The Sabbath Deep Dive

Restoring the Biblical Sabbath | Truth Carriers Academy

How to Use This Workbook

This workbook uses the 6 Rs Learning Method for deep understanding and long-term retention:

  1. RECEIVE - Read the teaching content carefully
  2. REFLECT - Complete fill-in-blanks, true/false, and discussion questions
  3. RECALL - Close the book and write everything you remember
  4. RECITE - Teach the lesson to someone else
  5. REVIEW - Use spaced repetition (Day 1, 3, 7, 21, 60)
  6. RESPOND - Apply what you learned practically

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" - Exodus 20:8

Lesson 1: Sabbath at Creation

The Sabbath was not an afterthought. It was the climax of creation week.

"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day Elohim had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
[Genesis 2:1-3]

Three Divine Actions

Elohim did three specific things to the seventh day that He did to no other day:

  1. He RESTED (shabbat) on it.
  2. He BLESSED (barak) it.
  3. He MADE IT HOLY (kadosh/sanctified) it.
Key Point: The Sabbath was established BEFORE sin entered the world and BEFORE there were any Jews (Abraham was not born yet). It is a creation ordinance for all humanity.

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. On the seventh day, Elohim from all His work.

2. Elohim blessed and made the seventh day .

3. The Sabbath was established at , not at Sinai.

4. The Sabbath was made for , not just for Jews (Mark 2:27).

5. This happened sin entered the world.

True or False:

Discussion:

If the Sabbath was created before sin, is it part of the curse or the blessing? Why does this matter?

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. Write the three things Elohim did to the seventh day.

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone why the Sabbath is for all humanity, not just Jews.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Genesis 2:3

"Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 2: Sabbath Before Sinai

Many believe the Sabbath was first given as a law to Moses at Mount Sinai. However, Scripture shows Israel keeping the Sabbath before they reached the mountain.

"He said to them, 'This is what Yahuah commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to Yahuah... Bear in mind that Yahuah has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days.'"
[Exodus 16:23, 29]

The Manna Miracle

DayInstructionResult
Days 1-5Gather one portionKept fresh for one day
Day 6Gather double portionKept fresh for two days
Day 7Do not go outNo manna fell

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. On the sixth day, the Israelites gathered a portion.

2. On the seventh day, no fell from heaven.

3. Exodus 16 happened the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai.

4. Yahuah asked, "How long do you refuse to keep My ?" (Ex 16:28).

5. The sixth day is established as the day.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. Write the manna miracle pattern for days 1-7.

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how the manna miracle proves the Sabbath existed before Sinai.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Exodus 16:29

"Bear in mind that Yahuah has given you the Sabbath."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 3: The Fourth Commandment

The Sabbath is the only commandment that begins with the word "Remember," implying they were prone to forget what they already knew.

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to Yahuah your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work..."
[Exodus 20:8-10]

Who Must Rest?

The command applies to five specific categories:

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. " the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

2. The seventh day is a sabbath to your Elohim.

3. categories of people/beings are commanded to rest.

4. The reason given in Exodus 20 is the days of creation.

5. Deuteronomy 5 adds the reason of from Egypt.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. List the five categories of beings required to rest.

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain why the fourth commandment begins with "Remember."

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Exodus 20:8

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 4: Sabbath as Covenant Sign

The Sabbath is described as a "sign" (Hebrew: ot) between Yahuah and His people. A sign identifies the parties of a covenant.

"The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever..."
[Exodus 31:16-17]
Hebrew Word Study: Ot (אוֹת) means a signal, a distinguishing mark, a banner, a remembrance, or a proof. It is the same word used for the rainbow (Gen 9:13) and the blood on the doorposts (Ex 12:13).

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. The Sabbath is a between Yahuah and His people.

2. It is described as a covenant.

3. The penalty for profaning the Sabbath was (Ex 31:14).

4. Ezekiel 20:12 says the Sabbath shows that Yahuah makes us .

5. The Hebrew word for "sign" is .

Discussion:

If the Sabbath is a "sign" identifying Yahuah's people, what does it mean when we stop displaying that sign?

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. Write the Hebrew word for "sign" and what the Sabbath sign represents.

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone why the Sabbath is called an "eternal covenant."

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Exodus 31:13

"My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 5: Sabbath in the Prophets

The prophets did not treat the Sabbath as a ritual, but as a matter of the heart and a future reality.

