Making Time for Sabbath as a Pastor

“Remember the Sabbath day,” decrees the Fourth Commandment. “When you’re a pastor, how could you possibly forget?” is the snappy 21st-century comeback. Yet this command presents a special dilemma for church leaders. If you observe your Sabbath on the same day your congregation does, it’s almost impossible to experience rest and gladness and worship when your calling is to lead everyone else in worship that day.

The spirit of the law, however, is to observe one day a week in which you “cease your labors” (stop working!), and instead, rest and revel in the goodness and sufficiency of God. For pastors, that means finding a day other than the day of your sacred duties to fully enter into God’s rest. Below you’ll find advice for pastors to fulfill the spirit of this oft neglected but oh-so-sweet commandment.