WHY CHRISTIANS WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS

Many Christians are unaware of the true reason behind Sunday church gatherings. Like others, I once assumed it was simply due to the weekend break, but I later discovered this was not the case.  

A common misconception is that just as Jews observe the Sabbath on Saturday and Muslims hold their special prayers on Friday, Christians meet on Sunday as part of a similar tradition. While this reasoning seems logical, it is not the true basis for Sunday worship in Christianity.  

The real reason most Christian denominations gather on Sunday is rooted in the practices of the early church. Sunday, known as the Lord’s Day, is the first day of the week—the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This sacred event transformed Sunday into the primary day for Christian worship.  

Biblical Evidence for Sunday Worship  

Acts 20:7 – "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread...". This passage indicates that the early Christians met on Sundays for worship and communion.  

1 Corinthians 16:2 – "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up..."  

Paul’s instruction suggests that Sunday was the regular day for gatherings, offerings, and fellowship.  

Revelation 1:10 – John refers to being "in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day."  The early Christians understood this as Sunday.  

Historical Confirmation 

 Beyond Scripture, early Christian writings—such as the Didache, the letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the works of Justin Martyr—confirm that Sunday worship was firmly established by the 2nd century. While some Jewish Christians initially observed both the Sabbath and Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus ultimately made Sunday the central day of worship for the Church.  

Why does the Resurrection of Jesus Matter? 

The resurrection is not merely a significant event—it is the foundation of Christianity. Consider this analogy: If a murderer is sentenced to twenty years in prison, he cannot walk free until his sentence is fully served. Even one remaining day keeps him confined. Similarly, without the resurrection, humanity would remain eternally bound by sin and death.  

The New Testament writers centered their teaching on Christ’s resurrection. The apostle Peter declared that we have "an indestructible inheritance in heaven, made available through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." In other words, even if Christ had died for our sins, without His resurrection, our heavenly inheritance would be void.  

Paul emphasized this truth, stating, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost." (1 Corinthians 15:17-18). Without the resurrection, believers who have died would remain eternally condemned, and our faith would be meaningless.  

The resurrection is the ultimate triumph—proof of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and hell. It is the guarantee of our salvation, the validation of Scripture, and the source of our hope. That is why it matters above all else.

Pastor Johnson Emmanuel 

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