Part 1 · Leviticus 23:1–3
The Weekly Sabbath
Before Leviticus 23 introduces Israel’s annual feasts, it sets apart the seventh day for rest and worship. Begin with what the Sabbath meant for Israel and how it points to Jesus. Then explore what the New Testament teaches about observance and why Christians came to gather on Sundays.
Start here · Biblical foundation
The Sabbath: God’s Gift of Rest and Jesus Our True Shabbat
Trace the Sabbath from God’s rest at creation to its place in Israel’s covenant. Then see how it points to the rest Jesus gives and what it can teach us about worship, trust, and rest today.
Read the Sabbath foundationWhat does Scripture ask of Christians?
01 · The practical question
Are Christians Required to Keep the Saturday Sabbath?
Consider whether Israel’s seventh-day command binds Christians today and what freedom in Christ means for believers with different convictions.
02 · Study the passage
Does Colossians 2:16–17 Command Christians to Keep the Feasts and Sabbath?
Read Paul’s words about festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths in context. What does it mean to call these observances a shadow and point readers to Christ?
How did Sunday worship begin?
03 · The biblical and historical background
How Did We Come to Worship on Sundays?
Follow the connection between Jesus’ resurrection, first-day gatherings in the New Testament, and the practice of the early church.
04 · A common historical claim
Did Rome Change the Sabbath?
Examine the claim about Rome and Constantine, and see why the seventh-day Sabbath and first-day Christian worship are distinct questions.
Continue through the guide
From the weekly Sabbath to the annual feasts
Leviticus 23 moves from a rhythm Israel observed each week to appointed times throughout the year. Get the big picture, then consider what observing those feasts means for Christians today.
The big picture
The Feasts of the Bible: God’s Calendar of Redemption
See why God gave Israel these appointed times, what they helped His people remember, and how they point to Jesus.
The question of observance
Are Christians Required to Keep the Feasts Today? Is It a Sin If We Don’t?
Explore what Jesus and the apostles taught about the law and the new covenant, and whether Christians are free to observe the feasts or abstain.