Sabbath - Sermons, Bible Studies, Articles, and Essays

God's Sabbath

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a day of rest; it is a day devoted entirely to God, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. The Sabbath was made by God on the seventh day of Creation, as described in Genesis 2:2-3, and it is inte

The Purpose of the Sabbath

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

The 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.

Did God Change the Sign From the Sabbath to the Holy Spirit?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

A 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.

The Sabbath: Creation

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath plays a vital role in God's continuing creation of His sons and daughters, as it is a day set apart for spiritual work and growth. God did not merely rest after the creation week; He continues to work, and this is exemplified in the weekly Sabbath meetings with His people. The Sabbath, as described in Leviticus 23, is a

Remember the Sabbath Day

Sermonette by Hunter D. Swanson

All of God's people have at times felt overwhelmed by grief and exhaustion, needing a genuine rehabilitative rest. The Sabbath restores spiritual strength.

Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath holds a significant place in God's purpose for mankind, reflecting its importance to each of us. It is not merely a day for worship, but a specific day designated by God, for no other day will suffice. God, in His sovereignty, has the right to set such commands, and our role is to submit, recognizing that deviations fro

The Fourth Commandment (Part Two): Christ's Attitude Toward the Sabbath

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Nowhere in the Bible is the Sabbath annulled by a command or example of Jesus Christ or the apostles. In the gospels, the controversy surrounding the Sabbath is always about how to keep it, not whether to keep it. Jesus never declares that it no longer matters or that we need not observe it. He obviously kept the Sabbath, as eviden

Sabbathkeeping (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath holds a vital place in the relationship God has invited us into, reflecting its profound importance from His perspective. It is a sign between God and His people, serving multiple purposes: it reminds us of our identity, acknowledges our God as the Creator through its memorial to creation, identifies and distinguishes u

Sabbathkeeping (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

From God's perspective, Sabbath-breaking, alongside idolatry, stands as a primary reason for Israel's captivity, as seen in Ezekiel 20. Sabbath-breaking destroys holiness, marking it as a grave immorality akin to murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting. Its roots lie in idolatry, stemming from the desire to pursue one's own

Sabbathkeeping (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In the history of both the nation of Israel and the Israel of God, the Sabbath has always been the day set aside for the worship of God. God requires more than mere lip service in observing the Sabbath, as it holds deep significance in our relationship with Him and our development into His image in the Kingdom of God. The Sabbath m

The Lunar Sabbath or the Seventh-Day Sabbath: Which?

'Ready Answer' by Charles Whitaker

For millennia, the world has used a seven-day week, with the first day following the seventh in a continuous cycle. Some, however, propose a lunar Sabbath, determined by the new moon marking the start of Hebrew months. In this view, lunar Sabbaths occur on specific days of each Hebrew month, such as the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, o

Polluted Sabbath?

Sermon by Bill Onisick

God sanctified the Sabbath, making it holy and setting it apart as a day of purity and consecration. He commands us to keep His Sabbaths, emphasizing that we should be holy as He is holy, gathering together in a holy convocation with His people. The Sabbath is a day dedicated to focusing solely on our purpose of becoming like our h

Are the Sabbath and Holy Days Done Away?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

For centuries, people have sought to argue that Christians are not required to observe the Sabbath and holy days. In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul addresses the Colossians, telling them not to be concerned about what others judge regarding their practices, including the observance of the Sabbath. He notes that the Sabbath and holy days

Remember the Sabbath Day

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The fourth commandment stands out among the Ten Commandments by beginning with "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). God charges His people to remember the Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of this act. The Hebrew word zākar, meaning to remember, think of, or mention, blends mental activity with external

The Sabbath: Rest

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the relentless pace of life in the United States, where hard work defines much of our identity, the concept of rest remains elusive. Yet, God has promised His people true rest, a profound peace that we can begin to experience even now. Each Sabbath we observe serves as a foreshadowing of the greater rest that God will ultimately

The Fourth Commandment

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The Sabbath, as highlighted in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, is a day to be remembered and kept holy, serving as a vital connection to God and His purpose. It is more than a weekly day of rest; it is a day each week devoted entirely to God, acting as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. Disregarding the Sab

The Sabbath: Redemption

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

One of God's greatest blessings is the weekly Sabbath, a time He provides for us to rest, reflect, recharge, and re-engage in true spiritual worship and fellowship with Him and those He has called to the same path. The Sabbath links to creation, as seen in Exodus chapter twenty, where the reason for keeping it revolves around God's

The Day God Rested

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

God gave the Sabbath as a blessing for man, which, if kept correctly, gives rejuvenating rest, a relief from stress, and a defense against illness.

