Sunday bible verse

Summary

Sunday bible verse

Sunday bible verse

The Lord’s Day: 50 Bible Verses for Sunday Worship and Rest

 

Sunday is not just the start of the week; it is the day of Resurrection. For Christians, it is the “Lord’s Day,” a time set aside for worship, rest, and community. Whether you call it the Sabbath or the First Day, Scripture is rich with guidance on how to honor this holy time.

Below is a curated collection of 50 powerful Bible verses focused strictly on the Sabbath, the First Day of the Week, and the heart of worship.

I. The First Day of the Week (The Resurrection)

 

Verses establishing Sunday as the day of Christ’s victory.

1. Mark 16:9 – “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.”

2. Matthew 28:1 – “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

3. Luke 24:1 – “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.”

4. John 20:1 – “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed.”

5. John 20:19 – “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together… Jesus came and stood among them.”

6. Acts 20:7 – “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people.”

7. 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.”

8. Revelation 1:10 – “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.”

9. Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Often applied to Sunday worship).

II. The Command to Rest (Sabbath Principles)

 

Understanding the biblical mandate for holy rest.

10. Exodus 20:8 – “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

11. Exodus 20:9 – “Six days you shall labor and do all your work.”

12. Exodus 20:10 – “But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work.”

13. Exodus 20:11 – “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth… but he rested on the seventh day.”

14. Deuteronomy 5:12 – “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.”

15. Deuteronomy 5:15 – “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there… Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”

16. Leviticus 23:3 – “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly.”

17. Isaiah 58:13 – “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day…”

18. Isaiah 58:14 – “then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land.”

19. Exodus 31:14 – “Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you.”

20. Exodus 34:21 – “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.”

21. Ezekiel 20:12 – “Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.”

22. Nehemiah 13:22 – “Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.”

23. Genesis 2:2 – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

24. Genesis 2:3 – “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

25. Hebrews 4:9 – “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.”

26. Hebrews 4:10 – “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”

27. Mark 2:27 – “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'”

28. Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

29. Luke 4:16 – “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”

30. Luke 23:56 – “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

III. Worship and Gathering Together

 

Scriptures encouraging corporate worship.

31. Hebrews 10:25 – “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.”

32. Psalm 95:6 – “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

33. Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

34. Psalm 122:1 – “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'”

35. Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

36. Colossians 3:16 – “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”

37. Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”

38. Psalm 84:4 – “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”

39. Psalm 84:10 – “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

40. Psalm 27:4 – “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.”

41. Psalm 96:9 – “Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”

42. John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

43. 1 Chronicles 16:29 – “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him.”

44. Psalm 5:7 – “But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.”

45. Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

46. Ephesians 5:19 – “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”

47. Psalm 63:2 – “I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.”

48. Psalm 134:2 – “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.”

49. Psalm 150:1 – “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.”

50. Habakkuk 2:20 – “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

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25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Sunday and the Sabbath

 

Q1: Why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? A: The early church shifted from Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath) to Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, which occurred on the “first day of the week” (Mark 16:9). It is often called “The Lord’s Day” (Rev 1:10).

Q2: Is Sunday the Sabbath day? A: Technically, Saturday (the 7th day) is the biblical Sabbath commanded in the Ten Commandments. Sunday (the 1st day) is the Christian day of worship. Some Christians view Sunday as the “Christian Sabbath,” while others distinguish between the two.

Q3: Is it a sin to work on Sunday? A: The New Testament does not strictly forbid work on Sunday in the same legalistic way the Old Testament forbade work on the Sabbath. However, the principle of rest and setting aside time for God is vital for spiritual health. Colossians 2:16 says not to let anyone judge you regarding a Sabbath day.

Q4: What does “The Lord’s Day” mean? A: The term comes from Revelation 1:10. It refers to Sunday, the day belonging specially to the Lord Jesus because of His resurrection. It became the standard day for the early church to gather (Acts 20:7).

