Why Consider This Change

Beth Ariel is a Messianic Congregation What does it mean to be a Messianic Congregation? In the very least it means: 1. Faithfulness to God’s Word 2. Expressing our Faith and Life in a Jewish Way 3. Identifying with the Jewish People and Community

The Biblical Meaning of Shabbat 1. “Shabbat” = “to cease,” “desist,” or “to rest” 2. The Principle: one day in seven is to be observed as a holy day to the Lord expressed in “resting” 3. First allusion to the Sabbath is in Gen. 2:2-3 where it refers to the seventh day of the week 4. First Sabbath commandment is found in Ex. 16:23-30/20:8

The Fulfillment of the Law 1. The Law is fulfilled by/in Messiah Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

The End of the Law 2. Messiah Ends the Law Romans 10:4 “Messiah is the end (telos) of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

The Impotence of the Law 3. None could be “justified” by the Law Galatians 2:16 “…know that a man is not justified by observing the Law…because by observing the Law no one will be justified.”

The Impotence of the Law 4. None could be sanctified by the Law Hebrews 7:11,19 “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the Law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest…(for the Law made nothing perfect )…”

The Temporariness of the Law 5. Galatians 3:19 “What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come…”

The Temporariness of the Law Three Points Made in Galatians 3:19 1. The Law was added to the Abrahamic Covt. 2. The Law was added to clarify sin 3. The Law had a termination point: the coming of the “seed” or descendant (Gen. 3:15/12:3)

The Ineffectiveness of the Law 6. II Corinthians 3:2-11 Note Paul’s characterization of the Law 1. That which “kills” (vs.6) 2. That which “brought death” (vs.7) 3. That which “condemns” (vs.9) 4. That which is “fading away” (vs.7,11)

The Ineffectiveness of the Law That which is “fading away” Greek = “katargeo” meaning “to render inoperative” Paul’s point: The Law, with particular emphasis on the Ten Commandments have passed away and are no longer in effect, or operating

Summary 1. The seventh day of the week is still the Sabbath for on it God rested from his work of creation 2. Individuals are no longer obligated to obey the Sabbath commandment 3. Considering Shabbat services is not motivated out of a desire to comply with the Sabbath commandment

The early Jewish believers, including Yeshua worshiped on the Sabbath Matt. 12:9; 13:54; Mark 1:21,23,29; 3:1; 5:22; 6:2 Luke 4:14; 6:6 John 6:59; 9:22; 18:20; Luke 4:16: “…and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 13:42-44 “As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath…On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 16:13 “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 17:2 “As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Yeshua I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 18:4 “Every Sabbath he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:19 “They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself (Paul) went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 18:26 “He (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue…” Acts 19:8 “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God”

The early Jewish believers, including Paul worshiped on the Sabbath Acts 21:26 “The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.”

The early Jewish believers, including Jacob (James) worshiped on the Sabbath James 2:1-2 “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Yeshua the Messiah, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your “synagogue”…”

Our freedom in Messiah permits us to worship on Shabbat, but not condemn those who do not II Corinthians 9:1, 20 “Am I not free…To the Jews I became like a Jew…To those under the law I became like one under the law…” Acts 28:17 “Three days later he (Paul) called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested…”

Our freedom in Messiah permits us to worship on Shabbat, but not condemn those who do not Romans 14:5, 13 “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind…Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another…”

Our freedom in Messiah permits us to worship on Shabbat, but not condemn those who do not Colossians 2:16-17 “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality however, is found in Messiah.”

Since we are free to worship on the Sabbath, what benefits are there in doing this? 1. Sabbath worship can encourage Jewish identity among Jewish believers 2. Sabbath worship can further enrich the faith of non-Jewish believers in Messiah 3. Sabbath worship will enable us to more fully fulfill our calling and purpose as a messianic congregation.

Since we are free to worship on the Sabbath, what benefits are there in do this? 4. Sabbath worship will enable us to more noticeably manifest ourselves as the “faithful remnant” (I Kings 19:9-18; Isa. 10:21-22; 11:11- 16; 37:32; Romans 11:1-5)

1. Our Messiah’s final mandate is “…go and make disciples of all nations,…” (Matt. 28:19) “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7)

2. Paul’s Instruction “…it (the Good News) is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Rom. 1:16) “…salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.” (Rom. 11:11)

3. The Meaning of “One New Man” “His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two (Jew & Gentile), thus making peace,…” (Eph. 2:15) a. Messiah is our peace (vs.14) b. The “dividing wall” = the wall around the Temple courtyard prohibiting Gentiles from approaching

The Meaning of “One New Man” c. Messiah’s purpose was to produce “one new man” d. Messiah accomplishes his purpose by creation e. The “One New Man” = the Universal Family of Believers

4. The Purpose of Beth Ariel Ultimately, we have one purpose: To present every member as mature in Messiah (Eph. 4:11-16) This necessitates two steps: 1. Leading individuals to faith in Messiah 2. Guiding individuals in devotion to Messiah

4. The Purpose of Beth Ariel Beth Ariel has uniquely and sovereignly been called by God to do this “maturing” work particularly, though not exclusively among the Jewish people This necessitates that we consider the following principles:

We desire to be effective – worship on Shabbat is more conducive with Jewish expectations We desire to be honest about our faith – worship on Shabbat conveys our conviction more genuinely that our faith is Jewish We desire to clearly communicate our faith – worship on Shabbat will help to remove a stumbling block to faith in Yeshua

We desire to be adaptable and flexible – Worship on Shabbat indicates the importance of Jewish tradition and life as a people of faith in Messiah

The move from Sunday to Shabbat is meant to: 1. Help us fulfill our calling as a Messianic congregation 2. Encourage Jewish believers to fulfill their calling as the “faithful remnant” 3. Inspire non-Jewish believers to fulfill their calling to “entice the Jewish people to jealousy” 4. Further remove a stumbling block so unbelieving Jews might consider Messiah

What will our service look like? Very much what it looks like now. What will be our service times? 10:00 am – 11:30 am What will be our first Shabbat Service? September 21 st - Sukkoth