I had the privilege of preaching this message during the morning service of the Midtown Baptist Temple in Kansas City, Missouri (pastor Sam Miles); 29 August 2010. My prayer is that the Lord used it for the edification of the saints at Midtown, and that it would accomplish the same in all those who would listen in.
The Church (as the Body of Christ) is something completely new that God began in Acts 2 with the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers, giving them the new birth. Because that event was something new (unique in all of history), it shows us that the Church is not Israel, neither is the Church a continuation or replacement of Israel. We should never apply to ourselves what God wrote to Israel because God is not done with Israel, and Israel's promises pertain to Israel, not to us in the Church.
One of the most important distinctions between Israel and the Church is the day that each observes. Should we as the Church keep the Sabbath (the seventh day) as a day of rest? If we observe Sunday instead of Saturday, is it a day of rest for us... or something different?