Q5: Did Jesus change the Sabbath to Sunday? A: Jesus declared Himself “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28) but did not explicitly command a day change. The change occurred organically in the early church through the apostles’ practice of meeting on the Resurrection day.

Q6: Why does Paul say “One person considers one day more sacred than another” (Romans 14:5)? A: Paul was addressing disputes between Jewish and Gentile believers. He taught that the observance of specific holy days was a matter of personal conviction and conscience, not salvation.

Q7: What is the “Sabbath rest” in Hebrews 4? A: Hebrews 4 teaches that the physical Sabbath was a shadow of the true spiritual rest we find in Christ. We enter God’s rest by faith, ceasing from our own works to earn salvation.

Q8: Why do we give offerings on Sunday? A: Paul instructed the Corinthian church to set aside a sum of money “on the first day of every week” (1 Corinthians 16:2). This established the tradition of Sunday tithes and offerings.

Q9: Can I worship God on other days? A: Absolutely. Worship is a lifestyle, not an event. The early church met “every day” in the temple courts (Acts 2:46). However, Sunday is set aside for corporate (community) worship.

Q10: What does “forsaking the assembly” mean? A: Hebrews 10:25 warns against the habit of skipping church (“meeting together”). It emphasizes that we need the encouragement of other believers to stay strong in faith.

Q11: Is it okay to play sports on Sunday? A: This is a matter of conscience. The key is whether the activity distracts from worship or prevents rest. God desires mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 12:7).

Q12: What did Jesus do on the Sabbath? A: He often healed the sick and taught in synagogues (Luke 4:16), showing that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12).

Q13: Why is Psalm 118:24 (“This is the day”) associated with Sunday? A: Because contextually, Psalm 118 is a messianic psalm predicting the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone (Resurrection). Thus, “the day the Lord has made” is often viewed as the day of Resurrection success.

Q14: Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? A: Christians are not under the Mosaic Law but under Grace. However, the principle of one day of rest in seven is a creation ordinance (Genesis 2:3) beneficial for all humanity.

Q15: What is the difference between the Jewish Sabbath and Christian Sunday? A: The Jewish Sabbath is from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, commemorating Creation and the Exodus. Christian Sunday is the first day, commemorating the New Creation through the Resurrection.

Q16: Can I take Communion on days other than Sunday? A: Yes. The early church broke bread daily (Acts 2:46). However, Sunday became the primary day for the Eucharist because of Acts 20:7.

Q17: What does “Sabbath” literally mean? A: It comes from the Hebrew Shabbat, meaning “to cease” or “to stop.” It is not just resting; it is stopping our labor to acknowledge God.

Q18: How should I prepare for Sunday worship? A: By resting the night before, praying, and resolving conflicts (Matthew 5:23-24) so that you can worship with a pure heart.

Q19: Is it wrong to shop or eat out on Sunday? A: Opinions vary. Some avoid it to allow workers to rest (based on Nehemiah 13). Others view it as Christian liberty. The focus should be on honoring God and refreshing your soul.

Q20: Why are church services usually in the morning? A: It follows the pattern of the Resurrection discovery (“very early in the morning”). It also prioritizes God by giving Him the “firstfruits” of the day.

Q21: What if I have to work on Sundays (nurse, police, etc.)? A: God understands necessity and mercy. You can designate another day of the week as your Sabbath for rest and worship.

Q22: What is the “Christian Sabbath”? A: A term used by some traditions (like Presbyterians and Puritans) who apply the strict Old Testament Sabbath laws to Sunday observation.

Q23: How can I make Sunday special for my family? A: By setting it apart from other days—special meals, no chores, family Bible reading, and rest. Making it a day of “delight” (Isaiah 58:13).

Q24: Did the disciples meet on Saturday or Sunday? A: Initially both. They went to the synagogue on Sabbath to evangelize Jews, and met with believers on the First Day (Sunday) for Communion.

Q25: What does “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” mean? A: In Revelation 1:10, John implies he was in a state of deep prayer and worship on Sunday when he received the vision of the Apocalypse.