To 160 th Ave Church of Christ

The Reality of “Christian Vacation” Vacation From Worship – Allen Creek Community Church (Marysville, WA)– a one-month “PAUSE.” – “We suspend our regular weekend services from August through Labor Day to give our volunteers a well-deserved rest & PAUSE” – This kind of thinking may not hit far from home Vacation from Service – Bible Reading – Prayer Vacation from Morality

Excuses to Justify “I ‘deserve’ a break” – Problem of the heart: self-righteousness, pride selfishness, a weak faith. – Luke 18:10-14 – What we really deserve (Rom. 6:23; Hebrews 9:22). “It’s a burden to be at every worship service.” – Problem of the heart: an unwillingness to show sacrificial love. – Matt. 11:29; 1 John 5:3 “It’s not a big deal, it’s just one time” – Problem of the heart: minimalism – Matt. 6:33; 22:37

What if Jesus thought this way? “I deserve a break” “It’s too much of a burden” “It’s just one time…” God/Christ never takes a vacation (Heb. 13:5)

The Christian Vacation: Worshipping together is our vacation!!! – We need a break from the world. (1 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 12:2) – We need time for spiritual family – We need time to relax from the pressures and temptations and trials that are brought on by the world. Part of the Reason for the Sabbath – A time to refrain from work – A time to worship God (The book of Acts)

Worship on the Sabbath: Acts 13:14; But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. Acts 13:27; 27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. Acts 13:42; As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Acts 13:44; The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord

Worship on the Sabbath: Acts 15:21; For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 16:13; and on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. Acts 17:2; And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 18:4; And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Psalm 92- “a song for the sabbath”

What to do When Christians do take Vacations Many do excuse themselves from worship when they do take actual vacations. – Perhaps the same excuses and problems of the heart occur here. Vacationing/traveling provides an excellent opportunity to worship with other Christians in different parts of the world – This can be a tremendous encouragement to you – This can be a tremendous encouragement to them