Rome's Challenge (Part 1)

Article by Staff

The Seventh-day Adventists, a numerically small sect of Christians, hold Saturday as the day for exclusive worship of God, adhering to the divine command repeatedly stated in the sacred books of the Old and New Testaments. They assert that this practice was literally obeyed by the children of Israel for thousands of years and was e

Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions About Sunday

Article by Staff

The vast majority of Christian churches today observe Sunday, the first day of the week, as a time for rest and worship, yet it is widely acknowledged that early Christians observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. History shows that decades after the apostles' death, a politico-religious system rejected the Sabbath of Scripture and

Rome's Challenge (Part 2)

Article by Staff

The biblical Sabbath, identified as Saturday, is presented as the divinely ordained day of worship, rooted in God's own rest on the seventh day as recorded in Genesis 2:2. Exodus 20 and 31 further emphasize this command, with God blessing and sanctifying the seventh day, establishing it as a perpetual covenant and a holy rest to th

Manna and the Preparation Day (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

From the instruction concerning the manna in Exodus 16, we are to gather twice as much on the sixth day, the Preparation Day, as on the other five work days of the week to ensure enough bread from heaven to ingest on the Sabbath. God understood the limits of man, so He created a space of time when essentially nothing was allowed to

It's Not Our Time

Article by David C. Grabbe

The principle of ownership extends into a larger issue at the core of our relationship with God, specifically concerning the Sabbath. Genesis 2:1-3 plainly states that the seventh day is God's Sabbath, showing that although it is His time, we still have a responsibility to observe it properly. Exodus 20:1-2 explains why we must kee

Did Christ's Resurrection Change the Day of Worship? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Protestants will not concede Papal authority. Instead, they justify Sunday-worship by saying they are honoring the day on which Christ rose from the dead.

Has Time Been Lost?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

How can we know which day is the true seventh day God blessed and made holy? Has time been lost? Were not ten days dropped out of it at one time?

Is It Salvational? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Whether a matter is salvational is the wrong question. There is a better question and another approach to evaluating matters that will put us on better footing.

The Fourth Commandment (Part One) (1997)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Most people think the fourth commandment is least important, but it may be one of the most important! It is a major facet of our relationship with God.

Holy Ground

Sermon by Ted E. Bowling

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.

The Signs of God (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Correct actions become a sign—a witness—even without any preaching, which is why God's words are symbolically bound to the hand rather than the tongue.

The Commandments (Part Six)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

God gave the Sabbath to His people so they can know Him intimately. Idolatry, scattering, and captivity are the natural consequences of Sabbath-breaking.

Skipping Services? Consider Carefully

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's word marks the Sabbath as a time of His calling His people together for worship, so attending church services is a vital part of the Christian Sabbath.

The Fourth Commandment (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath reminds us that God is Creator and that we were once in slavery to sin. The Sabbath is a time of blessing, deliverance, liberty, and redemption.

Simplifying Life (Part Five)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

The seventh-day Sabbath is God's design for rest, sanctification, and restoration, both today and for the entire creation in the Kingdom of God.

The Fourth Commandment

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

At 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. Ritenbaugh

The 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 Seven)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The work required on the Sabbath is to prepare for the Kingdom of God, fellowshipping with our brethren, serving where possible, and relieving burdens.

The Commandments (Part Five)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The 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: Idolatry

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God, not man, created, sanctified and memorialized the seventh day Sabbath from the time of creation, intending that man use this holy time to worship God.

Did Christ's Resurrection Change the Day of Worship? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The timing of Jesus Christ's resurrection has nothing to do with establishing which day God made holy, and everything to do with whether He is the Messiah.

Leadership and Covenants (Part Five)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Universal in scope, the Edenic Covenant introduces God to mankind as his Creator and establishes the way human beings are to relate to Him and the creation.

My Parents Won't Let Me!

Article by Clyde Finklea

Here is the story of a young man's momentous choice regarding his keeping of the Sabbath, a decision he had to make all on his own.

