Practicing the Way – The Practices – Sermon – Pastor Marlee Page

These practices are meant to help us achieve the transformation.

John Mark Comer:

“The practices are disciplines based on the lifestyle of Jesus that create time and space for us to access the presence and power of the Spirit and, in doing so, be transformed from the inside out.”

We cannot transform ourselves by mere effort, but we can participate in God’s transforming work by practicing ancient spiritual disciplines—practices modelled by Jesus. These are not burdens but rhythms of grace that open us to His presence and power.

The next part to note is that spiritual practices are a means, not an ends.

The Scripture shows us that we are to do our part:

1 Timothy 4:7 “Train yourself to be godly.”

Philippians 2:12-13 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Spiritual practices are not meant to be our latest to do list. We all have enough things to do. Instead, they have been given to help us cultivate a deeper relationship with God and transform our hearts to become more like Jesus. The goal is not performance, but actual participation in Jesus’ work of renewal.

Comer says:

“Practices are a means to an end: to live and love like Jesus.”

I have participated in Spiritual Direction for a couple of years now. Honestly, it wasn’t something I really thought I needed, or was that important. Now though, I look forward to these monthly sit downs where I reflect on the past month and notice where the Spirit was showing up. Maybe I noticed at the time, or maybe I didn’t! The best part has been realizing how much more noticing of the Spirit I do in the moment over the last 2 years! When I look back at my journal where I keep all my notes from our sessions, at first there was a lot of WOWS! because I hadn’t noticed, but now it’s more statements of this is where He showed up.

God’s power works through our intentional practices.

We can’t transform ourselves all by ourselves, but when we make spaces in our regular rhythms for things like prayer, fasting, Sabbath, or silence, it gives the Holy Spirit space to show up and show us that He’s been there all along! That’s when the transformation begins!

Do I get this perfect? NO! There’s still lots of ‘wows’ in my journal. Our focus is not perfection, but partnership, with God on the journey of transformation.

This is where real growth begins.

I love how Comer gives the analogy of running a marathon to this decision. You don’t just go by a pair of proper running shoes, put then on and run 26.2 miles. You buy the shoes and then go out and start training. One mile at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time. Only then, after training, can you reach the goal of being able to run 26.2 miles.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul says,

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Even Paul compares spiritual growth to a race. Training and discipline are essential, but the ultimate prize is given by God.

This is also why we keep going back to the word “abide” and the passage in John about the vine and the branches.

Imagine trying to force fruit to grow from a tree by yelling at it or tugging on the branches or ignoring it completely. It’s not possible!

The tree grows and produces fruit because the gardener waters it, tends to it, and makes sure it has fertilizer, water, sunlight, and keeps the weeds out.

In the same way, we cannot “make” ourselves more loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled overnight. However, by practicing rhythms like prayer, scripture reading, Sabbath and intentional time with Jesus: abiding with Him we can hope to develop more of those qualities. Then, and only then, can we open ourselves to God’s life-giving presence, and experience transformation. He begins to change us from the inside out just as He planned.

One of the hardest things for us to get our heads wrapped around is this idea of the S-Word: Sabbath. Honestly, this has been a huge topic of conversation this past week both in the office amongst your pastors but also in our Bible Study on Tuesday night.

When you think of the word Sabbath, what’s the first word that comes to your mind?

I know for many its ‘rest’; for me it is exhale.

Our English word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat which means to cease. “The heart of Shabbat is the command to cease our work so that we might remember God’s work.” What is God’s work? We learned this week that His work is an amazing restoration of all use who believe!

In Revelation 21:5, it says:

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

In the Message translation for verses 3-5 it says this:

^3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighbourhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”

I love the idea that God has moved into the neighbourhood and making His home with us and that’s exactly what Jesus did.

He came down, made His home here to show us what life with Him looks like and then He provided an opportunity for us to be restored or saved!

What a Good God we have!

The only problem with this idea of Sabbath, or maybe I should say problems, is that, one, we aren’t very good at it and, two, I don’t think we truly understand it. Either of which can stop us from wanting it or longing for it.

Comer shares:

“One of the most important practices for our age of exhaustion is Sabbath—a full day set aside to stop, rest, delight, and worship.”

We live in a world that never stops! Everything is at our fingertips 24/7. This also means that people have to do their jobs or be accessible 24/7 which leaves them exhausted and worn out – but we can’t seem to stop either!

When we look at this idea of Sabbath and rest we immediately go to “Well if I practice Sabbath that means doing nothing!” Which scares the heck out of us! Doing nothing? What is that?

Comer, I think, does a great job of reframing this for us so we maybe understand Sabbath for the first time.

Practicing Sabbath is a day to stop, rest, delight, and worship allowing us a space to reconnect with God and reminding us that our identity is not found in what we produce, but, in God’s love for us and the work He did for us.

Mark 2:27

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

The Sabbath is not just a rule to follow but a gift to restore our souls. It’s a time to remember that God is in control and that He cares for us. Through resting, delighting in good things, and worshiping, we realign our hearts with God and live differently from the hurried, restless world around us.

So, this week we Begin with One Practice– Sabbath

Remember our scripture from Matthew:

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I want to read this from the Message too. Eugene Peterson did an amazing job putting this into words that help us get it – really get it!

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and You’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Challenge:

Start small this week by practicing Sabbath. It doesn’t have to be a full day at first. Try setting aside half a day to stop and rest. Find space in your week and commit to it. Plan it as a non-negotiable.

Here are four elements to focus on:

1. Stop – Cease from work and striving. Let go of to-do lists and trust that God holds everything in His hands.
2. Rest – Reconnect with God through stillness and refresh your body and soul.
3. Delight – Spend time doing things that bring you joy—whether that’s enjoying a meal, taking a walk in nature, or spending time with loved ones.
4. Worship – Reflect on God’s goodness and spend time in gratitude.

This simple rhythm of stopping, resting, delighting, and worshiping will help you experience God’s presence in a deeper way.

These practices open us to God’s transforming work for our lives as we journey with Jesus as His apprentices.

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The goal and purposes of these practices is not to add more to our week or burden us. The goal is to help us learn, live, and love like Jesus. It’s to help us live a life of more as Apprentices of the one who came with the intention of showing us what Kingdom living really looks like! He is inviting us to slow down, create spaces to be with Him, and be transformed into so much more than we can ever imagine.

How Comer wrapped this all up in the section “Becoming Like Jesus” has stuck with me:

“Something approaching Christlikeness is possible in this life. It really is. We can be healed, we can be set free of broken patterns that stretch back generations, we can be transformed into people who are genuinely pervaded by love and joy and peace. Our souls can throb with the bliss of union with God. Our bodies can become temples; our neighborhoods, holy ground; our days, eternity in time; our moments, miracles.

All in good time. For now, the master’s call is simple: Follow me.”

As we practice these disciplines, especially Sabbath, we begin to align our lives with God’s rhythm and in doing so, we allow Him to renew our hearts and minds.