Every year, New Student Outreach is intense. Every year, it is tempting to ignore our own spiritual lives, in the midst of meeting 100 new friends. This year (and every year) we must heed God’s command to rest and sabbath, to both honor God, and to feed our souls. As you get ready for an intense week of outreach, read Genesis 2 and prepare to practice sabbath as well.

<aside> 📖 Genesis 2:1-3 (NIV) Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

</aside>

God “took a sabbath” on the 7th day in order to celebrate all that was “very good.” He also models for us a healthy balance between work and rest.

• What do you like about this description of God in Gen. 2?

<aside> 📖 Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

</aside>

• Some people have a hard time ceasing work and practicing the sabbath. Why might this be? What might keep you from ceasing work one day a week?
• Why might God have set this model of work and rest?

God has made us for both work and rest. As we reach out and bring the Kingdom to our online mission field we reflect God's work in creation. In six days, God set up all of creation, and yet, we know that creation's flourishing was not finished on the sixth day. In fact, God's command to humans to go and multiply and have dominion over creation shows us that what God set in motion was far from over. Yet, God pauses and rests knowing that on the 8th day there is more to be done. God gives us the connection between work and rest and established a pattern for the benefit of us and of all creation.

<aside> 🔥 Sabbath can be an excuse to distract yourself, or sabbath can be a joyful experience of following the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you now about both rest and work.

</aside>

• [ ] Schedule your weekly sabbath.
• [ ] Post content highlighting your community and values 2-3 times this week. Click here for more info.
• [ ] Using your Chapter Instagram Account, begin following students from “class of” groups, clubs, and niche groups. Respond immediately to students who follow back from Chapter Instagram Account.*
• [ ] Empower students to join the effort. Make sure to give the IG credentials to each student.