Filter by Categories
Did God Change the Sign From the Sabbath to the Holy Spirit?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeA common idea is that the Sabbath is the sign of the Old Covenant, but the Holy Spirit is the sign of the New. Yet the seventh day has been holy since creation.
God's Sabbath
Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughRemember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as it is a vital key to understanding God and His purpose. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a weekly day of rest; it is a day devoted totally to God, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. God made the Sabbath at Creation, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3, and it was made for all mankind, not just a specific group, according to Mark 2:27. On the seventh day of Creation, God rested after six days of labor, setting an example for us to follow, as noted in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. The Sabbath is distinct from the other six days because God blessed it, making it holy time set apart for His use, as these same verses indicate. To keep the Sabbath holy, we are guided by principles in scriptures such as Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 16:23, and Jeremiah 17:21-22, which prohibit working, cooking, and carrying burdens. Rather than a detailed list of rules, God provides principles for proper and improper Sabbath behavior, leaving us to decide our actions. The Sabbath also serves as a sign identifying God's people, as stated in Exodus 31:12-17 and Isaiah 56:1-7, marking a perpetual covenant with them. Jesus, as its Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, demonstrated its intent through His actions, as recorded in Mark 2:28. If kept properly, the Sabbath becomes a delight and a tremendous blessing each week, enhancing our relationship with God, as expressed in Isaiah 58:13-14.
The Purpose of the Sabbath
Sermonette by Craig SablichThe Sabbath enables us to learn spiritual principles rather than a set of rules, and to exercise righteous judgment, aligning our actions with God's purpose.
Holy Ground
Sermon by Ted E. BowlingEven though the term "holiness" appears 900 times in scripture, God's people struggle to understand it. The first time it appears in scripture is God's appearance at the burning bush (Exodus 3) when the ground became holy because of God's presence, just as when the Commander of God's Army met Joshua. The principle of sanctification applies to time as well as place, as God sanctified the seventh day Sabbath as a covenant sign between Him and His people (Ezekiel 20:12) as a "test commandment" of obedience. We keep the Sabbath when we cease from ordinary work, gather in holy convocation, rest, focus on God, and appreciate the day of delight (Isaiah 58:13-14) a day designed for rest, worship, and spiritual growth (Mark 2:27). Holiness demands both inner humility and outward reverence. As Moses removed his sandals, God's people must surrender pride, show respect, and walk in obedience, maintaining holiness in all their conduct (I Peter 1:15-16).
The Sabbath: Creation
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Sabbath provides an opportunity for God's children to develop a relationship with Him, reflecting on the spiritual as well as the physical creation.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe need to develop righteous judgment about what constitutes a genuine Sabbath emergency and what may be a deceptive rationalization of our human nature.
Polluted Sabbath?
Sermon by Bill OnisickPolluting and profaning God's Sabbath means to allow the distractions of the world to prevent us from calling the holy Sabbath a delight.
Remember the Sabbath Day
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe command implies that if we remember the Sabbath day properly—that is, with godly understanding—then our only appropriate response is to keep it holy.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is from the proper use of the Sabbath—in fellowshipping with Him and getting to know Him—that we derive true spiritual rest and refreshment.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHow and why a person keeps the Sabbath determines whether this test commandment is really a sign between God and His people or an act of futility.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe biblical instructions for Sabbath keeping apply far more to the church than to the Israelites, who did not have the fullness of scriptural counsel.
The Sabbath: Redemption
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod has blessed us with the Sabbath, a period of holy time, when He redeems us from the clutches of our carnality and this evil world.
The Fourth Commandment
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe Sabbath is foundational to a healthy relationship with God. It is special, holy day of rest and time to reconnect with our Creator.
Holy as He is Holy
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamBecoming holy is a process that spans an entire lifetime, which includes embracing God's holy days and tithes. Becoming holy takes continuous practice
Carefully Tending and Keeping God's Extraordinary Blessings
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod's Sabbaths are inestimable blessings which should not be squandered; we must tend and keep these blessings, avoiding the careless use of hallowed time.
As He Is Holy (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Ronny H. GrahamWhile the word 'holy' is easy enough to define, to grasp what it really means is another thing altogether. It takes a lifetime to understand fully.
The Commandments (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe Sabbath is a period of time God purposefully sanctified and set apart for the benefit of mankind, a time dedicated to God's spiritual creation.
The Fourth Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughAt creation, God sanctified only one day, the seventh, as a day of rest. At Sinai, He again sanctified it as a holy day, tying it to creation and freedom.
The Fourth Commandment (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Sabbath is a special creation, a very specific period of holy time given to all of mankind, reminding us that God created and is continuing to create.
The Commandments (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughBenign neglect of the Sabbath covenant can incrementally lead us into idolatry. We must treat this holy time as different from the other days of the week.
The Fourth Commandment (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFocusing on material and temporal things undermines faith. The Sabbath is holy time, created for building faith, energizing our minds for fellowship with God.
The Fourth Commandment (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe reason for refraining from many activities on the Sabbath is not labor or energy, but the overall motivation. Certain works are perfect for the Sabbath.
The Commandments (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughIn our hectic culture, we commit far too little time to God, depriving ourselves of the Holy Spirit and attenuating the faith required to draw close to God.