On the First Day of the Week
Joe R. Price

The first day of the week is not the “Christian Sabbath” as many describe it. That is a false view derived from misunderstanding the nature and duration of the Mt. Sinai law (Exo. 20:8-11; 31:12-18; Eph. 2:14-18).

In the New Testament the Lord has sanctioned the first day of the week for the assembled worship of Christians. The gospel of Christ authorizes specific worship activities on the first day of the week.

*   The disciples came together to break bread (Acts 20:7). The Lord’s Supper was ordained by the Lord as a memorial of his death (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Each Christian has a personal responsibility to eat the supper when the local church comes together on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 11:18, 20, 33). The worship assembly is the right occasion for eating the supper. When it meets on the first day of the week the local church is to make an orderly arrangement for every Christian to eat and drink the supper in remembrance of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:20, 33). The responsibility for eating the supper in a worthy manner falls upon each individual Christian (1 Cor. 11:26-29).

Some brethren have incorrectly concluded that disciples who do not eat the supper during the first assembly of the church on Sunday should not be allowed to do so at a second assembly of the church on that same day. Could it be these brethren have overlooked the fundamental truth that the communion of the supper, while occurring in the assembly, is first between the disciple and his Lord? (1 Cor. 10:16-17) Each Christian has a mandate from Jesus to eat the supper on the first day of the week when the church comes together (1 Cor. 11:20).

Each person must examine himself when he eats and drinks to be sure he is remembering the Lord’s death (1 Cor. 11:27-29). That does not authorize the local church to examine each disciple to decide whether or not he may eat the supper. By refusing to “wait for one another” (ekdechomai: “to receive, accept, to look for, expect”) these brethren prevent disciples from obeying the Lord’s command to eat and drink “in remembrance” of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 11:33).

*   Christians hear the word of God being preached. Paul preached the gospel when the disciples “came together to break bread” on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Coming together to break bread is not in conflict with the purpose of preaching the gospel.

Preaching the word of God instructs disciples, building them up in the ways of God (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 14:26). Preaching the word of God encourages saints to remember they are following the word of God and not the words of men (1 Ths. 2:13). Preaching the word of God warns sinners by rebuking their sin and protects the saved by exhorting them to continue to be faith to the truth (2 Tim. 4:2).

Gospel preaching has fallen out of favor with many Christians (2 Tim. 4:2-4). Preaching on the first day of the week (and any other day) is increasingly becoming something other than what the Lord approves. Gospel preaching is not putting on a show for men; it is an effort to call men to no longer serve sin, but God. Gospel preaching is not entertainment; it is exhortation. Gospel preaching is not joke time or story-telling time; it is time to proclaim the gospel and plant the seed that saves the lost (Rom. 10:14-17; Lk. 8:11). Gospel preaching should not be a wearisome burden; it should be earnestly desired (Acts 10:33).

*   Let each one of you lay something aside (1 Cor. 16:2). Giving as we have been prospered is the result of a purposeful and cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:7). Some tell us that giving is not worship. Yet it is undeniable that purposeful, cheerful and prosperous giving reflects the homage of an obedient heart on the very day the Lord has commanded our assembled worship. This is whom God seeks as true worshipers (Jno. 4:23-24). 

Giving on the first day of the week is an important time for Christians to reflect upon the greatness of our blessings which flow from God. Our giving is appointed to gather the funds needed to do the work God expects of the local church: evangelism to the lost world (2 Cor. 11:8; 1 Ths. 1:7-8), edification of the saints (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:26) and benevolence to needy saints (Acts 6:1-7).

Let us see to it that our giving is not just “dropping the money in the plate” but the rejoicing of hearts happy to give and ready to serve the Giver of every good gift (Jas. 1:17).

*   Christians speak to one another in song (1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19). The melody made to the Lord in the hearts of singing Christians is adoration of the King and instructive exhortation to one another (Col. 3:16). In singing the God-made instrument (the human heart) is plucked to produce melodic rejoicing and declarative praise (Jas. 5:13; Heb. 2:12). That is enough; no human instrument is warranted or accepted by the Master.

*   Christians pray together (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:15-16). Like the smoke of incense filled the holy place in the ancient tabernacle and temple of Israel, the prayers of the saints arise before God (Psa. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4). God hears and answers the prayers of his children on every day of the week. But as saints pray together on the first day of the week they raise a concerted “amen” to the Almighty Sovereign who fills heaven and earth. “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer”!

*   Christians do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25). The Christian’s priority on Sunday must always be to worship God with other Christians, not to serve selfish interests and pursuits.

Let us stir up each other to the love and good works God has prepared for us on the first day of the week (Heb. 10:24; Eph. 2:10).

