1. “Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” Luke 14:5 NKJV

2. Context ~~ Luke 14:1-6  Accused Jesus of wrong - healed on the Sabbath  No work was to be done on the Sabbath  It was a humanitarian thing to help the animal “How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Matt. 12:12

3. Used as an excuse for not worshipping God “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some” ESV “I could not attend because I had an ox in the ditch”

4. Invited - family - unexpected - special days “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matt. 10:37 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 Love Less

5. God first ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ then Family Worship ---- invite company to come with you Work - Doctor’s Appointment ~~~ “I’ll be back” Family gatherings - “I’ll be late”

6. Sunday Sickness Remedy Plan ahead One sick Don’t always feel 100%

7. Hunting, fishing, camping, sports, shopping No wrong within itself Sinful if we forsake the assembly - Matt. 6:33 You can do both ! Plan ahead !

8. Too young - do not know how to behave - need sleep have homework for school Eph.6:4b “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15

9. Remedy Bring them from time they are born Children can survive missing a few minutes of sleep better than missing the worship. Homework ~ do the best you can - it is better to make a lower grade in school and put God first. Best time to start is when they are infants !

10. Hay in field ready to be baled

11. Serve Lord’s Supper Sunday night What about.. Forsaking Sunday morning - willfully Then take on Sunday Night

12. Rev. 1:10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”  First day of the week  Day Christ was resurrected  Day the Church started - Acts 2  Take the Lord’s Supper  Give as we have been prospered A Special Day for Christians

13. Many times the ox is in the ditch on Sunday morning because We pushed him in on Saturday night !

15. Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,