When Do We Come Together? Worshipping God (6) When Do We Come Together? The New Testament Church - 2017-18

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? The day Jesus arose – Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1 “The first day of the week” Matthew and Mark mention, “after the Sabbath”

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? Jesus met on more than One Sunday after He arose – John 20:19, later that Sunday 20:26, eight days later (the next Sunday) Could they have been instructed when to assemble?

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? The church began on Sunday – Acts 2:1, when the Sabbath had fully come Leviticus 23:15-17, always 50 days after the Passover Sabbath. Thus on a Sunday

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? We have approved examples and commands to worship that day 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, when we “lay by in store” Acts 20:7, they came together to “break bread” (the Lord’s Supper) (Consider Acts 20:6 – Paul waited 7 days)

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? Revelation 1:9-10, “the Lord’s day” – generally agreed that this was Sunday. Mentioned as such by many early writers 107AD IGNATIUS: 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, Epistle to the Magnesians, chp 9. Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, pg. 62-63.)

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? Revelation 1:9-10, “the Lord’s day” 130AD BARNABAS: addressing Jews keeping the Sabbath he notes, Wherefore we Christians keep the eighth day for joy, on which also Jesus arose from the dead and when he appeared ascended into heaven. (15:8f, The Epistle of Barnabas, 100 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers , vol. 1, pg. 147)

The First Day of the Week Why is Sunday Important? All of these points indicate why the first day of the week is important to us, and why it is the day we OUGHT to assemble.

What about the Sabbath? We do not keep the Sabbath (7th or last day of the week) While some advocate that is the day we should worship, we will notice what scripture teaches NOR do we consider Sunday the “Christian Sabbath” because it is never referred to that day. We keep Sunday because that is what we are commanded to do.

What about the Sabbath? The Sabbath was part of the Law of Moses (LOM) Exodus 20:8-11, the fourth commandment

What about the Sabbath? The 10 commandments was specifically for the Jews Exodus 20:2, I brought you out of Egypt,… Deuteronomy 5:1-3, 15 – made with “us”; He “commanded you to keep the Sabbath day”

What about the Sabbath? The 10 commandments was specifically for the Jews Exodus 31:16-17, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, and observe it throughout their generations Nehemiah 9:13-14 – You made known to them Your Sabbaths Ezekiel 20:10-12, I gave them My Sabbaths

What about the Sabbath? Prophets declared the Old Law (LOM) was going to be replaced Jeremiah 31:31

What about the Sabbath? We are not under the LOM today Colossians 2:13-14 (Included the 10 commandments) See Deuteronomy 4:13 (written on stone), and 2 Corinthians 3:5-7 Hebrews 8:6-13, quotes Jeremiah 31:31, a new and better covenant Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and He did

What about the Sabbath? We are not under the LOM today More passages: Ephesians 2:11-16, Christ broke down the middle wall of separation Galatians 3-5,3:24, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ Romans 7:1-6, dead to the law through the body of Christ

What about the Sabbath? There is NO New Testament passage calling for Christians to keep the Sabbath They assembled on Sunday Only Colossians 2:16, mentions the Sabbath in the epistles (after Acts) What about Paul going to synagogues on the Sabbath? 8 times in Acts it is mentioned. But ALWAYS, he was going to try and teach about Christ, cf. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NOT about Christians assembling – Acts 13:46

What about the Sabbath? What is wrong with teaching that we assemble on the Sabbath? It is appealing to the Old Law – see Galatians 5:4 We must follow the NT pattern. The Sabbath is NOT part of that pattern!

Do I need to assemble? Consider the first day of the week passages we have noted Consider Hebrews 10:25 God wants us to prefer one another – assembling helps us to do that Worship is about God – we worship together when we assemble (obeying God’s pattern) Why would one who professes to follow God NOT want to assemble?

Do I need to assemble? What about other services? (mid-week Bible study, Gospel meetings, etc.)? If it is something we have determined to do as the Lord’s body here, should we not desire to participate (how important is the church to you)? Answer this: Is it wrong to assemble at other times? Hebrews 10:25, is it exclusive to once a week? Do we genuinely “prefer one another?”

Do I need to assemble? Do I overemphasize assembling to worship? By this I am NOT saying it is ok to ignore assembling with the saints. BUT, do I think that assembling is all I need to do? Yes assembling is a barometer in the Christian’s life, it is only PART of being a Christian (Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:17)

Do I need to assemble? IF I see the church as important: I will “invest” in her. The more I invest, the more concerned I will be about her survival and thriving What would happen to this congregation if everyone were just like me?

Do I look forward to assembling following God’s pattern?