To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:
Download, copy, and distribute the “It’s a Sign!” reproducible page. Download it here.
Divide class members into groups and have groups read the cited Scripture passages. They will try to summarize what each passage says about the meaning of the Sabbath and how it relates to each symbol.
Group answers will vary, but you will want the following points to be understood:
Exodus 31:13, 14; 1 Peter 1:14-16—God gave the Jews a special day different from others, which they recognized as set apart (holy) for God. A Sabbath gives us time to consider how we need to live lives that are set apart for service to God.
Exodus 31:16—The Sabbath observance was a part of the Old Covenant and did not change from week to week. It was a “forever” practice, an observance that did not change, illustrating God’s unchanging love.
Exodus 31:17, 18; Mark 2:27—The Sabbath recognized that even God stopped his work to rest. This example was set so people would recognize their need to rest, recharge, and be renewed.
To encourage personal application:
Say: “Setting aside a day to rest does not mean doing absolutely nothing. How boring! Rather a day of rest can be filled with activities that renew and restore one after a week of work. What might such activities be?”
Help the class brainstorm a list of activities that would be appropriate for a day of rest and renewal. Some suggestions would be: share a family meal, visit friends or shut-ins, enjoy flipping through old scrapbooks and photo albums, listen to worship music, read a Sunday school take-home paper cover-to-cover, listen to Scripture on CD, write letters, turn off distractions (TV, computers).
After completing a list, ask class members to review it, looking for one or two activities to incorporate in a personal Sabbath observance.