guide on suggested formats for daily prayer and for a day of prayer.
The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus | Rich Villodas
This book by pastor Rich Villodas lays a foundation for a life that is deeply formed in the way of Jesus. This book is described as a road map to live in the richly rooted place of communion withy God where we find our purpose. Included in this road map is the practice of Sabbath-keeping.
PODCASTS
Sabbath | Rule Of Life Podcast
In this podcast series, hosts John Mark Comer, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin dive into the countercultural act of Sabbath in today’s world. This series follows the same themes of Stop, Rest, Delight, and Worship that we have used.
Seventh-Day Rest - Sabbath | The Bible Project
In this 14 part podcast Tim Mackie and Jon Collins from the Bible Project provide more context to their video on Sabbath. This series deals with a greater explanation of Sabbath, discussions on work, rest, and sacred space. You can also watch the video here and also download study notes.
Season 17: Sabbath | Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast
In this 11 episode podcast season, author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton explores themes of sabbath with a variety of guests. Episode topics include, awakening to God’s Gift of Sabbath, the Power of Unplugging, sharing Sabbath presence within our families, and Sabbath rhythms in singleness and Caregiving.
Kommentare