Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday? | 3ABN Worship Hour

Shelley Quinn invites viewers to a Bible study session focusing on the significance of the first day of the week in Christian tradition. The session aims to examine all biblical references to this day to ascertain its sacredness. A prayer is offered for guidance, and the importance of the solar and lunar cycles in measuring time is discussed. The emphasis is on the divine establishment of the seven-day week as God's mark of authority over time, with a particular focus on the Sabbath as a day of rest and sanctity.

The speaker delves into the concept of the Sabbath, as claimed by God in the Bible, and its distinction from other days of the week. References to the Sabbath as a day of delight and the holy day of the Lord are made, with an emphasis on honoring God by refraining from personal pleasure. The affirmation of the Sabbath by Jesus is highlighted, along with the cultural and pagan origins of the names for the days of the week. The Sabbath is identified as a day with a permanent attachment, as opposed to annual Sabbaths which were temporary and pointed to the coming Messiah.

The paragraph explores the scriptural references to the first day of the week, particularly in relation to the events of Jesus' resurrection. It discusses the common Christian practice of worship on this day, despite the lack of biblical command to transfer the sacredness of the Sabbath to Sunday. The speaker reviews various New Testament accounts that mention the first day of the week, all of which are associated with the resurrection events or the disciples' gatherings.

This section focuses on the disciples' fear and disbelief following Jesus' crucifixion and the reports of his missing body. It describes an encounter where Jesus appears to his disciples, who are locked behind closed doors, to alleviate their fears. The narrative includes Jesus eating fish and honeycomb to prove his physicality and the collective fear and reaction of the disciples during this chaotic period.

The paragraph discusses Paul's instructions for a special collection on the first day of the week to assist the starving Jews. It also describes a farewell meal shared by the disciples and Paul, during which a young man named Uducus falls from a window and is brought back to life by Paul. The gathering is characterized as a meal and a long discourse rather than a formal worship service.

The text examines the timing of Paul's activities as recorded by Luke, with a focus on an evening service that involved a farewell message and a miracle. Scholars are divided on whether this event took place on a Saturday or Sunday night, but it is clear that it was an evening gathering with many lamps lit. The paragraph emphasizes that the text does not explicitly mention a worship gathering.

The speaker reviews the eight biblical references to the first day of the week, noting that none of them transfer the sacredness of the Sabbath to Sunday. The importance of the Sabbath as God's holy day is underscored, with references to Old Testament prophets and the teachings of Jesus. The principle of interpretation known as the law or doctrine of first mention is introduced to argue that the fundamental meaning of the Sabbath is established by its first occurrence in the Bible.

The paragraph argues against the idea that the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath, can be changed by any authority, including the Pope or the Catholic Church. It emphasizes that the Sabbath is a divine commandment and a memorial of creation. The speaker challenges the listener to choose between God's commandments and man's traditions, citing several biblical verses that affirm the unchanging nature of God's word.

The final paragraph reiterates the divine origin of the Sabbath and its role as a memorial of creation, redemption, and sanctification. It contrasts the Sabbath with Sunday, which is not biblically designated as a day of rest or worship. The speaker encourages the audience to keep God's commandments out of love for Him and to understand the importance of the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant between God and His people.