Introduction

We live in an age when many are raising the question, “Why do I need the church?” “Why do I need to attend the services of the church?” Various answers are given, but for many, their answer is clear—they feel no need of being in church on a regular basis.

§ For some, they have concluded that to turn on the Sunday morning religious programs on television is all that is needed to worship God.

§ Some feel that Sunday is a good family day. They substitute a day at home, or at the park, as a good way to spend their day off.

§ Others choose to work in their yard, work on the car, clean house, or what ever else needs doing.

So what does the Bible say about taking time off from other activities, and worshipping God?

Body

I. What is the history of a day off for worship?

A. The first day off was Saturday, the Sabbath Day.

1. God set it apart as a holy day.

2. It included a holy meeting.

(Exodus 20:11 KJV) “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

(Exo 20:11 NIV) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

3. It included a holy meeting.

(Lev 23:3 NKJV) 'Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

(Lev 23:3 NIV) "'There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

C. But what about Sunday?

1. Is it correct to call it the “Christian Sabbath”?

a. The Sabbath is the seventh day, and always has been.

b. The Sabbath had strict rules that were strictly enforced.

(Num 15:32-36 NKJV) Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. {33} And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.. {35} Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." {36} So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

2. Why do we worship on Sunday?

a. Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week.

(Mark 16:2 NKJV) Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

b. The first “gospel sermon” was preached on Pentecost which was Sunday.

c. The disciples gathered to break bread on Sunday.

(Acts 20:7 NKJV) Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

d. The offering was taken on the first day of the week.

(1 Cor 16:1-2 NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

3. What else can be said about the Sabbath?

a. Paul said we were not to be judged according to Sabbaths.

(Col 2:16-17 NKJV) So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, {17} which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

b. He wrote of some freedom in observing days in general.

(Rom 14:5-6 NKJV) One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. {6} He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

II. What are the aspects of our worship service?

1. Our songs are to be to God.

2. Our songs and our prayers need to be with understanding.

(Eph 5:19 NKJV) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

a. Our singing to God may not be with the most beautiful voice.

There is the story of a group of monks who had a song service every evening as part of their evening devotionals. One day a professional singer visited them, and they asked him to sing for them. They all kept silent so as not to take from the beauty of his singing. That night one of the monks had a dream of an angel who asked him where the beautiful singing was that evening. The monk said, I don’t understand. Our singing is usually terrible as none of us can sing very well, but tonight we had a professional, and his singing was beautiful. The angel replied, “But in heaven, we heard nothing.”

We are to be making melody in your heart to the Lord,

3. Our singing is also to be to each other.

(Eph 5:19 NKJV) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

(Col 3:16 NKJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

a. We cannot admonish one another if we are not together.

b. When we come together, it should be of mutual benefit to each other as we worship God.

4. Our songs and our prayers need to be with understanding.

(1 Cor 14:15-16 NKJV) What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. {16} Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

a. Do we really mean the words we are singing, or do we just sing them because they are beautiful?

b. Do we understand what we are singing?

Conclusion

I. God’s Sabbath day was strictly enforced.

II. Today, will we cheerfully give Him the day of devotion He so richly deserves.

III. Will we worship Him in Spirit and in truth?

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