Sleeping in Church

For quite some time now, we have been hearing how many people in our culture suffer from sleep deprivation. From problems with sleep apnea to simply staying up too late and getting up too early, our lack of sleep may be more of a significant health challenge than we realize! There are, in fact, places in the scriptures where sleep is associated with health and healing. When Jesus told the disciples on the way to Lazarus' home that their friend was asleep, they assumed that this was an indication that he was recovering from his illness. At other times, Jesus invited His disciples to join Him in a time of rest, or offered rest to those who followed Him.

There are of course other places where sleep is seen to be a bit more of a problem. In the parable of the ten young maidens that Jesus told in Matthew 25, they all scummed to sleep while waiting for the Bridegroom to come. And, when Jesus most needed His disciples to watch and pray with Him on the night before His crucifixion, the disciples were found asleep.

In the story Pastor Saul explores with us this week, sleep winds up playing a central role for the young man around whom much of the story seems to turn - a man who, like many of us, finds himself balancing in a window between two places - where the Word is heard, and the street below. That can be a precarious place to be if you're inclined to fall asleep! You can review the story in the passage to the right. And, if you would like to hear the sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.

Other interesting sleeping passages:

Acts 20:7-11 (TNIV)

7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.

Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.

Questions for Reflection:

In what ways is the ability to be able to "sleep" in the midst of so much that is going on a good thing?
In what ways are "sleepiness" as opposed to "being alert" and "paying attention," the stance we need to take? How do we encourage this in a way that is more grace motivated than anxiety motivated?
In what ways do we find ourselves in that "twilight zone" between being fully asleep and fully alert? Are you sitting in a window sill of your own?
Do you find encouragement from Paul's response to the sleepy young man? Something we can learn here?