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Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play
What is the meaning and purpose of human life?
Founded on Biblical revelation and in the context of the Church’s confession, Day 7 makes the case that God created humans both to work and to practice true leisure. Along with exploring the challenge of human work, the classic understanding of leisure as contemplation and festival celebration is presented and embraced.
Drawing on the insights of Martin Luther, these apparently contradictory conceptions of human purpose are brought together in the idea of the receptive life, which, it is argued, is the right way to keep sabbath.
Founded on Biblical revelation and in the context of the Church’s confession, Day 7 makes the case that God created humans both to work and to practice true leisure. Along with exploring the challenge of human work, the classic understanding of leisure as contemplation and festival celebration is presented and embraced.
Drawing on the insights of Martin Luther, these apparently contradictory conceptions of human purpose are brought together in the idea of the receptive life, which, it is argued, is the right way to keep sabbath.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2024
18 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 16, 2024
This was such a joyfully written book. I appreciate how Dr. Biermann convincingly asserts that all of life's good things to do can be done in accordance with the sabbath. When we live in harmony with how God wants humans to live, in relation to Him and in relation to each other, then we are keeping the sabbath. This can include work, leisure (or contemplation), and play. I will strive to change my mindset to not feel guilty over "wasting time" when I am lost in the enjoyment of God's good gifts, whether it is work (of any kind), contemplation, or play.
July 3, 2024
Thoughtful insights that got me rethinking not just Sunday morning but how we incorporate a Sabbath perspective into all our work, rest, and play!
September 27, 2024
I really looked forward to reading this book and wanted so badly to love it. Unfortunately, it was overly confusing and wordy from the start, and left me struggling to understand the third commandment at all. Biermann seems to have taken a complete departure from a Lutheran understanding (and therefore, a scriptural understanding) of “remembering the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy,” and disappointingly, this humble layperson was left with more questions than answers. I plan to go back to Luther’s catechisms, small and large, in order to shore up my understanding and quiet my conscience.
I think perhaps Biermann has some philosophical theories that don’t sit squarely within the church body he espouses (much like my confusion when reading Richard Rohr), and he tried desperately to house those philosophies under a title and premise that Concordia Publishing House would accept. I don’t disagree with his ideas about living the Christian life, I just don’t understand how they fit under (or replace) our long-standing, biblically-shaped concept of “Day 7” or sabbath. It all just fell flat and smacked of inauthenticity for me.
I think perhaps Biermann has some philosophical theories that don’t sit squarely within the church body he espouses (much like my confusion when reading Richard Rohr), and he tried desperately to house those philosophies under a title and premise that Concordia Publishing House would accept. I don’t disagree with his ideas about living the Christian life, I just don’t understand how they fit under (or replace) our long-standing, biblically-shaped concept of “Day 7” or sabbath. It all just fell flat and smacked of inauthenticity for me.
August 28, 2024
[The following is from a feature of my congregation's monthly newsletter].
What is the Sabbath? Most Christians will have a brief answer like, “The Sabbath is the Lord’s Day, a day of rest reserved to hear God’s Word.” At its least, the Sabbath is a day for bodily and spiritual rest, but in Joel Biermann’s new book, you will learn that the Sabbath offers much more. The Biblical teaching about the Sabbath is about the meaning and purpose of your entire life. He explains that “God’s rest…is the fullness of the rhythm of life in all of its complexity. It is the celebration of the Creator and every creature living in harmony according to God’s plan. His masterwork begun and celebrated in Genesis, will be perfected and exploded into exquisite full bloom at the eschatological fulfillment when Christ returns to the world he redeemed. This is the fullness of Sabbath rest.”
As you may infer from the above quote, unpacking Dr. Biermann’s discussion of the Sabbath may require time, but I promise you it’s worth your attention. This book will cause most readers to reevaluate how they define the Sabbath. The Lord’s Sabbath is not just a day of the week; it is a reality that transforms our worldview and way of life so we are receptive to God’s gifts of creation and salvation. It means living in harmony with God, our neighbors, and the creation every day of the week. The Sabbath calls us to be receptive to the Lord’s work in every aspect of our lives and to understand life as God’s gift.
