Here are some questions to start off with:
- Are you Sundays filled with your flesh or God’s Spirit?
- How can Sundays be different than the rest of the week?
- What if we did not have a day of the week set aside to give priority and focus to GOD?
- What do we owe God?
We always have our own ideas of what we want to do, how a situation should be, how others should act.
We all love slow mornings, good food, relaxing…but is that appeasing the Spirit or flesh?
I know I would love to wake up on a Sunday morning, get ready and eat breakfast without interruption. My family would be in a good mood and arrive to Sunday school or their ministries on time.
It would be wonderful if the kids in the Sunday school, junior church and bus routes were all well behaved, and we had all the workers that we needed and they knew just what to do.
It would be Heaven if everyone at church agreed on every little detail, got along and helped each other. But is anyone perfect? Is the Earth perfect?
Now what is reality? What are Spirit-filled Sundays?
I get to focus on God and bless God today. I do not have to be influenced by the world today.
I might wake up late, but I will refuse to let that ruin my morning. I could start the day by singing and counting my blessings.
My family could be in a bad mood, but I pray specifically and help them in the way I can- even if my son throws a fit walking into church.
I don’t get to Sunday school on time, but I will work on that again next week by setting alarms and actually waking up to them, and waking my children up earlier.
One kid in Sunday school opening was being disrespectful. I try to help, pray for him and his family situation, let it roll off my back and get his bus captain; I refuse to let it affect me or my day.
I meet a visitor who has never been to church and sit by them. How refreshing, filling and comforting the Doctrinal songs, friendly people and the Bible preaching must be for them. I put myself in their shoes. I pray that they get saved, baptized, join the church and grow closer to God. I realize that I need to sit by visitors more often.
My husband and I are busy in our ministries, covering for someone who could not make it. We genuinely love and pray for them and the people we work alongside with.
I try to make something for lunch-it is not exciting, something to post about, or exceptionally tasty, but it works.
I might not get to relax because my children needed me, but I know that is priority right now and I can listen to an audio book.
I have nursery tonight, but I will not complain. I know it does not solve anything. I try to help God’s work any little way I can.
We get home after church and hear about someone getting saved. We realize that is why we are here; this is why we serve God.
Why do we have Sundays? Jesus died on the cross AND rose from the grave for us. God created us. God loves us each specifically. Sunday is a spiritual reset for all of us.
He is the One who knows us and loves us more than we know and love ourselves.
What do Sundays mean to you? Do they mean fulfilling a duty? Catching up on jobs from the week? What is your priority on Sunday? Who or what is your FOCUS?
How do you give God glory? Worshiping Him in everything we do, NOT just singing. Sitting in the service is getting something from God; we are not doing God a favor just by sitting in a service. Are you giving to him your time, money or talents? We can all give back to God somehow. Ask God what HE wants!! We already know what we want.
How is Sunday different than all the other days of the week?
Priorities on Sundays are:
- Remembering what GOD did for you.
- A restart spiritually to your week.
- Telling others how to get to Heaven.
- Encouraging people to do right (people do not always get that at home, school or work.)
- Comforting hurting people. Sundays are for serving God and His children, NOT self-service.
- Listening to the pastor’s message and the Sunday school lesson to learn what the Bible has for us. (If you teach Sunday school, what can you learn personally from the lesson?)
- Giving back to GOD-through our tithe, time, talent, and by helping people know more about HIM.
Sunday is NOT just another day of the week to get something done or do what you want to do.
“There’s something different in the air, it’s Sunday! I love the preaching of the word on Sunday. I can hardly wait to be in church with those who care for me – hallelujah, amen It’s Sunday!”
1 Corinthians 16:2 – Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come
Exodus 12:16 – And in the first day [there shall be] an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save [that] which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exodus 20:8-11 – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
John 20:1-31 – The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
Acts 20:7 – And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Luke 24:1-53 – Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.
Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Growing in Faith 