The most radical thing your church can do right now isn’t launching another ministry, starting a new service, or expanding your campus. It’s the Sabbath.
In a world so informed by Christian culture, sometimes it’s surprising to reflect on what it means to model Jesus, and to realize that modeling Him still requires us to stand out in the modern world. We don’t talk about the Sabbath much in modern ministry and that’s why it deserves our attention. Our society glorifies hustle and productivity, to the point where it’s even become a part of the church’s daily rhythms. That means stopping to reflect might be the most countercultural act of faith we can make.
It’s worth stating, even with how many times it’s been said before: the Sabbath is NOT about laziness, and it’s not a day off because you’re exhausted. It’s a weekly declaration that says, “God, You’re in charge, not me.”
If you carry a large amount of responsibility at your church, you’re a bi-vocational pastor, or you just have family and other responsibilities to tend to, the Sabbath can be a massive challenge. Stepping away from the noise might at first feel like you’re letting someone down. And if you truly can’t do it, it might be time to hire that assistant to take on some of your responsibility and task management.
The truth is, this is necessary for you. God modeled rest before sin ever entered the world. Not because He needed it, but because we do. So, if you can’t rest, can you really pastor a congregation and encourage them to rest too?
It’s no mystery as to why many pastors feel they can’t rest. There’s always another sermon to prepare, another message to respond to, another pressing question from a congregant, and another event that needs your attention. With modern fast-paced culture, we often treat ministry like a machine to tend to, instead of a calling to answer, and it’s tempting to believe that it will malfunction without us.
But that’s not faith, that’s fear. Ministry should not always be about production, preparation, and performance. To put all of our energy in that is to put our worth in what we can control, instead of allowing God to take control. The Sabbath disrupts and replaces this fear. Getting lost in our to-do lists can undo the very things we’re trying to accomplish in our productivity. We can burn ourselves out, leaving so little in our souls to function as disciples of God, much less shepherds of His people. How often do we try to avoid stress by tackling our stressors, instead of taking time away from them?
I realize the idea of Sabbath feels almost impossible today. We live in a fast-paced world that never shuts off. Notifications, meetings, and ministry emergencies don’t respect your calendar. So how do we find the rest that allows us to preach from overflow and not depletion? When you rest, you lead from trust. It’s not just one of the most effective ways to feed your soul, but also to model leadership. When you stop working, take time away from the things you have to, you’re preaching a sermon without words, one that speaks to the heart of the Sabbath: God sustains our lives, and our efforts apart from reliance on Him are in vain.
So how do you embody the Sabbath in an age of constant connection? Start by choosing a consistent day and consistent time, even if it’s not Sunday. Protect that time like you would a meeting with a family in need of encouragement, a large donor asking about your vision, or a staff member who needs discipleship. Because this is a meeting with your Creator, a period of time to give Him your full attention. In this time, do things that restore you. Worship. Go outside. Spend time with your family. Read Scripture slowly, not for sermon prep, but for your soul. Seek wisdom in the quiet, in the stillness.
And this is the easy part because it’s so embedded in who you are. Teach the Sabbath. Encourage your congregation to practice the Sabbath with you. I’m sure you realize most people in your church are exhausted, running on empty, and trying to find peace in their productivity. What if your church became known not just for what you do, but for how you rest?
This is the prayer of a true leader: “Lord, even when I’m not working, You still are. And I surrender my schedule, my efforts, and my ministry to You.” That’s the kind of faith that can reshape an entire community. Certainly there is a place for tending to the tasks your week demands of you. But when pastors live rested and surrender the Sabbath, their churches follow. When leaders honor God’s rhythm, their people learn to live in it. And out of this rest flows generosity, creativity, and spiritual health that no amount of busyness can produce.
Jesus withdrew to the mountain to take time away from the crowds. Even the Son of God knew he couldn’t sustain Himself without being poured into by the Father. In many ways, Jesus shows us that resting is a greater challenge than working. But it’s a discipline that every pastor should embody.
Ultimately, the world doesn’t need a busier church. It needs a rested one, one that’s prepared to invite people into a mission that isn’t driven by performance, but by grace.