All verse are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Genesis 2:1-3
1 And so the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their heavenly lights. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Now as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You must keep My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 So the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

Mark 2:23-28
23 And it happened that He was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

Hebrews 4:1-11
4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“As I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Theme: The Sabbath is a gift from God that points us to rest, worship, and trust, ultimately pointing us to Christ.

1) The Sabbath at Creation (Genesis 2:1-3)

2) The Sabbath became a covenant sign for Israel (Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17)

3) Jesus restored the true meaning of the Sabbath (Mk. 2:23-28)

4) Jesus is our ultimate Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:1-11; Matthew 11:28-30)

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We must know and understand what God’s purpose is for our church, and together strive to excel in fulfilling that purpose for the glory of Christ.

The Fantastic 4-fold Purpose of the Local Church:

1) Be a Worshiping Body – Exalt the Lord

2) Be a Witnessing Body – Evangelize the Lost

3) Be a Walking Body – Edify the Saints

4) Be a Working Body – Equip the Saints

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Sermon by Cyril Florita

Colossians 3:14–15 (NASB95)

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Theme/Proposition: In light of the Christian’s identity as a new man in Christ, you and I must put on the God-given garments of that new man.

Outline:

The Outer Garments of the New Man:

Garment of Love (v.14)
Garment of Peace (v.15a)
Garment of Thankfulness (v. 15b)

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James 5:19-20 (NASB)

19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Theme: It is the whole church’s responsibility to help restore straying sinners back to the truth.

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James 5:16-18 (NASB)

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Theme: Since the prayer of the righteous is very powerful, we as Christians should be motivated to pray.

1) A Motivation to pray (5:16b)

2) An Illustration of the power of prayer (5:17-18)

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James 5:13-16 (NASB)

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.

Theme: Prayer is an expression of our dependence on God in all of life’s circumstances.

1) Times of suffering should lead us to prayer (5:13a)

2) Times of blessing should lead us to praise (5:13b)

3) In extreme sickness, we should call on the elders to pray (5:14-15)

4) In struggles with sin, we should confess to one another and pray (5:16a)

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James 5:12 (NASB)

12 But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment.

Theme: Christians are called to be people who speak the truth and are faithful to keep their word.

Outline:

1) Don’t swear or take oaths to authenticate the truth (5:12a)

2) Make swearing/oaths unnecessary by always speaking the truth (5:12b)

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James 5:10-11 (NASB)

10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Theme: In times of suffering, look to the prophets and Job for spiritual encouragement.

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James 5:7-9 (NASB)

7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

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Colossians 3:12-13 (NASB)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also.

Theme: Because God has made believers to be His chosen, holy, and beloved people, they must clothe themselves with Christlike virtues and forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven them.

Outline: 4 Garments of the New Man:

• Identity
• Virtue
• Forbearance
• Forgiveness

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