Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

The Fourth Commandment

Bryan Schneider · October 2, 2021

Exodus 20:8-11

sharonrpc.org/sermons/the-fourth-commandment

Summary

The Sabbath is rooted in God's creation pattern and given as a gracious day of rest, worship, and delight in him.
Christ fulfills rather than abolishes God's moral law, and the ceremonial sabbaths that pointed to him must be distinguished from the weekly Sabbath.
The resurrection of Jesus and the practice of the apostolic church establish the first day of the week as the Lord's Day.
Works of necessity and mercy are lawful on the Sabbath, as Jesus demonstrated in feeding the hungry and healing the afflicted.
Finances, family, friends, and fun can compete with the day, but setting ordinary work aside re-centers believers on Christ and strengthens communion with the church.

Do I receive the Lord's Day as God's gift, or mainly experience it as an interruption to my plans?
Which pressures—finances, family, friends, or fun—most often pull my attention away from worship and rest?
How can I prepare during the week so ordinary work does not crowd the Lord's Day?
Where might a genuine work of necessity or mercy require loving service rather than self-serving activity?
How does gathering with the church help re-center my heart on Christ and his promises?

Sabbath: The one-in-seven day God sanctified for rest from ordinary work, worship, mercy, and delight in him.
Lord's Day: The first day of the week, marked by Christ's resurrection and the New Testament church's gathering for worship.
Works of necessity and mercy: Duties that cannot rightly be postponed and acts of compassion that remain lawful on the Sabbath.
Ceremonial sabbaths: Old-covenant festival and holy-day observances fulfilled in Christ, distinct from the weekly moral pattern grounded in creation.