The Lord’s Day (Pt 2)

Hebrews 10:24-25
2007.09.23
one28 Sunday worship

Before we move on to some practical Lord’s day preparation advice, I want to clarify a couple things from last week’s message on the Lord’s day.

First, I am not saying we must do each one of the first day activities every Sunday in order to properly observe the Lord’s day. There are no commands for or regarding worship services like we have today. There are no instructions on the right order of service or how much time we should spend on any particular part of the service.

Unlike Israel’s formal Sabbath and temple worship in the OT, there is considerable freedom for Christians as we plan our time together. My point in mentioning the three categories of first day and group activities is that the raw material is there even though the shape of our Sundays may be different than the first century church. We may not style our clothes the same way, but we should cut them from the same cloth.

Second, I am also not saying that we can’t do anything else other than these things on the Lord’s day, either when we’re gathered or when we’re scattered. Like I just said, believers have a measure of liberty as a body both here and at home on Sunday. We do not want to create a “can nots” list and make laws and burdens like the Jews did to the Sabbath.

But I am saying that we should be careful about what we do on the Lord’s day and for some that does mean they should stop certain Christ-dishonoring pursuits. I am also saying that the various activities we looked at, though not commandments for corporate worship per se, are all profitable as they clear the way for us to comprehend Christ’s worth and provision and salvation and instruction on His day.

The point is that we need an entire day every week set aside to remind us that we need God! Starting with the apostles, then the early church fathers, through the Reformers and up till today, the consistent practice of the church has been to observe the first day of the week as a day for Christians to gather and worship.

The Best Day

A pastor friend of mine who helps lead a local body on the Lord’s day always posts the order of service on Saturday so his sheep can prepare. He titled his post a few weeks ago, “The Best Day.” I’ve been thinking about that ever since. The Lord’s day, the first day, is the best day of the week for Christians.

Sunday has been the center of my week for a long time, not on my calendar but in my affections. As a pastor, Sunday anchors my week, but even and especially before I was a pastor, the Lord’s day was my lifeline. It was rest from the spiritual battle. It was refreshment for my spiritual thirst. Sunday was when I got to be with my family. Sunday was when I got great instruction. It was just the best day.

I want that for you all. And I’ve got four pieces of practical advice so that the Lord’s day will be planted as the best flower in the garden of your week. Let me also say that I’m almost embarassed at how basic this advice is and how far back we’ve got to start. But I’m eager for you to do some hard-nosed evaluation and to consider how the Lord’s day might be the best day.

1. Anticipate

In other words, prepare for Sunday. Think about it ahead of time. Look forward, count down, get ready.

In your schedule.

I understand that you are not free from every responsibility just because it’s Sunday. But if you are serious about honoring the Lord on His day, it will require some effort on your part to forecast what needs to get done and then to do all the things you can before Sunday so that you can participate in as many the events of the body as possible without distraction.

The fact is, for most of us, Sunday is the most negotiable day we have. “I have to go to school Monday through Friday.” “I have to work during all week.” But Sunday is flexible. The corporate meeting of the church is like sand that moves around the bolders of appointments and responsibilities.

We plan around other thigns and through Sunday. We all do it. Our vacations are (often) longer because Sunday is another day off; we’ve got to be back in the office on Monday. We plan on doing homework on Sunday instead of working a little longer on another day so that we can go out on Friday/Saturday. That’s because Friday is the best day for us.

Now what about those who have to work on Sunday? Let me answer that two ways. It is possible that it may be the case that someone must work on Sunday to support their family. I don’t desire to place an unnecessary burden on persons in that position. I recommend they do what they can to change their schedule, but in the mean time, and hopefully only for a short season, they should look for as many opportunities as they can to make the Lord’s day special.

However, I believe most people do not have to work on Sunday in the first place. They may not make any effort to ask for Sundays off or switch shifts with someone. True, sometimes those things don’t work out. And they will probably argue that they need the hours. But why? Can I suggest that most (maybe not all) people who need to work on Sundays “for the hours” demonstrate that their life priorities are out of line. The rest of their week is full, but is that because they are slaves to some master who fills every minute? Or, is it because they are pursuing their own priorities. “But I’ve got school and work and family all week long. Sunday is the only day I’ve got.” My point is that what you pursue on Tuesday plays out on the Lord’s day.

We always do what we most want to do, and our schedule is a window into our wants. We have so many options. There are lots of jobs. When I was describing the pre-pastor time in my life when Sundays were so sweet to me, I was going to school full-time and working 30-40 hours a week. In order to make sure I could also use my spiritual giftedness, serve the body, and not neglect Sunday meetings, I worked the graveyard shift. More times than I care to count I worked Saturday at 11 pm until 7 am Sunday morning, went home to run so I wouldn’t fall asleep, attend morning worship, nap before evening worship, and return to work at 11 pm Sunday night. Was I tired? Yes. Was that schedule optimal? No. But Sunday was the best day and I anticipated it.

Most of you don’t have to worry about that. You just need to turn off the TV and go to bed at a reasonable hour so your head will be clear and your body rested.

In your heart.

The Lord’s day is a workout, not mainly because it’s a long day or there’s a lot to do, but it’s a workout because our hearts are out of spiritual shape. It is unnatural to take a whole day and focus, with full and hot affections, on someone else. Everyting in our flesh pulls our attention and our affections back to ourselves. And I promise you that if you spend the rest of your week, and especially your Saturday and Saturday night centered on you, you will resist centering on the Lord on Sunday.