Searching for Israel (Part Twelve): The Sign

Article by Charles Whitaker

Most Israelites are blind to their origins, thinking that only Jews are Israelites. Here is why Israel has forgotten its identity.

Strategies for Interfacing with Babylon without Becoming Assimilated (Part Four)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

Over 77% of 'Christian' churches have chosen the day of the sun as their day of rest, rejecting the day God hallowed from creation, seen in the 4th Commandment.

Disbelief

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Can anything be more paradoxical than professing Christians not following the words of the One they claim as their Savior? In works they deny Him.

The Fourth Commandment (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus magnified the Sabbath, giving principles by which to judge our activities. Each time Jesus taught about the Sabbath, He emphasized some form of redemption.

The Fourth Commandment (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Focusing on material and temporal things undermines faith. The Sabbath is holy time, created for building faith, energizing our minds for fellowship with God.

Rome's Challenge (Part 3)

Article by Staff

Jesus never deviated from observing the 7th-day Sabbath, nor ever hinted at moving its holiness or sanctification to the first day of the week.

The Commandments (Part Nine)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Benign 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 Commandments (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

In 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.

The Signs of God

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Jesus Christ is not against signs; the book of John is structured around eight signs. The Old Testament is full of signs that the Pharisees missed.

The Fourth Commandment (Part 5)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The 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.

Why So Many Religions? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

There are over 1,200 Christian denominations in the United States! Why has God not intervened to remove the confusion and set things straight?

God's Holy Days - Our Shared Vision Of Hope

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark Schindler

From Passover to Pentecost to Trumpets to Atonement to the Feast of Tabernacles, these days should solidify our vision of he Father, Jesus, and one another.

Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Fourteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God has sanctified no day other than the Sabbath. Sunday worship is a pagan deviation, perpetuated by Gnosticism, a movement that despises God's laws.

Acts (Part Twenty-One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The phrase 'first day of the week' is used 8 times in scripture, but none does away with the Sabbath nor establishes Sunday as the 'Lords Day.'

Rome's Challenge (Part 4)

Article by Staff

'The day of the Lord' or 'the Lord's day' is not a reference to the fist day of the week (Sunday) but to the time of Jesus Christ's judgment at His return.

God's Rest and the Millennium

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Millennium or God's rest will be an exceedingly busy time, a time when all of humanity will be converted, a time everybody will be on the same trek.

How Does Faith Establish the Law?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The book of Romans is like a song in which some lyrics are popular but others are unfamiliar and hummed through, obscuring the overall message.

Appointments

Sermon by Clyde Finklea

God established the weekly Sabbath on the seventh day of Creation; He established His Holy Days (moedim) on the fourth day. These are His appointments.

Psalms: Book Four (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The focus of Psalms Book IV and the Summary Psalm 149 is on the work of the glorified saints in serving as mediating priests under Christ.

A Search For Christmas Truth?

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

Rejecting the Sabbath or embracing Christmas requires rejecting fundamental biblical truths. If we do not do what Christ did, we cannot claim to follow Christ.

Satan's Lies About the Law

Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

Contrary to the assertions of Satanically-inspired men, the consequence for all sin is death. God's law applies to everyone, not just the Israelites.

Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Four): Cultivating Peace

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

Here are biblical strategies to cultivate the fruit of peace, including controlling our thoughts and emotions, submitting to God's will, and embracing His law.

One Nation Under God (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We need to follow Nehemiah's example in submitting to God, focusing on the right goals, having wisdom in handling complex situations, and having courage.

Belief with Obedience

Sermon by John O. Reid

Catholics and Protestants, because of lack of belief, do not find the Bible a sufficient guide to salvation. They claim to believe Christ, yet disobey.

God's Rest (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sabbath rest depicts the miracle of conversion, in which the transformation of mankind into God's image brings about a rest in which God takes pleasure.

The Christian and the World (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

There is a clear demarcation in God's mind regarding which is the true way and which is not. We were formerly children of Satan until God rescued us.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

A summary of the Covenants, Grace, and Law series, reiterating the differences in the Covenants and the respective places of grace and law in God's purpose.

'After Three Days'

Booklet by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A scriptural explanation of the time of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, showing that He died on a Wednesday and rose from the dead on the Sabbath.