{"product_id":"keeping-the-sabbath-wholly-book-marva-j-dawn-9780802804570","title":"Keeping the Sabbath Wholly","description":"But I don't\u003ci\u003e wanna\u003c\/i\u003e go to church  Marva Dawn has often heard that cry--and not only from children. What a sad commentary it is on North American spirituality, she writes, that the delight of 'keeping the Sabbath day' has degenerated into the routine and drudgery--even the downright oppressiveness--of 'going to church.' \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e According to Dawn, the phrase going to church both reveals and promotes bad theology: it suggests that the church is a static place when in fact the church is the \u003ci\u003epeople of God\u003c\/i\u003e. The regular gathering together of God's people for worship is important--it enables them to\u003ci\u003e be church\u003c\/i\u003e in the world--but the act of worship is only a small part of observing the Sabbath. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This refreshing book invites the reader to experience the wholeness and joy that come from observing God's order for life--a rhythm of working six days and setting apart one day for rest, worship, festivity, and relationships. Dawn develops a four-part pattern for keeping the Sabbath: (1)\u003ci\u003eceasing\u003c\/i\u003e--not only from work but also from productivity, anxiety, worry, possessiveness, and so on; (2) \u003ci\u003eresting\u003c\/i\u003e-- of the body as well as the mind, emotions, and spirit--a wholistic rest; (3) \u003ci\u003eembracing\u003c\/i\u003e--deliberately taking hold of Christian values, of our calling in life, of the wholeness God offers us; (4) \u003ci\u003efeasting\u003c\/i\u003e--celebrating God and his goodness in individual and corporate worship as well as feasting with beauty, music, food, affection, and social interaction. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Combining sound biblical theology and research into Jewish traditions with many practical suggestions, \u003ci\u003eKeeping the Sabbath Wholly\u003c\/i\u003e offers a healthy balance between head and heart: the book shows how theological insights can undergird daily life and practice, and it gives the reader both motivation and methods for \u003ci\u003eenjoying\u003c\/i\u003e a special holy day. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Dawn's work-- unpretentiously eloquent, refreshingly personal in tone, and rich with inspiring example--promotes the discipline of Sabbath-keeping not as a legalistic duty but as the way to freedom, delight, and joy. Christians and Jews, pastors and laypeople, individuals and small groups--all will benefit greatly from reading and discussing the book and putting its ideas into practice. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49563064303889,"sku":"GOR007168506","price":5.2,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49617454006545,"sku":"CIN0802804578G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":49889653063953,"sku":"CIN0802804578A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49895360626961,"sku":"CIN0802804578VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0802804578.jpg?v=1751433130","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/products\/keeping-the-sabbath-wholly-book-marva-j-dawn-9780802804570","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}