Having just completed a two-part message on our need to be Redeeming Our Sundays, my heart–both as a Christian and as a pastor–goes immediately into application mode. The questions that frequently press in on me when I’ve learned something from the Bible are: (1) So what? and (2) Now what?
So what? What difference does it make? In the case of our recent messages, what difference is it going to make in my life that the Bible says that one day in seven belongs both to the Lord for worship (it is after all, the Lord’s Day), and to me for spiritual and physical refreshment (the Sabbath is made after all, for man)?
And now what? What is my next step? What specific application steps for my life am I going to make? I do not want ever to leave what I learn as mere head knowledge–so what is at least one specific step I can take to make this truth become life to me?
It is with the so what and now what in mind that I offer a few days of application suggestions for how to enjoy the Lord’s Day more fully. I hope they help.
Suggestion One: review carefully and prayerfully the reasons why we should observe Lord’s Day worship and rest. Don’t assume you got all you heard the past two Sundays. Re-listen to the messages and review with prayer the points made (for any reader not a part of Trinity Fellowship Church, you can download these messages here or by subscribing to our podcast).
Here are the reasons we gave for Sunday worship and rest:
1. Sabbath rest and Lord’s Day worship are God’s gifts to us.
2. God does epic things on Sundays.
3. God lives where his people gather.
4. The Spirit falls upon and fills the gathered church.
5. God commands Sabbath rest.
6. The world and the god of this world will squeeze Sundays out of existence if we let them.
7. Our modeling–to our children, to young believers, and to unbelievers–of what matters most is compromised if we do not.
8. Absence from Sunday worship weakens our congregational witness and guest hospitality.
9. We need communion with Christ and with each other around the Lord’s Table.
10. Shepherds and sheep belong to and with each other.
11. Every member of the local body needs every member of the local body.
12. We are at war.
13. Sunday worship and rest remind us of heaven.
Consider deeply these truths with prayer. Very deeply. Doing so will deepen you and will affect your attitudes toward Sabbath rest and Sunday worship in your local church. You and your Sunday experience will–just by this exercise alone–be changed. We become what we behold and think about. So think on these things.
Suggestion Two tomorrow, Lord willing.
Amen.