What I Have Been Doing

Can Do and Will Do on the Sabbath
The Sabbath of the Lord our God was made for man, NOT man for the Sabbath. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath.

On Friday evening, I leave school between 5 and 5:30p.m., so that I may have enough time to get home before the sun sets on me. The interesting (and most gracious) thing about the start and end of the Sabbath is that there is no predetermined clock time for ‘sunset’; for me and in this part of the world (Malaysia, Singapore), the Sabbath begins 7 – 7:30p.m. every Friday evening.

If I were to leave school too late, I wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the public transport, i.e. bus, train and taxi, for into the Sabbath, I will not trade with my fellow man. Since paying a cabbie for a ride home is a business exchange (trading, transaction), it is not right for me to delay my work on Friday evening till the late minute and hope to teleport home in 1 minute.

I know a handful of Christians who carpool on the Sabbath. Not everyone has a car: college students, for example. Do a favor, and look out for those who need transport to and from places on the Sabbath but cannot walk the distance. “Nothin’ like spreadin’ the love, yo!”

Then, on the Sabbath, I have been doing, can do and will do the following...

1) Join other Sabbathkeeping Christians for worship and fellowship. This is often known as "attending church". We sing hymns, listen to people sing (on stage), pay attention to the Word being preached and take notes on what's being said.

Some turn on the lights, adjust the sound and set things up. For what one can do in church, click here.

2) Read the Bible. Do an accompanying Bible study guide.

3) Read a Christian book or magazine.


4) Write a letter of praise or edification to a fellow brother- or sister-in-Christ.

5) Watch one or more Christian films: dramatizations of the Gospels; documentaries; recorded sermons on salvation, evangelism, the Law and prophecy; updates on church mission and field work, etc.

6) Eat a variety of finger-food and snacks in the meantime.

7) Take a couple of showers. Or baths.

8) Sleep early on Friday night so that I'll feel comfortable and alert at church on Saturday.


9) Listen to Christian songs on CD as I have my meals.

10) Discuss doctrine and theology with pastors, elders, deacons and the kids.

11) Write a tract or two for printing and distribution in the coming week.

12) Write a testimony (of yourself), or a testimonial (of someone else). I talked about how I discovered certain truths of/from the Bible, what my beliefs are, what my Christian friends have done for me, what my spiritual experience was in 200?, etc.

SLOW DOWN! On the Sabbath, do the usual things slowly, meditatively and purposefully. Unlike the 6 days, on the seventh day there is no need to rush. Enjoy your shower, food and sleep thoroughly. Chew that morsel carefully; feel the droplets of water roll down your back. Read the Bible with an unhurried heart, and write out passages you like on a colorful card. Gaze at your sweetheart with a special longing.

13) Make a phone call / an e-mail / house visit to a family member, relative or friend, and ask about his/her well-being. Strengthen with song, prayer and advice.

14) Teach the children of God. Speak on outreach, faith, lifestyle, health and love. You can deliver a feature-length sermon, or lead Sabbath School.


15) Make my own meals; meals for my family; meals for the potluck after the Saturday morning service. The food is simple to prepare, esp. Chinese food, which is often stir-fried, but the more complicated gourmet dishes are prepared before the Sabbath.


16) Do voluntary work at nursing homes, shelters and hospitals. Render your services to the poor, depressed and oppressed, asking for nothing in return.

17) Take a nap after church. Sometimes, I use a nap to close the Sabbath.

18) Take a walk in the park / along the seashore. Think about God's goodness, and continue to hope for His 2nd coming. Watch the rain, feel the breeze, stare at the trees and breathe deeply. Stand at your balcony, on a hill or atop a skyscraper. Sit by a river (natural or man-made), or lie down by it. Think about nothing for a while.

Sometimes, I spend a bit of Sabbathtime on inactivity. I lie on my bed, sit on the stairs or laze on the couch doing nothing. I either listen to the sounds of nature, or th sound of silence.

19) Ponder your existence. Think about what you can do for the person next to you. Think about how you're gonna love the person you love most.

20) Update the church's website.

21) Do street evangelism -- alone or in pairs.

22) Hug a child. Colour a picture together.

23) Baptise a new believer. Lead him/her through basic Christian beliefs.

24) Dedicate a baby.

25) Conduct a wedding.

26) Celebrate a birthday.

27) Practise in the church choir. Go for the arts!

28) Prepare the sermon / lesson / bulletin / notes for next week's Sabbath.

29) Take a dip in the pool.

30) Make love.

Many of the above things I find no time to do on the other 6 days of the week. Thus, the Sabbath is a blessing to me because I get to do some of these things.

IF YOU CAN DO ALL THESE 30 THINGS AND YET STILL HAVE HOURS OF TIME LEFT OVER FROM THE SABBATH, AND THUS FIND THE SABBATH RESTRICTIVE, BONDAGE AND A THOROUGH WASTE OF TIME, THEN I'LL STOP BEING A SABBATHKEEPER. (E-mail me here)