Are We Remembering or Forgetting the Sabbath?
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The purpose of this message is not to be confrontational as to what day of the week is or is not the Sabbath. The purpose of this message is to encourage us to actually take to heart the reason for the Sabbath and to truly remember and observe the Sabbath.
The lack of interest in Sunday evening services has indicated to many churches that maybe it is time to shift their efforts elsewhere.
Several churches continue to hold services on Sunday nights. Some keep going because some church members are accustomed to Sunday evening services and want them to continue.
There is no biblical requirement for a church to hold services at specific times or in sufficient numbers. The spirituality of a church does not depend on whether it holds a Sunday evening service.
To have the greatest impact on the congregation as well as the community, each church must determine the services and programs that will be offered as well as the times they will be offered.
We believe that every Christian ought to be a part of a local church, and if that church has a Sunday night service, we encourage all members to attend on a regular basis so that they can fully participate in its activities.
As far as Wednesday evening services, it is unclear as to their origin. In the beginning, Wednesday night services were just a prayer meeting. Over time, they evolved into a church services like Sunday morning services, sometimes with a sermon, music, and an offering.
As a means of “refueling” in between Sunday services, Wednesday night services typically offer a more intimate setting than Sunday morning worship due to their lower attendance.
Requests for personal prayer can be shared, in-depth Bible study can be pursued, and individual inquiries can be freely addressed. The Wednesday night service is a necessary component of spiritual discipline for many.
Along with the traditional Sunday evening service, Wednesday night services are becoming less common in modern times. Many congregations have almost eliminated Wednesday night services due to a lack of commitment, and other occurrences are becoming more important.
On the other hand, a lot of churches have switched from weekly services to small groups that meet in homes. Like the Wednesday evening services, these small groups function on a compact scale and encourage more individual participation.
Therefore, even though formal church services on Wednesday nights are no longer common, they may be in the process of being replaced and modernized rather than removed.
Even though a requirement for Wednesday night prayer meetings is not noted in the Bible, its collapse may be indicative of the current generation’s spiritual state.
According to Acts 2:46, believers first met daily to pray, worship, and study the Bible. Many Christians today only meet once per week.
It is possible that the true church will once again recognize the necessity of holding more meetings on a regular basis in order to maintain its strength in the face of opposition as persecution rises and Christianity loses popularity.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8).
If we look over at Exodus 20:8-11, the Sabbath day was a day given to us to worship the Lord and rest. Because we require uninterrupted time for worship and rest each week, God established the Sabbath.
It is indeed wonderful that God cares enough to give us a day off each week to rest. In this fast-paced world, having regular times of rest and worship demonstrates the significance of God in our lives, and it also helps to refresh our spirits.
For further reading:
How Do We Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep It Holy?
How Is Jesus Our Sabbath Rest?
What Is the Sabbath Day and Year? Bible Meaning and Purpose
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