You will blame the music or the preacher for not engaging you and facilitating your worship. But there is no way to please the self-centered if our services are Lord-centered. The center of those two targets are not complimentary, they are contradictory. There is no switch to flip that will instantly redirect all your self-affection to Him-affection.

That would be like a person laying on their couch, sucking down milkshakes and pizza all day all week long and then wondering why they were sucking wind after two minutes on the treadmill. Following that illustration, some of your parents make you come to the gym once a week and it’s brutal. That’s no surprise. But if there was some anticipation and preparation in your heart you might really enjoy Sunday.

So anticipate in your schedule and in your heart. The following pieces will probably fall into place if the first one is laid correctly.

2. Participate

By Getting There

Sheesh. Do I really need to say that? Apparently I do. That’s part of the reason I’m preaching about the Lord’s day in the first place.

It is true that there is no explicit command for church worship services on Sunday. But Hebrews 10:24-25 does communicate our obligation not to neglect meeting together.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

So even though there is no command for Sunday, it is imperative that we meet. And after everything we discussed regarding the Lord’s day and the first day, I think the day for meeting is assumed.

Get here. Show up. Sunday is not a solo enterprise. After all, the word “church” (ἐκκλησία) means assembly, congregation, gathering, or group. You’ve heard it before, the church is not the building, it’s the people. So where are you? Corporate praise begins with your presence.

Some of you are like, “But my parents don’t come for first service so I can’t get here for big church.” Okay, well did you at least ask them? Maybe you did and they said no. Did you call someone for a ride? Did you set your alarm and get on your bike and ride here yourself (like one of our students does)? If you want to be here, you’ll get here.

By Being There

Attendance is where it begins, not where it ends. You are not (to be) spectators and I am not the performer. You are not the audience; God is. And He is watching me and you!

After you get here, be here. Engage! Sing! Listen! Serve! Too many come as consumers. You come to see what other people can do for you and how the people up front can entertain you. You watch, you don’t worship. You take, you don’t partake.

3. Concentrate

Each piece of advice naturally flows into the next. If the Lord’s day is worth your anticipation and participation, certainly it deserves your concentration.

Free from Distraction

It’s not just our job as the leaders to create an atmosphere that is as free from distraction as possible. We should and do try to achieve that. But there’s plenty enough to distract you right inside your own head. Assignments, bad news, a particular guy/girl who’s here, a guy/girl who isn’t, lunch, etc. are all kinds of intereference that will hinder the signal from coming through. But instead of allowing your mind to wander, aim it in adoration to the Lord.

Free from Disregard

This is dangerous. You can go through every external thing we’ve mentioned so far and it can all be an abomination to God. If your heart is far from Him, if you come it to flaunt your righteousness, it is vain. Do not disregard and disrespect the Lord (ever and definitely not) on the Lord’s day. I may not know. I may think you’re a hot snot worshipper. But I am not the audience; He knows your heart.

4. Celebrate

Isn’t this the whole point? This is not a funeral, this is a party of praise for our risen Savior! Surely there is a place for repentance, for mourning and sorrow over sin, but didn’t Jesus say those were the truly happy (blessed) people (Matthew 5:3-4)?

With Heart Integrity

Integrity and authenticity are buzzwords today. A lot of pastors are changing “church” because they feel like too many Christians camouflage their misery with polite, cheesy, Christianese speak. And I agree to some extent. Please don’t pretend that everything is alright if it isn’t. That’s hypocrisy. But also don’t act like there isn’t anything you can do about how pathetic a sinner you are. That’s folly.

If your heart isn’t right, don’t act like it is. If your heart isn’t right, get it right by the gospel.

With Multiplied Intensity

If all the other things are in order, watch out, Sunday is going to sizzle. There is something strong and resounding about an orchestra, even though an oboe could play the same song. And even though a match catches fire, it will not burn with the heat and intensity like a whole heap of sticks piled together.

So prepare your heart, be present, pay attention, and praise the Lord. Arrange your schedule, attend the services, adjust your spirit, and adore your Savior. Eagerly expect to worship, actively engage in worship, intently endeavor to worship, and passionately exult in worship.

All of this targets the heart. The heart is at the center of each piece of practical advice and is at the core of each possible activity for the Lord’s day. Genuine worship comes from the heart. Genuine worship is modeled and commanded in Scripture. If your heart isn’t right that doesn’t mean that worship is out, it means you need to get your heart in line for the sake of worship.

Perhaps we don’t really value the Lord’s day because we’re not desperate for God; God is dispensable; we delight in other things. We’re back at the broken cistern.

Conclusion

The first mark of a healthy student ministry is that we are part of a local body. We’ll always be sickly and weak if we do not participate and praise the Lord on His day. That’s why John Calvin said about Sunday,

we adopt it as a necessary remedy for preserving order in the Church. (Institutes, 2.VIII.33)

I so want your direction toward the corporate meeting of the church to be like water in a (steep) downhill pipe. Let there be no hesitation in your movement and no hindrance in your direction. There is no doubt where you’re going; you’re going to church.

Obviously our whole lives are to be worship; worship is more than just a Sunday activity, but don’t neglect the Lord’s day. And there may be times when the best way for you to worship means you’ll miss the meeting of the church on Sunday. Just don’t let that be the pattern.

My son Calvin doesn’t know a lot of words. But he has learned the names of the people living at our house, and he identifies everything by the person who owns it. He’ll point out everything he recognizes by who uses it. Cars, chairs, ladders, anything. If someone were to look at how you spend your Sunday, who would they say owned it? You? Or the Lord?

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For some additional application advice, see John Piper’s 10 Practical Preparations for Hearing the Word of God on Sunday Morning