Why is Sunday Special (Bible Class)
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What Makes Sunday Special?
Series: MythBusters
Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
The Point: Worshipping on Sunday shows God that He is important to us.
Items Needed: PowerPoint slides
Oil can
Childrens’ Heroes From Christian History (Volume 3) video – optional
A. What makes Sunday special? Before you try to answer this question, look at this oil can. In a little bit, I am going to tell you how this oil can will answer that question!
1. Sunday is special because it is the Lord’s Day.
A. In the Old Testament, the Israelites kept the Sabbath Day. There were rules on the Sabbath. The biggest one was that you weren’t allowed to work. It was a day of rest and worship.
B. Today, we don’t keep the Sabbath Day like they did in the Old Testament. If you did, you would worship on Saturday and you wouldn’t be able to do any work – you couldn’t even work in the kitchen to make lunch. The strict laws of the Old Testament don’t have to be kept anymore because Jesus came and died on the cross.
C. Today, we still have a special day when we rest and worship God - Sunday. In the New Testament, Christians began to honor the Sabbath Day on Sunday. Do you know why the early Christians began to worship God on Sunday instead of Saturday? Sunday was the first day of the week and was the day that Jesus rose from the grave.
2. God said, “Don’t forget!”
A. God said to remember the Sabbath Day (Exodus 20:8).
B. God knows how quickly we can forget that Sunday is a special day. You need to make it a priority to be in church on Sunday. When we take one day every week and make it our special day to worship God, it shows Him that He is important to us.
3. God said, “Keep Sabbath special!”
A. God also said to keep the Sabbath Day holy. This means keep it special. Sunday should be different than other days of the week.
B. Sunday is not a sabbath.
For Christians Sunday is a special day of worship. They assemble to break bread on that day, but the first day of the week is never called a sabbath in the Scriptures.
Jews who became Christians were allowed to continue observing the sabbath (see Romans 14:5, 6). There is nothing wrong with resting on Saturday! But sabbath observance was never a requirement for Christians.
When certain Jewish Christians insisted that Christians had to keep the law of Moses, this was rejected by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28, 29).
Paul specifically states that one is not to be judged with regard to sabbath-keeping:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Why is Sunday a special day for Christians?
The greatest event in human history occurred on Sunday. Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week, which is the New Testament term for Sunday1. Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
I. Although it was late, they immediately returned to Jerusalem
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
While they were together, Jesus appeared among them:
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
“After eight days,” which would be the next Sunday (since the starting day was also counted), Jesus stood in their midst again while they were assembled (John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Thus the Holy Spirit specifically states that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, and also that Jesus appeared to the disciples when they were assembled on the first day of the week.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and the testimony of those who experienced these events, form the foundation of the Christian faith. Paul wrote:
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Sunday is a special day for Christians because of memorable events on that day!
The Holy Spirit came on Sunday!
Sunday was the day on which the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles (Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The first Christians assembled on Sunday.
In the New Testament, Christians came together on the first day of the week to remember Jesus, as He had asked them to do, by dividing a loaf among themselves and drinking from the cup. This was referred to as “breaking bread.”
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
The first day of the week is the Lord’s day.
In Revelation 1:10 John says:
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
This distinctive expression “the Lord’s day” is found in early church history as a designation for the first day of the week and is presently the common name for Sunday in Greece.
The Didache, for example, written between 70 and 120 AD, states in section 14:1: “But having assembled on ‘the Lord’s day’5, [the day] of the Lord, you must break bread and give thanks” (Translated from Greek by RD).
Many people view Sunday as their day, a day on which they can do whatever they like! But for Christians, the first day of the week is the Lord’s day, a day of assembly with other Christians to remember and worship their Lord!
It is not a family day
It is not a free day
The Christian assembly may not be neglected.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.
On Sunday a collection was held.
That a Christian was to give
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
This was not just a local arrangement because Paul gave the same orders to other churches6.
This was not done at home as some claim, because then there would be no collection at all and why would it need to be on Sunday? Also, there would then be collections when Paul came, which he wanted to avoid.
On the first day of the week a collection was taken7.
Illustration: Eric Liddell ran in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. His best event was the 100m. There was only one problem - the heats were on a Sunday. Liddell pulled out. While the heats were taking place, he was preaching in a church. Some days later, he ran in the 400m. Nobody gave him a chance. What happened? Eric Liddell won gold, breaking the world record in the process. God was pleased that Eric Liddell kept Sunday special.
Sunday is not a day like every other day. You need to keep Sunday special. God said to keep it holy. What can we do to keep it holy? By doing holy things.
Closing Story (from Keys for Kids)
"Don and Jack asked me to go to Ski Valley with them tomorrow, Uncle Bill," said Aaron. "The snow is just right!" Uncle Bill didn't say anything as he opened the hood of his truck, but Aaron was sure he knew what his uncle was thinking-tomorrow was Sunday. "I'd miss Sunday school just this once!" Aaron added. "That wouldn't hurt, would it?"
"You've already missed more than once." Uncle Bill spoke kindly to his nephew. The two were especially close since Aaron's parents didn't have much interest in church.
Aaron's face fell. "Yeah, I guess," he muttered. "There were a few times when my parents had special plans. But there haven't been many good ski days this winter, and I'd sure like to go! What can it hurt to miss once more?"
"What can it hurt?" repeated Uncle Bill. "Well, I think your teacher and classmates will be disappointed if you're absent. It's an encouragement to them for you to be there. But most of all, missing Sunday school would hurt you, Aaron."
"Me?" Aaron shrugged. "I don't think it would hurt me," he said as Uncle Bill pulled out the dipstick to measure the oil.
Uncle Bill whistled. "This old truck has been taking oil lately-it's pretty low," he said, picking up the oil can. Then he put the can down again. He shrugged and scratched his head. "Oh, well," he added, "it still runs." He closed the hood.
"Uncle Bill!" exclaimed Aaron. "You taught me that if the truck gets too low on oil, it could ruin the motor!" He was a little proud of his knowledge of cars-and more than a little glad that his uncle had changed the subject.
"That's true, Aaron. A car without oil can't go far without running into trouble," agreed Uncle Bill. Then he returned to the previous subject. "A Christian who is low on 'spiritual oil'-spiritual instruction and knowledge- can't go very far without trouble, either. One of the best places for you to get that spiritual help is in church and Sunday school."
"Oh . . . right." Aaron was startled, but he grinned good-naturedly. "You got me, Uncle Bill. I'll be in church tomorrow," he promised.
Are there times you'd like to skip church or Sunday school? Sickness, bad weather, or other unusual circumstances may keep you from attending. But when you want to skip church for some fun thing, stop and think about it. Don't let your "spiritual oil" get low.
What about others. Remember Hebrews 10.24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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.
We attend church for what is best for others.