Jesus’ example is the best guide a Christian can have, particularly in this case, for He is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). As the commandment giver, He gave the Sabbath as a day of rest where all business and work should cease (Exodus 20:8-11), as a reminder of His creative power. Jesus regularly attended the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 1:21), which was an act of both shared worship and fellowship. He performed acts of service to others, particularly making a point of healing (Luke 13:10-17; Luke 14:1-6). The Sabbath then is for rest, worship, fellowship and service.
It is possible to keep the Sabbath without attending church, but if it became a regular practice it does not follow the example set by Jesus. If you decided to turn “sometimes” into “often” you would miss out on the fullness God intended you to find in the Sabbath.
What should I do if I if have school-related activities scheduled on the Sabbath?
Many school-related activities that are held on the Sabbath hours will not be in the spirit of the Sabbath. That’s when you will need to decide whether you are going to make a stand on the Sabbath. It will test how important the Sabbath is in your life. As you make that decision, it is worth remembering that God thought the Sabbath important enough to mention it in the Ten Commandments. Every Christian should be bold enough to believe they ought to obey God rather than human rules (see Acts 4:19, 20).
If you believe you should not participate in a school activity on Sabbath you should discuss this with your class teacher or someone with authority at the school and tell them why you cannot be involved. Perhaps your parents or church friends can help you with what you can say. Sometimes it may be as simple as taking a note from your parents asking that you be excused from the activity. If that isn't enough, maybe your pastor could also write a letter explaining the religious basis for your actions.
Be open about your reasons for not being involved. Ask your church friends to pray for you so that you will know what to say to be faithful to God.
Of course, if there is some activity that you can be involved in (like visiting the ward of a children’s hospital, for instance), go for it, but also be prepared to tell your school friends why you feel you can be involved. Perhaps this is the type of activity you could suggest your school become involved in on the Sabbath.
Why is Saturday the Sabbath when all other religions in the world worship on Sunday?
First, not all religions do keep Sunday as the Sabbath. Muslims, for instance, keep Friday as their holy day. However, the majority of those within Christianity do worship on Sunday.
The Bible is certainly clear about Saturday Sabbath. God created in six days and rested on the seventh, creating this day as a holy, set-apart day (Genesis 2:1-3). He placed it in the Ten Commandments as a reminder that we should “remember” to observe it. It is a reminder of His creation (Exodus 20:8-11). In another place, the commandments are written so the Sabbath is a reminder of salvation (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). Jesus kept the Sabbath (Mark 1:21). Jesus is lord and master of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). In many places in the book of Acts, the apostles meet for fellowship with others on the Sabbath.
There is no hint in the Bible that God has changed His mind or has developed another option. No New Testament writer raised the idea that the day of worship had changed--and it’s worth remembering they didn't hesitate to speak out on other Jewish practices, such as circumcision, that were no longer relevant. There is no hint of any disagreement over this issue. Saturday is the Sabbath because God, through His Word, says it is.
Where should we draw the line on Sabbath activities? Is it okay to play sports?
The Jewish leaders in the time of Jesus attempted to draw up a specific list of things that could or could not be done on the Sabbath. In doing this they turned the Sabbath into a day that focused more on law than love, and more on deeds than on God.
Rather than follow their example of lists of do’s and don’ts we should draw a line of principles. The Sabbath is a gift of time given by God. It’s holy time (Genesis 2:1-3) or set-apart time to build a stronger relationship with Him. It’s intended as a day of rest from business and work (Exodus 20:8-11). It is to be celebrated in recognition of the lordship of Jesus (Mark 2:28). Jesus demonstrated that it was given to serve others, to do good. He also used the Sabbath for fellowship and worship (Mark 1:21). It is an ideal time to demonstrate love for God and love for those around us.
These are some biblical principles that you can use to evaluate Sabbath activities. Is it okay to play sports on Sabbath? The answer to that and any other specific question you have about Sabbath keeping is to ask whether it fits within the broad Sabbath principles. For instance: Does the activity help you build a stronger relationship with God, or with others? Is it an act of service or does it prove to be self-serving? Is it worship or fellowship? Ask yourself these questions, pray about it, and listen to what God, through the principles given in His word, is telling you.