Why Saturday?

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath day of the Lord your God . . . " Ex. 20:8-9

Following the Ten Commandments and the example set by God in the creation narrative, Seventh-day Adventists recognize Saturday, the seventh day, as the Sabbath. This practice explicitly derives from the Fourth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:8-11, which calls us to work the first six days of the week and rest on the seventh. As a weekly celebration of creation and redemption, the Sabbath follows Jesus' example, observed from Friday night at sundown to Saturday night at sunset as a time to rest and be present with God and one another.

Adventists observe the Sabbath in multiple ways. We refrain from unnecessary work. We participate in Saturday morning Bible studies and worship gatherings, focusing on God and God’s work in the world. We celebrate God’s gift of life by spending time with friends and family. We also focus on serving our neighbors and practicing habits that shape how we live during the other six days.

Most importantly, the Sabbath offers the gift of peace. In resting, we are reminded that God has made peace with humanity through Jesus Christ, and that peace extends to all our brothers and sisters in the human family. The divine gift of our reconciliation with a God who never stops loving us also makes our reconciliation with one another possible. In a world filled with anxiety and division, the Sabbath allows us to rest in the peace of God.