Episode Overview

Title: Finding Trust Rest In Christ | Part 2
Host: Derek Grier (Derek Grier Ministries)
Date: September 1, 2025

In this episode, Dr. Derek Grier delves deep into the biblical principle of "rest"—not merely as a day of the week, but as a state of trusting in Christ’s finished work. Using the story of Jesus and the Sabbath from Luke 6, Dr. Grier explores how believers can find genuine peace and confidence by understanding and embracing the true meaning of Sabbath rest in the New Covenant. With engaging teaching, practical wisdom, and memorable illustrations, Dr. Grier encourages listeners to move from legalistic religion to a vibrant faith grounded in trust and grace.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesus’ Priorities and the Significance of Time (00:10–04:20)

• Jesus’ Example of Busyness & Prioritization:
  Dr. Grier paints a vivid picture of Jesus’ schedule between Sabbaths. Jesus spent his time focused on "setting people like you and me free" (00:30).
  • "If you really want to know what's important to a person, look at two things. First, look at how they spend their time. But secondly, look at how they spend their money." — Dr. Grier (00:42)
• Intentional Living:
  Encourages listeners to not just prioritize what's on their schedule but to intentionally schedule their real priorities, especially in relationships and family.

2. Provision, Humility, and God’s Guidance (04:21–09:00)

• Law of Moses & Generosity:
  Explains Deuteronomy 23:25, where God allows people to glean from a neighbor's field to ensure no one goes hungry:
  • "God didn't want anyone in his kingdom to go hungry. He didn't want it then, and he doesn't want it now." — Dr. Grier (05:10)
• Balancing Generosity and Wisdom:
  Distinguishes between using your hand (taking what you need) and not a sickle (not exploiting generosity).
• Receiving Help with Humility:
  Highlights how God often provides in ways that require humility, using practical examples from his own life:
  • "God wisely designs most of the doors in my life just low enough I must humble myself and bow my head to him before I enter." — Dr. Grier (08:30)

3. Legalism vs. the Spirit of the Law (09:01–15:30)

• Conflict with the Pharisees:
  The Pharisees challenge Jesus’ disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, equating it with breaking the law.
• Jesus' Stance on Legalism:
  Dr. Grier explains Jesus’ resistance to man-made rules that were added to God's original command:
  • "Jesus never violated the laws God gave to Moses for the Sabbath. But what Jesus did is he intentionally broke legalistic rules that were added to the law of Moses." — Dr. Grier (10:36)
• Modern Legalism Example:
  Relates how even in recent times, rigid legalism led to tragic consequences (the story of the burning buildings in Israel, 11:00).
• The "Golden Rule" of Bible Interpretation:
  • "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest you end up with a bunch of nonsense." — Dr. Grier (12:28)

4. Sarcasm, Teaching, and Recognizing Christ (15:31–22:00)

• Jesus Challenges Pharisees’ Knowledge:
  Points out Jesus’ sarcasm when he asks, "Have you not read this?"
  • "Never ever try to lecture Jesus about the Bible. After all, he is its inspiration." — Dr. Grier (12:45)
  • "Sarcasm is the body's natural response to stupid." — Dr. Grier (14:02)
• David and the Showbread:
  Jesus draws a parallel between himself and David, emphasizing that moral need overrides ceremonial law.
• Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law:
  Mercy and human need take precedence over ritual sacrifice—"mercy is a higher law than cleanliness" (18:32).

5. The Heart of the Law: Mercy Above Sacrifice (22:01–25:45)

• Real-Life Application:
  Uses an analogy about helping someone in need, even if it means soiling your church shirt (18:25).
• Principle over Rule:
  • "If we understand the principles behind the rules, everything else becomes easy." — Dr. Grier (22:20)
• Jesus’ Radical Summation of the Law:
  • "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Love God, love your neighbor.) (22:45)

6. Jesus’ Deity and the Lord of the Sabbath (25:46–29:50)

• Jesus Claims Deity:
  • "Yet I say to you that in this place there is one greater than the temple." — Dr. Grier (25:50)
  • "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath. Imagine that. Jesus is saying, 'I own a whole day.'" — Dr. Grier (28:08)
• Logic of Christ’s Identity:
  Presents the classic "Lunatic, Liar, or Lord" trilemma:
  • "Christ either deceived mankind by conscious fraud, or... he was himself deluded and deceived, or... he was divine." — Dr. Grier referencing John Duncan (24:58)

7. True Sabbath Rest—Finished Work and Trust (29:51–32:45)

• The Original Sabbath and Its Fulfillment:
  Sabbath was unique, because no "evening and morning" phrase marks its end (31:20).
  • "When you realize everything you need, God has already provided, you'll be able to enter into rest too." — Dr. Grier (29:58)
• Rest is a State, Not a Ritual:
  • "The rest that God ultimately has for us is not confined to a 24 hour day. It's supposed to be every single day of our lives." — Dr. Grier (31:55)
• The Cross as the New Sabbath:
  Jesus’ "It is finished" signals rest for the believer—no longer toil, but trust.
• Faith Produces True Rest:
  Real confidence and rest springs from full trust in Christ’s finished work, not our efforts:
  • "The reason we're so tired and exhausted, because we don't trust the cross. We trust what we see." — Dr. Grier (30:55)
• Practical Illustration:
  Like parents prepare a nursery before a baby arrives, God has provided everything we need in advance. It is accessed by trust, not striving.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you really want to know what's important to a person, look at two things. First, look at how they spend their time. But secondly, look at how they spend their money." — Dr. Grier (00:42)
• "Wherever God guides, he provides. And if he's not providing, check whether or not he's guiding your lifestyle choices." — Dr. Grier (05:22)
• "Never ever try to lecture Jesus about the Bible. After all, he is its inspiration." — Dr. Grier (12:45)
• "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest you end up with a bunch of nonsense." — Dr. Grier (12:28)
• "It's not about the rule, it's about the love." — Dr. Grier (21:32)
• "Mercy is a higher law than cleanliness." — Dr. Grier (18:32)
• "Jesus is saying, 'I own a whole day.' I mean, who owns a day? Even the federal government doesn't own the day." — Dr. Grier (28:08)
• "When you realize everything you need, God has already provided, you'll be able to enter into rest too." — Dr. Grier (29:58)
• "The rest that God ultimately has for us is not confined to a 24 hour day. It's supposed to be every single day of our lives where we cease from our own work." — Dr. Grier (31:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jesus’ Priorities & Schedule: 00:10–04:20
• God’s Provision & Humility: 04:21–09:00
• Legalism vs. True Obedience: 09:01–15:30
• Scripture Interpretation & Sarcasm: 12:28–14:02
• David, the Showbread & Principle of Mercy: 15:31–22:00
• Heart of the Law: 22:01–25:45
• Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath: 25:46–29:50
• Ultimate Sabbath Rest in Christ: 29:51–32:45

Conclusion

Dr. Grier's teaching in this episode moves listeners beyond mere religious rule-keeping to the heart of New Testament faith—a living trust in Jesus’ finished work. Through Bible exposition, practical stories, and memorable analogies, the theme emerges: true Sabbath rest is found not in rigid observance, but in abiding trust, humility, and living from the reality that "it is finished." Those who receive this rest can live every day with confidence, purpose, and peace.