Pressing Pause: Starting Sabbath

Pressing Pause: Starting Sabbath

From Covenant & Conflict by Gateway Center for Israel

March 4, 2026 · 46 min · Season 2 · Episode 34

About this episode

This episode explores the significance of the Sabbath for modern Christians through the insights of Michael Hirsh.

Are modern Christians missing the gift of the Sabbath? In a world addicted to productivity, burnout, and constant noise, what if the Fourth Commandment isn’t a burden, but an invitation? In this episode of Covenant & Conflict , we sit down with Michael Hirsh, author of Pressing Pause: A Guide to Sabbath Rest for Modern Believers , to explore how rediscovering Shabbat transformed his faith, marriage, and ministry. Michael shares his radical conversion story from growing up without faith in Michigan to leaving the dream of baseball behind to pursue Jesus. But the real turning point came years later in Jerusalem, during a Shabbat dinner that he describes as a “Damascus moment.” What he discovered about the command to “Remember the Sabbath” changed everything. This episode unpacks: What the Fourth Commandment really means Why Sabbath is not legalism The burnout epidemic in modern Christianity How Shabbat restores identity and communion with God Practical steps to start observing Sabbath today If you are a pastor, leader, high achiever, or simply exhausted… this conversation may be exactly what your soul needs.

People in this episode

Guest: Michael Hirsh

Topics covered

  • Sabbath
  • Christianity
  • burnout
  • faith
  • identity
  • communion with God

Keywords

  • Sabbath
  • Fourth Commandment
  • Shabbat
  • burnout
  • faith transformation
  • Christian spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Pressing Pause: A Guide to Sabbath Rest for Modern Believers

Places: Michigan, Jerusalem

More episodes of Covenant & Conflict

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Covenant & Conflict podcast page.