5 Recommended Resources on the Lord’s Day

Sunday is widely recognized as the day on which Christians attend church. But beyond that, confusion exists regarding how we should view the Lord’s Day. What relation, if any, exists between the Old Testament Sabbath and our worship today? Does the New Testament teach the uniqueness of the Lord’s Day, or are all days to be viewed the same? The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, seek to answer these questions and can help believers better understand this day of worship.

The Sabbath as Rest and Hope for the People of God by Guy Prentiss Waters

This book provides an introductory study of the Sabbath from the creation of the world to the consummation of all things at Christ’s return, showing how the Sabbath is observed through the major themes and genres of the Bible—creation, law, prophets, Christ, and new creation. Waters notes that the Sabbath is intricately tied to rest and worship, both of which ultimately point to the Lord as our Creator and Redeemer.

The Christian Sabbath by Terry L. Johnson 

Sunday was once considered a day of rest and worship in America, but now most people treat it just like any other day of the week. What led to that change? How should we think about the Lord’s Day? These questions and others are addressed in this book, which draws out the teaching of Scripture and provides practical recommendations to help Christians experience the benefits and blessings of the special day God has given us.

The Lord’s Day: Sabbath Worship and Rest by W. Robert Godfrey

Why do Christians worship on Sunday? How is worship on the first day of the week connected to the fourth commandment? Isn’t the Sabbath the seventh day of the week and not the first? In this 6-part teaching series, Dr. Godfrey surveys the theology, history, practice, and biblical teaching behind the Lord’s Day so that we might devote this day to the One to whom it rightly belongs.

The Lord’s Day by Joseph A. Pipa Jr.

Many of the issues surrounding Sunday worship are considered unclear, optional, or divisive, which can result in Christians ignoring the subject entirely. But nothing could be more important than worshiping our Lord in the way He desires. Are we missing out on God’s blessing by the way we celebrate the Lord’s Day? Are we too legalistic, or are we too lax? These and other questions are answered in The Lord’s Day.

The Day of Worship: Reassessing the Christian Life in Light of the Sabbath by Ryan McGraw

Many books have been written on the day of rest, yet many believers still do not observe this holy day. In this book, McGraw lays out the biblical basis for the Sabbath, including discussions on Isaiah 58, worldliness, legalism, the Reformed application of the law, and practical observations.

This article is part of the Recommended Resources collection.