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Matthew 4: Messiah Begins His Work - His Temptations

I. WHY WAS JESUS TEMPTED NOW?

  A.  Jesus was Divinely led into the Wilderness for a Special, Divine Purpose, Matt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12 (Lk. 4:1-2).
  B. The Divine Purpose in His Temptations: To Help Us; Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15-16.
  C. To Show His Superiority Over Sin and Satan.

II. HOW WAS JESUS TEMPTED?  Jas. 1:14-15

  A.  Time of Intense Desires, Matt. 4:2-6.
  B.  Satan tried to Disguise the Sinfulness of the Action.
  C.  Full-Range of Temptations, Heb.4: 15; Lk. 4:13.

III. HOW DID JESUS WITHSTAND TEMPTATION (overcoming), Matt. 4:1-11.

  A.  Remember what Sustains Us: The Word of God, 4:3-4 (Deut. 8:2-3).
  B. Humility, 4:5-7.
  C. Worship and Serve God, 4:8-10.

IV. LESSONS TO LEARN.

  A.  The Skill of Satan, 2 Cor. 11:3.
  B.  How to Resist, Jas. 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:8-9.
  C.  Temptation and Sin are Two Different Things, Heb. 4:15; Jas. 1:14-15.
  D. We must Go to Jesus when we are Tempted, Heb. 12:1-3 (1 Cor. 10:13).

Conclusion

1. Jesus refused to abuse His divine power (4:3-4); He did not tempt God (4:6-7); He would not conquer world by denying God (4:8-10).
2. Showed His power and victory over Satan (1 Jno. 3:8).
3. Place your confidence in Him.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Life and Death in the Womb

1. Pro-abortionists assumptions.
2. What can be proved empirically.
3. What can be accepted by faith (from Bible).
4. Abortion is the murder of unique & innocent human life that exists in the image of God.

I. ARGUE WITH SCIENCE, NOT WITH THE BIBLE.

  A.  Human Life Begins at Conception. Humanity of the embryo is not a matter of religion, but of medical science.
  B.  Distinct Human Life in the Womb.

II. WHEN WE COME INTO EXISTENCE WE ARE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7.

  A.  The Uniqueness of Humanity: God Forms Our Spirit within Us, Zech. 12:1.
  B.  “When does personhood begin?”

III. BIBLE EVIDENCE THAT LIFE IN THE WOMB HAS “PERSONHOOD”.

  A.  Each Person is made in the Womb, Job 31:13-15; Psa. 139:13-16; Isa. 49:1, 5.
  B.  Children in the Womb, Gen. 25:21-23.
  C.  There is Personal Identity in Womb, Job 3:3; 4:17; 10:18-19.
  D.  A Mother, whether Child is Unborn or Born, Num. 12:12; Lk. 1:43 (1:36, 56-57).
  E.  A Baby both Before and After Birth, Lk. 1:41, 44 (36, 57); 2:12, 16.
  F.  Taking Human Life in the Womb is Murder, Exo. 21:22-23.

IV. WHY ABORTION?

  A.  Common Reasons for Abortion.
  B.  What Abortion is, Rom. 1:31; 2 Ti. 3:3
  C.  Not Answer to Unwanted Pregnancy.
  D.  The Answer to Unwanted Pregnancy.
  E.  The Answer to One Who has Already had an Abortion, Ac 2:38; 1 Jno. 1:9; Phil. 4:6-7, 13.

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Planned Parenthood
Joe R. Price

No, I’m not talking about the organization that helps women obtain abortions on demand as their “right”. I’m talking about planning to be a parent – something that many are not doing these days.

*   Some plan to be parents when they shouldn’t.
   1) Children having children. Like the high school girls under the age of 16 in Gloucester, Mass. who apparently made a secret pact to get pregnant (CBS News, June 19, 2008). Some said it was to obtain status or acceptance. The result is selfish, immature children having babies. Having a baby does not make you an adult. God knew what he was doing when he ordained marriage, then children (Gen. 1:27-28).
   2) Those who are sexually active but not married. The consequences of fornication continue long after the passion wears off. Whether male or female, you are charged by Almighty God to reserve sexual intimacy for marriage (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:2).

*   Some plan to be godly parents – but not yet.
   1) Those who are married but not expecting to have children. Some who righteously wait for marriage have been unexpectedly surprised with parenthood. If that should happen to you, see the great blessing God has given you and honor him with the child he gives you (Psa. 127:3).

*   Some plan to be godly parents:
   1) Those who marry and plan to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Gen. 2:23-24; 4:1; Eph. 6:4). To bring new life into this world is a great blessing and a great challenge. These prepare themselves using God’s word to guide them as husbands and wives first, then as fathers and mothers.
   2) Those who can’t have children but want to be parents. There are many unwanted children in the world; adoption is a great and godly form of planned parenthood (Jas. 1:27).

Plan now to be a righteous parent (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:18-21; Titus 2:4).

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