1. Keeping the Sabbath Holy April 30, 2006

2. One day while the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, one of the men started gathering firewood on the Sabbath. One day while the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, one of the men started gathering firewood on the Sabbath. Immediately, he was taken to Moses, Aaron and the whole community because they did not know what to do with him. Immediately, he was taken to Moses, Aaron and the whole community because they did not know what to do with him.

3. He was put under watch because it was not clear what was to be done with him. He was put under watch because it was not clear what was to be done with him. But, the Lord soon said to Moses, “The man must be put to death. The whole community is to stone him to death outside of the camp.” But, the Lord soon said to Moses, “The man must be put to death. The whole community is to stone him to death outside of the camp.”

4. So, the whole community took him outside of the camp and stoned the man until he died, just as the Lord had commanded. So, the whole community took him outside of the camp and stoned the man until he died, just as the Lord had commanded. What was it that the man did that was so terrible that he had to DIE for it??? What was it that the man did that was so terrible that he had to DIE for it???

5. Even though gathering firewood is not that big of a deal, the problem was that he was doing it on the Sabbath… Even though gathering firewood is not that big of a deal, the problem was that he was doing it on the Sabbath… The Sabbath day is a day in which we are supposed to rest and just contemplate on the Lord and His greatness! The Sabbath day is a day in which we are supposed to rest and just contemplate on the Lord and His greatness! When we busy ourselves with other activities and other people we are telling the Lord that we don’t have time to spend with Him even one day a week. When we busy ourselves with other activities and other people we are telling the Lord that we don’t have time to spend with Him even one day a week.

6. The Lord rested on the seventh day after He finished His creation and we, too, should rest The Lord rested on the seventh day after He finished His creation and we, too, should rest If we lived in the Old Testament, how many times would we be punished for not “keeping the Sabbath?” If we lived in the Old Testament, how many times would we be punished for not “keeping the Sabbath?” Don’t let the devil convince you on Sunday mornings that you should sleep in instead of go to church!! FIGHT HIM… Don’t let the devil convince you on Sunday mornings that you should sleep in instead of go to church!! FIGHT HIM…

7. Try not to talk so much or argue so much with people around you in respect of this holy day. Try not to talk so much or argue so much with people around you in respect of this holy day. And just because the Sabbath day is holy, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to misbehave on every other day. And just because the Sabbath day is holy, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to misbehave on every other day. The Sabbath day is just an extra special day that the Lord asked us to observe… The Sabbath day is just an extra special day that the Lord asked us to observe…

8. Go to Liturgy Go to Liturgy Take Communion Take Communion Pray Pray Read a spiritual book Read a spiritual book Rest Rest Spend quiet time with ourselves or with our family Spend quiet time with ourselves or with our family So, how do we keep the Sabbath holy?

9. Visit the sick Visit the sick Help the poor Help the poor Give to the needy Give to the needy Help parents out with things around the house Help parents out with things around the house Other things we could do are:

10. Conclusion It is very important to remember to keep the Sabbath day holy

11. Memory Verse “Remember the Sabbath, to keep it Holy.” - Exodus 20:8