Acts 20:7–First Day Focus

My friend, preaching colleague, and fellow blogger, Roger Shouse, is fond of saying, “Sunday is the best day of the week.”

He often speaks in his blogs about how special Sunday is to him and how much he looks forward to it. In one post, he gushed, “I love Sundays.”

Why? What makes Sunday so special? Why would someone speak of loving Sunday above another day?

Our passage to ponder provides a glimpse to answer that question.

“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

#1 Sunday is special because it’s the Lord’s Day.

Under the Old Covenant the Sabbath, or 7th day of the week, was consecrated as holy day of worship to God for the Jewish people. Following Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, God changed the day of worship under the New Covenant for Christians to “the first day of the week.”

This came to be known by early Christians as “the Lord’s Day, as John refers to it in Revelation 1:10. There are several “first day” events that make this day special.

◆Upon the first day of the week, our Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead (Mk. 16:2).

◆Upon the first day of the week, when He arose, He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:11).

◆Upon the first day of the week, He met with His disciples ( Jn 20:19-24).

◆Upon the first day of the week, He appeared to doubting Thomas causing Him to believe (Jn. 20:27-29).

◆Upon the first day of the week, the Holy Spirit made a powerful appearance (Acts 2:1-4).

◆Upon the first day of the week, Peter and the apostles preached the gospel for the very first time (Ac 2:14-39).

◆Upon the first day of the week, over 3,000 responded to the saving message of Jesus for the first time and were baptized for the remission of sins (Ac 2:38-41).

◆Upon the first day of the week ,the church was born (Ac 2:41-47).

◆Upon the first day of the week, Christians met to eat the Supper—-to remember Jesus, to celebrate his life, to reflect on His death and anticipate His return (Ac 20:7).

#2 Sunday is special because it’s when the Lord’s People meet together.

The verse implies that this was the disciples’ regular practice. They didn’t assemble just to hear Paul preach. That was incidental. They were meeting whether Paul was the guest speaker or not.

The Lord’s people are meant to be together on the Lord’s Day. The writer of Hebrews admonishes them not “to forsake the assembling together.” Apparently, some were neglecting it. By missing it, they were missing an opportunity not only to worship God, but to encourage, edify, and stimulate one another to “love and good works” (Heb. 10:23-25).

Sunday is a special day of spiritual fellowship for the Lord’s people. Singing together. Praying together. Communing together. Mutual interaction and engagement provides a spiritual, emotional, mental, and even physical stimulus that lifts our spirits. You can’t get that at home, sitting on the coach in your pajamas watching worship online.

#3 Sunday is special because it’s when we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus’ instituted a special supper during His final Passover feast with the disciples. It was not to be a common meal, according to 1 Corinthians 11:17-33. But its elements of the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread, often called communion, are identified as the Lord’s Supper.

Paul says it’s a time of reflection to remember Jesus. To commemorate His death on the cross for our sins. To celebrate His resurrection from the grave. And to anticipate His return. The Lord’s Supper is connected with First Day worship. Every first day of the week. Don’t miss it. It’s a special time.

#4 Sunday is special because we hear the Lord’s message.

Granted, we can hear gospel preaching any time, but on this day, the gospel message is a part of the assembly. Of worship. Of scriptural meditation. It’s time to combine all the elements of worship into one service. Let’s not minimize the power of the gospel and the importance God has placed on preaching His Word. (1 Cor. 1:18-23). It’s His means to bring us into a right relationship with Him, as well as to warn, rebuke, encourage, and comfort.

I must agree with Roger. Sunday is the best day of the week.

What’s your focus? Is it a day to sleep in? Go fishing? Play golf? Relax at the beach? Travel?

Do you need to refocus? Remember Sunday is the Lord’s Day when the Lord’s people meet, participate in the Lord’s Supper, and hear the Lord’s message.

Let’s return to a scriptural first day focus.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman