The Jews were smarter than we give them credit. Their Sabbath began at 6:00 pm on Friday night. What is wrong with us on Sunday? It is Saturday! We so abuse Saturday that we drag in on Sunday. Sunday actually begins Saturday night.

Remember the “Good Ole Days?” Come Saturday night we got out our “Sunday clothes,” shined our shoes, and prepared our Bible class lesson. Sunday was the “Big Event” of the week. Sunday was reverenced. You cannot be carnal on Saturday night and be spiritual on Sunday morning. Airplane pilots cannot socialize Saturday night if they fly on Sunday. Baseball pitchers cannot socialize Saturday night if they pitch on Sunday. A preacher cannot socialize on Saturday night if he preaches on Sunday.

A Christian ought to be the most rested man in town when he wakes up on Sunday morning. How many football coaches allow their players to stay up all hours on the night before the big game? They know the value of rest if players are to function the next day.

We need to study 1 Corinthians 14, but not simply to debate the charismatic. We are participants in worship. We bring psalms and hymns. We are to participate, not spectate. Tragically, we make the song leader, the preacher, and even God the participants. “Do something for me, God.” We have a “receiving mentality” in worship. Wrong. We come to give our praise and worship unto God and the by-product is receiving. The congregation is not the audience—it is the giver.

It all starts on Saturday night!