Worship: The Lord's Day
INTRODUCTION: The observance of the Lord's Day as a day of worship and service to the Lord is of New Testament origin. In Old Testament days, under the Law of Moses, God‘s people observed the "Sabbath." It is necessary therefore to deal in this lesson with the passing of the Old and the establishment and significance of the New.
I. The Sabbath:
1. Why it was observed:
a. Because of Israel‘s deliverance from bondage (Deut. 5:15).
b. Given after J ehovah‘s deliverance of Israel (Deut. 5:3).
c. It was an institution then only of the Mosaic dispensation and was not observed during the
Patriarchy.
2. By whom observed:
a. It was a sign between God and Israel (Ex. 31:13-17).
b. It was not a sign between God and all nations, but was designated as a special sign between
God and the Jews.
3. The Sabbath ended:
a. Some contend "a perpetual covenant," therefore would not end (EX. 31 :16).
1. The Sabbath no more perpetual than incense and animal sacrifice(Ex. 30:8; Num 28:1-10).
2. Sabbath was a perpetual "sign" between God and Israel as His chosen people, but
when Israel ended, the Sabbath ended, the end of Israel as a nation (Amos 8:2-10)
a. Fulfillment (Matt. 27:45-46; Lk. 23:44-45; Jn. 19:30).
b. The end ofthe Sabbath prophesied (Hosea 2:11). Fulfilled (Col. 2:14-17).
c. The covenant with Israel including the Ten Commandments has been annulled
(Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:6-9; Rom. 7:1-7; II Cor. 3:7-13; Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28).
d. Those justifying themselves in Sabbath keeping or anything else by the law
are severed from Christ and fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).
II. The Lord's Day:
1. Its significance:
a. Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week: "the first day," "the same day," "the
third day," all refer to the same day (Mk. 16:9; Lk. 24:1, 13, 20-21, 46).
b. Jesus met with the disciples on the first day of the week (Jn. 20:1, 19, Z6).
c. The Church established on Pentecost (Acts 2). Pentecost always came on the first day
(Lev. 23:15-16).
d. The Holy Spirit came on the first day (Acts 2:14).
e. The Gospel began to be preached (Acts 2:22-36).
f. Called "The Lord‘s Day" (Rev. 1:10).
2. Its observance:
a. The New Testament Church assembled for worship (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2).
b. Breaking of bread, the chief purpose of the first day assembly (Acts 20:7).
1. This assembly not to be forsaken (Heb. 10:25-26).
2. "The first day of the week" means every first day just as "the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy"
means every Sabbath day.
3. Breaking of bread referred to Lord‘s supper (I Cor. 10:16-17; Acts 2:42).
c. Observance of the Lord‘s Day should be in the spirit of the day.
1. The events taking place on a day determine the spirit of it: Fourth of July, Armistice Day.
2. Therefore, fishing, picnicking, ball playing, and Worldly amusement seeking are not in
keeping with the proper observance of the Lord's Day (Rev. 1:10).
Questions For Discussion:
1. The Lord‘s Day originated when? Where revealed?
2. Why and when was the Sabbath given?
3. It was a sign between Whom?
4. How were the Sabbath, burning of incense, and bumt offerings perpetual?
5. When did the Sabbath end; when taken out of the way?
6. What is the penalty of Sabbath observance(Gal. 5:4)?
7. Why is the Lord's Day so significant?
8. Upon what day did the early disciples meet; for what purpose?
9. How should this day be observed?
10. Should every Lord's Day be observed?