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Scripture Reading:  Psalm 5:7-12

The Second Assembly: Our Opportunity or Our Excuse?

Intro.

1.  Heb 10:24-25: We uphold the exhortation not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. (Assembling; not “assembly”)

  a.  The question that arises is “which” assembly is one obliged not to forsake?

  b.  It is correctly applied to all the scheduled assemblies of the local church of which we are a part.

2.  What is our authority for a second Sunday assembly (and others)? Why do we have a Sunday night assembly? How should we view it and our participation in it? What happens when we choose not to faithfully assemble for our scheduled worship services?

 

I.  WHAT IS YOUR AUTHORITY? (Matt 21:23; Col 3:17)

  A.  First Day of Week Assembly is Authorized in the Scriptures.

    1.  Apostolic-approved example, Acts 20:7 (Phil 4:9).

    2.  Necessary inference, 1 Cor 16:2.

    3.  An “I’ll come if I can” mindset is not proper for disciples (Lk 6:40).

  B.  The Purposes for First Day Assemblies: Worship God and Edify the Saints, 1 Cor 14:26.

    1.  To break bread, Acts 20:7 (1 Cor 11:20, 33).

    2.  To teach the word of God, Acts 20:7.

    3.  To give as we have been prospered, 1 Cor 16:2.

    4.  To pray, 1 Cor 14:15-19.

    5.  To sing, Eph 5:19 (1 Cor 14:26).

  C.  Bible Authority for Additional Assemblies:

    1.  On the Lord’s Day: same as above, cf. 1 Cor 11:17, 18; 14:26.

    2.  Other assemblies, cf. Acts 2:46 (42); 5:42 (1 Cor 14:26).

    3.  Purposes of additional include:

      a.  The unity of the church: “Wait for one another” 1 Cor 11:33. “to receive, accept; to look for, expect, wait for, await” (Thayer,  193). 1 Cor 16:11; Heb 11:10Practice of unity among us – giving all the opportunity to worship God in full obedience.

      b.  For the feeding of the church, Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 14:26.

      c.  For the worship of God, Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 13:15.

      d. Stir up love and good works, Heb 10:24-25.

 

II.   CONCERN OVER WRONG ATTITUDES TOWARD OUR ASSEMBLIES.

  A.  Concern over Deemphasizing Faithful Attendance at Every Worship Assembly. Heb 6:11-12 (including Bible classes)

    1.  This attitude is heard in this statement: “As long as I make it to one of the services to eat the LS” (rather than doing everything we can to be at every worship service).

    2.  Some are weary of full attendance; in truth, this attitude/conduct wearies God! cf. Isa 43:22-24 (Mal 1:13) versus Psa 122:1

    3.  cf. “Onesters” (how Mr. Gladstone in 19th cent. described those who only attended Sunday morning, “The Sunday Night Service”, Wilbur Fletcher Sheridan, 14).

      a.  Takes a revised form today: The Christian who forsakes some of the assemblies, thinking that “showing up once on Sunday is really all that matters anyway”. (“Not On Sunday Night”)

      b.  “The glory has departed” Israel when we deemphasize faithful attendance at all our assemblies! (Ichabod, 1 Sam 4:19-22)

  B.  Concern over the Erosion of an Attitude of Excellence.

    1.  Instead of “doing all we can do” we reduce ourselves to what is “the least I must do”. (Attitude of mediocrity and lazy apathy)

    2.  “What do I have to do”? to be acceptable, not “what can I do to express my devotion to God”? Matt 15:7-9 (Lk 10:39; Acts 2:42)

    3.  Rebuttal: “But life is so much busier today than NT times”.

      a.  No, life then was daily subsistence; our lives have a great amount of leisure time!

      b.  Often it is about our leisure time that we complain we do not have time to assemble with the church to worship God!

    4.  This is not pressing toward the high calling of God! Phil 3:13-14

      a.  Such requires sacrifice, Lk 9:57-58.

      b.  Such requires setting priorities in our lives, Lk 9:59-60.

 

III.  WHEN WE ONLY ATTEND ONE SCHEDULED WORSHIP SERVICE: (and it is in our power to be at both) 2 Cor 8:12

  A.  We Set a Poor Example for Others, Matt 5:16; 1 Pet 2:11-12.

    1.  “Like follows like”: People will follow what they see. Those who need to learn to put God first will not be properly influenced to do so by seeing such examples.

    2.  Consider the example you are setting, 1 Tim 4:12. (cf. preacher)

  B.  We are Poor Stewards of our Time, Eph 5:16.

    1.  Competition for our time and attention:

      a.  Recreation (but not to skip worship).

      b.  Vacation (but not to take a vacation from worship).

      c.  Work (but not if it means you can never assemble to worship). Some must sacrifice a full period of sleep in order to worship.

  C.  We are not Sacrificing for the Lord, Mk 12:41-44.

  D.  We have not Established Proper Priorities, Matt 6:33-34.

 

Conclusion

1.  When we abandon the assembling of ourselves together for other things, we sin (Heb 10:25, 26).

2.  Examine your heart; repent of every sin (2 Cor 13:5).

 

 

“Not On Sunday Night”

by Gus Nichols

 

I love the church that Jesus built,

And I know that it is right;

I go every Sunday morn,

But not on Sunday night.

 

I love to sing the songs of God,

Such worship must be right;

This I do on Sunday morn,

But not on Sunday night.

 

And may God bless our preacher, too;

And give him power and might;

But put a sinner in my place,

I won’t be there Sunday night.

 

I love to hear the Gospel too,

It gives me pure delight.

I hear it every Sunday morn,

But not on Sunday night.

 

I’d go thru rain and sleet and snow,

Do anything that’s right

To be in church on Sunday morn,

But not on Sunday night.

 

I know I need more hope and strength

To keep me in the fight;

For help I come on Sunday morn,

But not on Sunday night.

 

Yes, we all must someday die;

I hope I’ll be doing right;

So I might die on Sunday morn,

And not on Sunday night.