Protecting the Sabbath Day

Aim: To be diligent guardians of Christ's Sabbath day (as the church).

Doctrine: The church is to zealously guard Christ's perennial Sabbath day. Our Sunday worship mandates this as it accords our faith with our practice.

Exegesis: Reasons why the church is to protect the Sabbath day: because in doing so we defend God's ways (vv. 15-16), we improve (and bless) God's people (v. 17), and we avert God's judgment (v. 18).

Further application: Why protecting the Sabbath day is a priority for the church: because our witness for Christ depends on it and our walk with Christ requires it.

Key verse: v. 17 ''Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, 'What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?'''