Scripture Reading: Psalm 86:8-13
Why Christians Attend All the Assemblies of the Local Church
Intro.
1. Christians are eager to worship God with their brethren (Acts 2:42, 46; 5:42). In Hebrews 10:25 we are warned not to forsake our assembling together.
2. We are not to "leave behind" or "abandon" our gathering together in order to worship God and to encourage one another.
3. Some first century Christians developed a habit of forsaking their assembling together (Heb. 10:25).
a. Generally speaking, willfully choosing not to be present at worship assemblies is a symptom of a deeper spiritual problem.
b. Some Christians yield to the temptation of making a habit of not assembling with the saints as they should or could. (Hence, the warning of Heb. 10:25.)
4. Perhaps some today have forgotten or do not understand the value and importance of the assembling of ourselves together.
5. Bible answers to renew our faith and to "revive us again".
I. "WHY MUST I ATTEND ANY OF THE WORSHIP SERVICES OF THE CHURCH?" (Same reasons for attending any applies to attending all.)
A. Because God Deserves to be Worshiped, Psa. 86:8-13; Rom. 1:21
B. Because God Commands Assembled Worship, Heb. 10:24-25.
1. Attending worship services is respect for and obedience to God, cf. Mal. 1:6-8,
a. The violation of God's will is sin, 1 Jno. 3:4.
b. God's will is that we not forsake assembling, Heb. 10:25; cf. Acts 2:42.
2. Therefore, to forsake our assembling together is to sin against God, cf. Jas. 4:17.
C. So We May Worship God in Spirit and in Truth, Jno. 4:23-24.
1. To worship God should be a happy expectation, Psa. 122:1.
2. Our assemblies help us accomplish important aspects of our worship to God, Acts 2:42.
a. The Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. 11:20; Acts 20:7.
b. Teaching and admonishing one another in song, Col. 3:16.
c. Prayer, Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 2:8.
d. Giving as we are prospered, 1 Cor. 16:2.
e. Feed upon God's word, Acts 11:26; 20:7.
D. So We can Receive and Give Edification, 1 Cor. 14:26 (cf. 14:12); Eph. 4:11-16.
1. We influence one another in our assemblies, Heb. 10:24-25.
2. Must "consider one another" and be "exhorting one another":
a. We participate in the good work of worship, Titus 2:14.
b. We feed on God's word that helps us grow, Acts 20:7; Rom. 10:17 (1 Pet. 2:2). Includes scheduled Bible classes.
c. We praise God and speak to one another in song, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.
d. We pray together, Acts 4:23-31; Jas. 5:16.
e. We remember and proclaim the Lord's death by eating the Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. 11:23-26.
f. We give to support gospel work, 2 Cor. 9:7-10. (Will we rob God? Mal. 3:8-10)
II. WHEN YOU DO NOT ATTEND THE WORSHIP SERVICES.
A. Some Absences are Unavoidable.
1. Illness, work schedule beyond your control, away on travel; distance can be a problem at times.
2. We are talking here about making excuses and allowing other things crowd into our lives and then concluding that we "can't make it", Mk. 4:18-19 (Lk. 14:15-24).
3. Willfully choosing not to worship the Lord.
B. When You are Willfully Absent from the Worship Services:
1. You fail to honor God through His prescribed worship, Jno. 4:23.
2. You sin against God, Heb. 10:25 (Acts 10:34-35).
3. You rob yourself of opportunities for spiritual growth, Heb. 10:24; 1 Pet. 2:1-2; Eph. 4:11-12, 16.
4. You are choosing convenience over conviction, Acts 24:25.
a. Some make great sacrifices to attend worship services.
b. Some stay away at the slightest inconvenience.
5. You are not putting God first, Matt. 6:33; 16:24; Lk. 4:7-8.
Conclusion
1. The worship services of the local church are designed by God to honor God and to encourage Christians.
2. With reverence and devotion we must commit ourselves to "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25).