Recommended Time: 95 minutes

1. Watch The Chosen Episode 1.2. (40 min)

2. Consider the following context: In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Sabbath is a time of rest. We rest because God rested. We rest to refresh our souls, to know God better. This episode portrays how various characters understand and practice the Sabbath.

3. Quietly reflect or journal on either of the sets of questions below or combine them to fit your group’s needs. (15 min)

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1. Reflecting on your habits in the past several months, what does rest mean to you and why do you rest?
2. How do you find your habits of resting similar or not to the following:
  a. Matthew has no one with whom he can spend Sabbath time in a meaningful way.
  b. Nicodemus fulfills his religious Sabbath time obligations while longing for greater meaning.
  c. Peter spends this time doing desperate work, even though it is questionable to his wife.
  d.Mary follows her desire for rest by returning to herself and involving those who are on the margins.
3. Is there anything else from the episode that puzzles, moves, or surprises you? How so?
1. Reflecting on your habits in the past several months, what does rest mean to you and why do you rest?
2. To what extent do you allow God to surprise you as you rest? How so?
3. Is there anything else from the episode that puzzles, moves, or surprises you? How so?

4. Break into small groups and share answers to your questions above. (30 min)

5. Reconvene with the large group and discuss the following large group questions below. (10 min)

Is there an insight that came up from your small group that you think the large group can benefit from?
Is there a question you’d like to pose to everyone in the large group?

Source: The Chosen