"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Yahuah, honorable... then you shall delight yourself in Yahuah."
[Isaiah 58:13-14]
"For as the new heavens and the new earth... shall remain before me... from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahuah."
[Isaiah 66:22-23]

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. Isaiah 58 says we should call the Sabbath a .

2. In the new heavens and earth, all will worship on Sabbath.

3. Jeremiah 17 warned against bearing on the Sabbath.

4. Nehemiah shut the of Jerusalem to stop trading on Sabbath.

5. We should not do our own or speak our own words on His holy day.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. What does Isaiah 66:23 say about Sabbath in the New Earth?

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how Nehemiah protected the Sabbath.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Isaiah 66:23

"From one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith Yahuah."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 6: Yahusha and the Sabbath

Did Yahusha (Jesus) break the Sabbath? Or did He break the man-made traditions about the Sabbath?

"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom."
[Luke 4:16]
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
[Mark 2:27-28]

Tradition vs. Torah

The Pharisees had added 39 categories of work (melachot) that were not in Scripture. Yahusha healed on the Sabbath, which they considered "work," but it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (Matt 12:12).

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. Going to the synagogue on Sabbath was Yahusha's .

2. Yahusha declared Himself " of the Sabbath."

3. He said the Sabbath was made for .

4. Yahusha broke Pharisaic , not the Law of Moses.

5. The 39 categories of forbidden work are called .

Discussion:

If Yahusha had broken the actual Sabbath command, He would have been a sinner (1 John 3:4). How does this affect our understanding of His actions?

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. How did Yahusha observe the Sabbath? What did He say about being "Lord of the Sabbath"?

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone the difference between Sabbath law and Pharisaic tradition.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Mark 2:27-28

"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 7: Apostolic Sabbath Keeping

Many claim the apostles changed the day of worship to Sunday. However, the Book of Acts shows a different pattern.

"As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures."
[Acts 17:2]
"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Elohim."
[Hebrews 4:9]
Greek Word Study: The word in Hebrews 4:9 is sabbatismos (σαββατισμός), which literally means "a keeping of the Sabbath." It is unique from the general word for rest (katapausis).

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. Acts 17:2 says Sabbath synagogue attendance was Paul's .

2. In Acts 18:4, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every .

3. Both Jews and were present to hear Paul on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44).

4. Hebrews 4:9 uses the Greek word .

5. This word means "a of the Sabbath."

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. How did the apostles observe the Sabbath? What does Hebrews 4:9 say?

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how Paul kept the Sabbath with Gentiles.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Hebrews 4:9

"There remains therefore a sabbatismos [Sabbath-keeping] for the people of Elohim."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 8: The Change to Sunday

If the Bible didn't change the Sabbath, who did? History provides a clear answer.

Constantine's Sunday Law (321 AD)

"On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed." - Edict of Constantine

Council of Laodicea (c. 364 AD)

"Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day... But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ." - Canon 29

Catholic Admission: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday." - The Faith of Our Fathers, James Cardinal Gibbons, 1917.

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. Constantine's Sunday law was issued in AD.

2. He called Sunday "the venerable day of the ."

3. The Council of Laodicea met around AD.

4. Canon 29 said Christians must not "" by keeping Sabbath.

5. The Catholic Church claims authority for the change.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. Who changed the Sabbath? When? What was Canon 29?

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how Sunday worship originated historically.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Daniel 7:25

"And he shall think to change times and laws."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 9: Which Day is the Seventh?

A common objection is, "We don't know which day is the seventh because the calendar has changed." Is this true?

The Weekly Cycle

The weekly cycle of 7 days has never been broken in recorded history. While calendars have changed (Julian to Gregorian), the sequence of days remained intact.

The 1582 Change: When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1582, Thursday, October 4th was followed by Friday, October 15th. Ten dates were skipped, but the days of the week (Thursday to Friday) continued without interruption.

The Jewish Witness

The Jewish people have been scattered to every nation on earth for 2,000 years. Yet, Jews all over the world—in China, Europe, Africa, and America—all agree on which day is the Sabbath. If the day had been lost, different communities would be keeping different days.

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. The seven-day weekly cycle has never been .

