It happened on a Sunday

“Show us one verse in the Bible that says to worship on a Sunday!” JUST ONE VERSE! “Show us one verse in the Bible that says to worship on a Sunday!” Any biblical basis for worshipping God on Sunday? SDA challenge to churches. Nearly 20 centuries… but is there any biblical support? On the other hand… IS THIS A MAJOR SALVATION ISSUE? SUNday… Blasphemous? Mark of the beast? Is God upset that people would worship Him on a Sunday? Does our salvation depend on getting the day right? Is salvation something that we do by worshipping on a certain day, or is it something that was done for us by Christ’s death on the cross? JUST ONE VERSE! MONEY FOR JUST ONE VERSE!!! RESPONSE: Show us one verse in the New Testament… SDA Challenge

JUST ONE VERSE! Counter Challenge “Show us one verse in the New Testament that we are to keep the Sabbath.” ----- Meeting Notes (10/26/14 09:28) ----- Show us one verse that says that we are still UNDER the law. No gat. But there are many verses which tell us that we are NO LONGER under the law. Counter Challenge

JUST ONE VERSE! Counter Challenge “Show us one verse in the Bible that says NOT to worship God on Sunday.” ----- Meeting Notes (10/26/14 09:28) ----- So, you still want a verse, huh? Counter Challenge

Feasts of Israel The Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3) The Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:5) The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10) The Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15) The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24) The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) The Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:34) ----- Meeting Notes (10/26/14 09:28) ----- Let's start in the Old Testament. Feasts of Israel

The feast of firstfruits The Feast of the Firstfruits took place at the beginning of the harvest time. It took place right after the Passover. The Passover was the great event of the Old Testament when God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. This was a time of thanksgiving to Almighty God who had delivered them from slavery and from Pharaoh's cruel hand. It was in anticipation -- expectation -- of the great harvest that God would give them. The Beginning of Harvest Time

The Feast of Firstfruits Leviticus 23:10-11 ESV "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, 11 and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. “On the day after the Sabbath” = Sunday The Feast of Firstfruits

The Feast of Firstfruits Thanksgiving for deliverance from Egypt Deuteronomy 26:10-11 ESV …And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to… (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). Deuteronomy 26:1-11 ESV "When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, 2 you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. 3 And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' 4 Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. 5 "And you shall make response before the LORD your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. 7 Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. 9 And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. The Feast of Firstfruits

The Feast of Firstfruits was on… Every year for 1,446 years, from the giving of the Law until the coming of Christ and until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit The Jews were commanded to celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits The day after the Sabbath of the Passover The Feast of Firstfruits was on…

“The day after the Sabbath” Shadow pointing to the reality. There was the Passover. The Passover lamb was slain. “The day after the Sabbath”

Christ’s resurrection… 1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. And on the Sunday after the Passover, they were to thank God for deliverance from Egypt. It was on that Sunday, the "day after the Sabbath," the day after the Sabbath of the Passover, that the Lamb that was slain was to be raised from the dead. At the Feast of the Firstfruits the wave offering was given in thanksgiving and in anticipation of the greater harvest that was to come in seven weeks, 50 days. It all pointed to Christ our firstfruits who would be raised from the dead just as we will be raised from the dead. Firstfruits: the first believers who received the Holy Spirit when the resurrected Christ breathed on them. 50 days later, the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the believers… Christ’s resurrection…

Christ’s resurrection… 1 Corinthians 15:23 ESV But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Christ’s resurrection…

Firstfruits… the first day Matthew 28:1 ESV Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Firstfruits… the first day

Firstfruits… the first day Mark 16:2 ESV And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. Firstfruits… the first day

Firstfruits… the first day Mark 16:9 ESV [Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. Firstfruits… the first day

Firstfruits… first day Luke 24:1 ESV But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. Firstfruits… first day

Firstfruits… first day John 20:1 ESV Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Firstfruits… first day

Firstfruits… first day John 20:19 ESV On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." Firstfruits… first day

Jesus chooses Sunday. Again. John 20:26 ESV Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Jesus chooses Sunday. Again.

The Lord arose from the grave (Mark 16:9). It happened on a Sunday.

Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Mat 28:1; Mark 16:9; John 20:1). It happened on a Sunday.