“Day 7” is an extensive discussion of the gifts that God’s Sabbath bestows upon us as we receive them by faith. In this volume, you will learn how the Scriptures teach us to live grounded in truth, goodness, and beauty. You will learn how true leisure is much more than lazing in a hammock or playing a board game. You will learn how the Sabbath is the antidote to the modern problems of cynicism and feelings of meaninglessness. In fact, Dr. Biermann will explain how Sabbath leads to festive optimism and certainty of purpose. You’ll also learn how Sabbath can relieve anxiety and overcome selfishness so we live outside ourselves towards God in faith and towards our neighbor in love. In short, this book will show you how living the Sabbath life as God intends is not relegated to Sunday, but it also includes leisure and play, worship and celebration, and even daily work. I highly recommend this book. It helped me to delight in God’s will for every facet of life, and in so doing, it deepened my rest in His Sabbath.
What is the Sabbath? Most Christians will have a brief answer like, “The Sabbath is the Lord’s Day, a day of rest reserved to hear God’s Word.” At its least, the Sabbath is a day for bodily and spiritual rest, but in Joel Biermann’s new book, you will learn that the Sabbath offers much more. The Biblical teaching about the Sabbath is about the meaning and purpose of your entire life. He explains that “God’s rest…is the fullness of the rhythm of life in all of its complexity. It is the celebration of the Creator and every creature living in harmony according to God’s plan. His masterwork begun and celebrated in Genesis, will be perfected and exploded into exquisite full bloom at the eschatological fulfillment when Christ returns to the world he redeemed. This is the fullness of Sabbath rest.”
As you may infer from the above quote, unpacking Dr. Biermann’s discussion of the Sabbath may require time, but I promise you it’s worth your attention. This book will cause most readers to reevaluate how they define the Sabbath. The Lord’s Sabbath is not just a day of the week; it is a reality that transforms our worldview and way of life so we are receptive to God’s gifts of creation and salvation. It means living in harmony with God, our neighbors, and the creation every day of the week. The Sabbath calls us to be receptive to the Lord’s work in every aspect of our lives and to understand life as God’s gift.
“Day 7” is an extensive discussion of the gifts that God’s Sabbath bestows upon us as we receive them by faith. In this volume, you will learn how the Scriptures teach us to live grounded in truth, goodness, and beauty. You will learn how true leisure is much more than lazing in a hammock or playing a board game. You will learn how the Sabbath is the antidote to the modern problems of cynicism and feelings of meaninglessness. In fact, Dr. Biermann will explain how Sabbath leads to festive optimism and certainty of purpose. You’ll also learn how Sabbath can relieve anxiety and overcome selfishness so we live outside ourselves towards God in faith and towards our neighbor in love. In short, this book will show you how living the Sabbath life as God intends is not relegated to Sunday, but it also includes leisure and play, worship and celebration, and even daily work. I highly recommend this book. It helped me to delight in God’s will for every facet of life, and in so doing, it deepened my rest in His Sabbath.
July 29, 2025
I really wanted to like this book and was looking forward to reading it before it was released.
There is a good book buried in here, but unfortunately it has nothing to do with the one it's advertised as being.
Biermann explores the idea of "Vita Receptiva," leading a life receptive to the Lord, and makes some really interesting points about it.
Unfortunately, he decides to call this concept he's exploring "Sabbath life," and saddles on it ideas that are contrary to scripture. Big words and foreign languages are slathered on the discussion, covering the lack of scriptural backing.
Were Biermann to take this book, cut it in half, and remove his anemic discussion of Sabbath in favor of doing justice to the idea of Vita Receptiva, that might be a four-star book. But Day 7 is neither a good book nor a book about Sabbath.