2. The 1582 calendar change skipped , not days.

3. Jews have kept the same seventh day.

4. Modern is the biblical seventh day.

5. If the cycle were lost, Jews would about which day is Sabbath.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. What proofs exist that the weekly cycle has not been lost?

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone why we can still identify the seventh day today.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Isaiah 66:23

"From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before Me."

APPLICATION Step

Lesson 10: Answering Objections

Let's examine the most common verses used to argue against the Sabbath.

Colossians 2:16

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."

Context: Paul is warning against Gnostic asceticism (v.21 "touch not, taste not"). He is telling believers not to let outsiders judge them for keeping these days, not that the days are abolished.

Romans 14:5

"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike."

Context: The chapter is about eating and fasting (v.2-3). It is likely referring to fast days, not the Sabbath commandment. Paul would not treat one of the Ten Commandments as a matter of personal opinion.

"We are not under the law" (Romans 6:14)

Context: Being "under the law" means being under its condemnation for breaking it. Grace forgives us, but it does not give us license to sin (break the law). See Romans 3:31: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. "Under the law" refers to the law's , not its existence.

2. Colossians 2 addresses judgment about practices.

3. Romans 14:5 is likely about days, not commanded observances.

4. The Sabbath was made for , not for Jews only.

5. Scripture never Sunday observance.

True or False:

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. List the common arguments against Sabbath and how to respond to them.

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how Colossians 2:16 is often misused.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Romans 6:14-15

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!"

APPLICATION Step

Bonus Lesson: How to Keep the Sabbath

Practical guidelines for keeping the Sabbath holy in a modern world.

Timing

The biblical day begins at sunset. The Sabbath runs from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.

Preparation Day

Friday is the preparation day. Use it to cook, clean, and get ready so you can fully rest on Sabbath.

What to Do

Pikuach Nefesh: The principle that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious rule. Saving a life on Sabbath is not only permitted but required.

Exercises

Fill in the Blanks:

1. The Sabbath begins at on Friday.

2. The Sabbath ends at on Saturday.

3. Preparation should be done on the day.

4. Isaiah 58 says to call the Sabbath a .

5. is always permitted on the Sabbath (Matt 12:12).

Discussion:

What are three practical things you can do to make the Sabbath a "delight" for your family?

RECALL Exercise

Close this workbook. List the practical steps for keeping the Sabbath (when it begins, ends, preparation).

TEACH-BACK Challenge

Explain to someone how to begin keeping the Sabbath practically.

Person: Date:

Scripture Memory: Isaiah 58:13-14

"If you call the Sabbath a delight... then you shall delight yourself in Yahuah."

APPLICATION Step - COMMIT TO ACTION

Spaced Review Tracker

Review each lesson at these intervals for maximum retention:

LessonDoneD1D3D7D21D60
1. Sabbath at Creation
2. Sabbath Before Sinai
3. Fourth Commandment
4. The Sign
5. Prophets & New Earth
6. Yahusha & Sabbath
7. Apostles & Sabbath
8. Who Changed It?
9. Calendar Objection
10. Objections Answered
11. Practical Keeping

"Precept upon precept, line upon line" - Isaiah 28:10

Answer Key

Lesson 1

1. rested 2. holy 3. creation 4. man 5. before

True/False: F, F, T, T

Lesson 2

1. double 2. manna 3. before 4. commandments 5. preparation

True/False: F, T, T, F

Lesson 3

1. Remember 2. Yahuah 3. Five 4. six 5. redemption

True/False: F, T, F, T

Lesson 4

1. sign 2. lasting 3. death 4. holy 5. ot

Lesson 5

1. delight 2. flesh 3. burdens 4. gates 5. ways/words

True/False: F, T, F, T

Lesson 6

1. custom 2. Lord 3. man 4. traditions 5. melachot

Lesson 7

1. custom 2. Sabbath 3. Greeks 4. sabbatismos 5. keeping

True/False: F, F, T, F

Lesson 8

1. 321 2. Sun 3. 364 4. judaize 5. church

True/False: F, T, T, F

Lesson 9

1. broken 2. dates 3. worldwide 4. Saturday 5. argue

True/False: F, F, T, F

Lesson 10

1. condemnation/penalty 2. ascetic 3. fasting 4. man 5. commands

True/False: F, F, T, F

Lesson 11

1. sunset 2. sunset 3. sixth 4. delight 5. Mercy/Good

True/False: F