Jesus walked and talked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-31). It happened on a Sunday.

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30 ESV). It happened on a Sunday.

The ten apostles and others had gathered in the upper room (John 20:19). It happened on a Sunday.

The resurrected Christ appeared to them in the upper room (Mat 28:16 ; Mark 16:14; John 20:19). It happened on a Sunday.

Jesus gave the great commission “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21 ESV). It happened on a Sunday.

He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22 ESV). It happened on a Sunday.

Jesus appeared to the disciples including Thomas (John 20:26). It happened on a Sunday.

It happened on a Sunday!

The feast of weeks a.k.a. The Feast of Pentecost

Leviticus 23:15-16 ESV "You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. Two times in these two verses, the phrase “the day after the Sabbath” is used. The Greek translation of this Old Testament verse uses the word πεντήκοντα (pentêkonta, Leviticus 23:16 BGT). The Feast of Weeks was the Feast of Pentecost. It was a time of great celebration as the harvest was brought in. The Feast of Pentecost

Deuteronomy 16:10-11 ESV Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God… And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God… The Feast of Pentecost

Guess what day Pentecost was on… Every year for 1,446 years from the giving of the Law until the coming of Christ and until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit The Jews were commanded to celebrate the Day of Pentecost The day after the 7th Sabbath after the Feast of Firstfruits. Guess what day Pentecost was on…

“The day after the 7th Sabbath”

The Holy Spirit was outpoured Acts 2:1-4 ESV When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Holy Spirit was outpoured

“There came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind.” It happened on a Sunday!

“Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” It happened on a Sunday!

120 disciples “were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” It happened on a Sunday!

They “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” It happened on a Sunday!

A great multitude of devout Jews from “every nation under heaven” heard the disciples telling in their own languages “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:5, 11). It happened on a Sunday!

The Apostle Peter preached… that Jesus had poured out the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:33). It happened on a Sunday!

Peter gave the invitation (Acts 2:38). It happened on a Sunday!

It happened on a Sunday! 3,000 people received Christ, They were baptized in water. They were added to the church (Acts 2:41). Were they worshipping Sun? Was this blasphemy? Was this the mark of the beast? It happened on a Sunday!

Sunday and the early church a.k.a. The First Day of the Week

Sunday Services in Troas Acts 20:6-7 ESV …we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. The Christians in Troas met on the first day of the week. Though Paul was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem (Acts 20:16), Paul and Luke waited in Troas for six days until the first day of the week when the believers met. Sunday Services in Troas

Sunday Services in Corinth 1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. The churches took special offerings every Sunday for the church in Jerusalem. OBJECTION: THEY DID IT PRIVATELY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. ANSWER: IF THAT WERE THE CASE… It would not matter what day of the week they collected it. There would still be a need to collect it from the homes when Paul came. Sunday Services in Corinth

Sunday Services in Galatia! 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ESV Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week… Sunday Services in Galatia!

Sunday Services in Galatia! “as I directed the churches of Galatia…” Antioch (Pisidia) Iconium Derbe Lystra First missionary journey Sunday Services in Galatia!

The First Day, the Lord’s Day The Christians began to honor Christ the first day of the week instead of the last. They called it “the Lord’s Day.” The First Day, the Lord’s Day

The First Day, the Lord’s Day Revelation 1:10 ESV I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet… The First Day, the Lord’s Day

It was Sunday, the Lord’s Day… The Apostle John was worshipping the Lord. He was in the Spirit. The Lord Jesus met him. The Lord revealed himself to John. The Lord revealed The Book of Revelation. It was Sunday, the Lord’s Day…

Testimony of the early church fathers

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110) Ignatius describes Christian believers as those who… have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day… He goes on to say, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week]. Ignatius was a student of John the Apostle and the third bishop of Antioch Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110)

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. Justin Martyr (110-165 A.D.)

Summary It happened on a Sunday…

For 1500 years, two major feasts were held on a Sunday… Those two feasts were shadows of two great events that happened on a Sunday: The Resurrection of Christ The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit For 1500 years, two major feasts were held on a Sunday…

For nearly 2,000 years, the Church of Jesus Christ has met on the Lord’s Day to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Day

It happened on a Sunday