The Ordered and Intentional Living of Time
Human existence is necessarily situated in time and space. This is not an accidental or defective condition, but rather an essential part of God’s good creation. In Genesis, we see that man was formed from the dust of the earth and placed in the Garden of Eden — a geographical place with defined boundaries and appointed times. The body, movement, and relationship with creation and with the Creator all unfold within the temporal and spatial order instituted by God.
With the Fall, time and space began to bear the marks of finitude, pain, and conflict. Temporal experience became anxious and fragmented, and space became a setting for alienation and disorder. Yet, humanity remains essentially temporal and spatial — even in the face of death. The biblical hope of resurrection and new creation reaffirms this: we shall live eternally with glorified bodies in a new heaven and a new earth. Therefore, the eternity that awaits us is not the abolition of our humanity, but its full redemption in Christ.
This condition calls us to exercise faithful stewardship of time. Time is a gift from God: limited, irreversible, and sacred. Each day is a gift entrusted to our care. Managing it well is an act of faithfulness. The stewardship of time involves living with wisdom and discernment, seeking what is eternal, cultivating a steady devotional life, serving with diligence, and resting in trust. Jesus taught us this ordered living: He did the will of the Father, knew how to say “yes” and “no,” withdrew to pray, and served at the right time. Sabbath rest, for example, expresses the trust that the world does not depend on our constant activity, but on God’s providence.
Alongside the good uses of time, Scripture also warns against poor time management: procrastination, directionless busyness, and spiritual negligence. Misused time reveals distorted priorities and obscures our identity as a redeemed people. Yet in Christ, time is redeemed: the cross covers wasted years, and the resurrection inaugurates a new time of hope and diligence.
In light of this, the church is also called to organize its communal life in time, with order and intention. Scripture itself presents principles for this. In the Old Testament, God established feasts and holy days to mark the redemptive memory of His people. With the coming of Christ, many of these shadows were fulfilled, but the principle of ordering time in light of the redemptive work remains. The early church gathered on the first day of the week, the “Lord’s Day,” in celebration of the resurrection. Since the early centuries, the Christian community has shaped its worship and discipleship around the great acts of God in Christ: incarnation, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Spirit.
This ecclesiastical use of time developed into liturgical calendars. Although the Reformed tradition has distanced itself from ritualistic excesses, it has often preserved the value of temporal markers for pedagogical and pastoral purposes. Luther retained much of the traditional calendar. Calvin limited observances to the major Christological events. The Puritans strongly emphasized Sunday as the “Lord’s Day,” many even referring to it as the “Christian Sabbath.” The Baptist tradition, particularly in its contemporary Reformed expression, has adopted a balanced use of the calendar as a tool for teaching, worship, and discipleship.
In our church, we understand that a well-structured calendar can serve this purpose. Throughout the week, the church’s life is organized in worship services, Bible studies, ministry gatherings, discipleship meetings, and service activities. Throughout the month, there are pastoral meetings, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, and church assemblies. And throughout the year, we observe meaningful occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Reformation month, the church’s anniversary, and a few cultural dates centered on the value of the family. These are not mandatory festivals or legalistic rituals, but opportunities for formation, remembrance, proclamation, and fellowship. They help us live time with Christian intentionality and bear witness to the world that Christ is Lord of history.
Among the benefits of a well-planned calendar, we highlight: doctrinal firmness and regularity in worship; spiritual growth through healthy rhythms of discipleship; fellowship and integration among members; public witness in a secularized culture; and faithful stewardship of the community’s time and resources.
We have upheld a central principle on this point:
Christ is the sovereign Lord over time and worship, and all organization of the Church’s life and worship must reflect this reality, leading God’s people into an ordered, intentional life centered on the redemptive work of Christ.
This central principle unfolds in complementary convictions, affirming, among other things, that:
-
Worship must follow the precepts of God’s Word.
-
The inclusion of practices must be judged by their biblical faithfulness, not by cultural convenience.
-
The calendar can be a useful tool, provided it remains subordinate to Scripture.
-
The substance of worship — its content and direction — matters as much as its external form.
-
The conscious use of time communicates the faith to the next generation and bears witness to Christ’s lordship in culture.
-
The Christological calendar is a legitimate means of proclaiming the gospel in the public sphere, reaffirming the centrality of Christ in a culture drifting from its spiritual roots.
-
Publicly celebrating the redemptive acts of God is an act of spiritual counterculture that educates God’s people and confronts the false narratives of secular society.
-
Pastoral wisdom recommends the use of visible and celebratory temporal markers as a means of communicating the faith to the next generation and reinforcing Christian presence in culture.
Prayer
Lord of time and eternity, we consecrate to You our days, weeks, and years. May the organization of our church’s life reflect Your lordship and manifest Your gospel in everything. Grant us wisdom, unity, and zeal, so that in every gathering and celebration, Your Name may be glorified.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Summary of Class Taught by Pastor Gilson Santos
Church: Igreja Batista da Graça – São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Date: April 6, 2025
This class, led by Pastor Gilson Santos, was part of the ongoing biblical and theological formation of the congregation of Igreja Batista da Graça. It emphasized the ordered and intentional living of time as a fundamental aspect of Christian stewardship and ecclesial life. Drawing from the biblical narrative—from creation to the hope of the new creation—the class explored how time is not to be wasted or idolized, but redeemed in Christ and organized for worship, discipleship, and witness. Pastor Gilson highlighted the theological significance of structuring time around the redemptive acts of God, the historical development of the Christian calendar, and the practical implications for the local church. The lesson concluded with a reaffirmation of Christ’s lordship over time and a pastoral call to live with wisdom, rhythm, and purpose for the glory of God.