There is a good book buried in here, but unfortunately it has nothing to do with the one it's advertised as being.
Biermann explores the idea of "Vita Receptiva," leading a life receptive to the Lord, and makes some really interesting points about it.
Unfortunately, he decides to call this concept he's exploring "Sabbath life," and saddles on it ideas that are contrary to scripture. Big words and foreign languages are slathered on the discussion, covering the lack of scriptural backing.
Were Biermann to take this book, cut it in half, and remove his anemic discussion of Sabbath in favor of doing justice to the idea of Vita Receptiva, that might be a four-star book. But Day 7 is neither a good book nor a book about Sabbath.
December 12, 2025
The author does an excellent job offering correctives for the prevailing Christian understanding of Sabbath, based both out of Scripture and the Small Catechism of Martin Luther. From there, he launches into an approachable but thoroughly academic of Sabbath by examining its' components.
The only reason I offered this book 4 instead of 5 stars is that at times the book felt a bit redundant. In some areas the author said the same thing in several different ways, which is very systematically thorough of him and may be helpful for the laity to which this is new content, but as someone who has had the privilege of being lectured in class by the author, the redundancy left the reader either wanting something new to chew on or to not to have to chew on it for so long.
The only reason I offered this book 4 instead of 5 stars is that at times the book felt a bit redundant. In some areas the author said the same thing in several different ways, which is very systematically thorough of him and may be helpful for the laity to which this is new content, but as someone who has had the privilege of being lectured in class by the author, the redundancy left the reader either wanting something new to chew on or to not to have to chew on it for so long.
January 29, 2025
Thorough presentation…mind expanding read!
It took me a while to complete this read even though the author had stated the book was intended for “you people”, meaning at the time he was addressing us, for those of us that walk at a distance from educated theologians. He builds the case that Sabbath living is so much more than how we look at and treat the week’s seventh day. In the process, not unlike Jesus, the author confronts and contradicts commonly accepted current day cultural norms. The author has helped me understand what living the Christian life really is.
It took me a while to complete this read even though the author had stated the book was intended for “you people”, meaning at the time he was addressing us, for those of us that walk at a distance from educated theologians. He builds the case that Sabbath living is so much more than how we look at and treat the week’s seventh day. In the process, not unlike Jesus, the author confronts and contradicts commonly accepted current day cultural norms. The author has helped me understand what living the Christian life really is.
April 16, 2025
Fantastic
Dr. Biermann lays out a brilliant case for the reevaluation and practice of Sabbath. He expands the reader’s understanding of what Sabbath was meant to be, looking at historical deficiencies in our approach to Sabbath and providing thoughtful reflection on how to live in sync with God’s design. Whether you’re a professional church worker, a lay leader, or simply a student of the Scriptures looking for faithful and unique insight on this topic, this book is a must read for you!!
Dr. Biermann lays out a brilliant case for the reevaluation and practice of Sabbath. He expands the reader’s understanding of what Sabbath was meant to be, looking at historical deficiencies in our approach to Sabbath and providing thoughtful reflection on how to live in sync with God’s design. Whether you’re a professional church worker, a lay leader, or simply a student of the Scriptures looking for faithful and unique insight on this topic, this book is a must read for you!!
February 6, 2025
This was a great exploration of the Sabbath. A more robust understanding than is usually presented. Dr. Biermann makes a good case for a right understanding of the Sabbath that isn't hung up on legalism and establishing boundaries, but a delight in our creatureliness and the reception of all that God gives us to do and enjoy.
This book is quite accessible, even for the lay-reader. I commend it to you all.
One of the better books published by CPH in recent years.
This book is quite accessible, even for the lay-reader. I commend it to you all.
One of the better books published by CPH in recent years.
January 15, 2025
I would read a whole book focused on Dr. Biermann exploring the ideas of sleep and beauty alone. Quite fascinating and inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews