Hebrews 10:19-25 (KJV)
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
“Why do we come to church?”
Introduction
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Have you ever been asked the question? If so, what was your response? Did you have an answer? I’m going to give eight simple reasons on why regular church attendance is important. Understand this list is not meant to be all encompassing but is only to provide reassurance that your regular church attendance has a reason.
I. It’s Bible
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
There is no reason to pray about it or to find direction from God. His word emphatically directs us to assemble ourselves together. Verse 23 tells us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. There is strength in numbers and we stand stronger with men and women of like precious faith.
Verse 24 informs us that through the love of one another we receive encouragement to do good works. If you are battling the temptation of sin, come to the house of God for encouragement. Verse 25 says “exhorting one another”.
II. You’ll find Jesus in the House of God
Luke 2:41-50
When Jesus was twelve years old, his family went to Jerusalem to participate in an annual celebration called the feast of the Passover. When the celebration was complete, Mary, Joseph and the family headed home. Understand the family included aunts, uncles and cousins. Unsure of the exact number but the group was large enough for Jesus to become lost. After one day’s journey, Mary and Joseph began to look for Jesus. However, he was nowhere to be found. They thought Jesus was in the group but he wasn’t.
Our society takes Jesus for granted. We live our lives, doing our own things and have Jesus on the shelf. He’s treated like an accessory that will be there when we need him. Lord help us all to know where Jesus is.
After three days of searching, they found Jesus in the temple. The best place to find your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in the Temple, the House of God, the church.
If you have misplaced Jesus, you will find Him in the church.
III. We Praise God in His Courts
Psalm 100:4 (KJV)
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
I believe we should give God thanks and praise in our homes as well as other places. I trust you give thanks before eating your meals. With this said, enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
A man once said to his minister, “I can worship God and enter into the Holy of Holies just as easily in my garden as I can in a church pew.” Later on the two men were sitting before a fireplace in which the embers glowed cheerily. Silently the minister went to the fireplace, took the tongs, and lifted a single glowing coal from the fire and placed it alone on the hearth. Soon it became black ash. The church-neglecting man said, “Ah, you need not say a word. I understand what you mean. I cannot worship alone any more than I can live alone. I’ll be in my place at the church next Sunday.” The environment of the church is mandatory for Christian growth.
Church gives us the opportunity to come together and praise the king in unity with one mind and one accord.
IV. Church Provides Comfort
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (KJV)
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
No one knows the day or the hour, but be assured Jesus is coming back. The problem you are facing, the dreaded diagnosis of disease, or the broken heart from a death is only temporary. Jesus is coming back!!! Comfort one another with these words. Comfort is given in the house of God.
V. Our Faith is Increased
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Every time we come to church and hear the preaching or teaching of the word of God, a deposit of faith is being made into our soul. Our faith can be impacted in many ways but when we hear the word of God, we are the recipients of a seed of faith.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God!!!
VI. We get Understanding of God’s Word
Acts 8:30-31 (KJV)
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
God directed Philip to leave a mass revival in Jerusalem to go to the dessert of Gaza and minister to one man, the Ethiopian Eunuch. God places men and women in roles of leadership to teach and preach His word to the church. Anointed preaching and teaching provides a deeper level of understanding in the word of God. The bible directs us to be students of the bible.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
All of our individual efforts to gain knowledge of the word of truth are great and grand. However, it will never replace the need of a pastor in your life.
VII. We Overcome Humanity in Church
Ephesians 5:25-27 (KJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
It’s amazing how we get corrupt by simply living. As we walk through Wal-Mart, we face all kinds of corruption. We see a friend that brings back bad memories or see the nudity which society has come to accept. At work, we are bombarded with foul language and opportunities to compromise our integrity.
While working for Freddie Sons masonry, there was no doubt I needed a bath. Now that I work in an office, I don’t get quit as dirty. However, I still need to bathe. After awhile, you just feel dirty from living. The same is true in the spiritual world. You’re not sinning. All you’re doing is living life. Regardless of whether you’re sinning or not, you need to come to church to wash off the filth of this world.
Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV)
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Coming to the house of God is a refreshing experience that enables us to keep the faith and endure to the end. The washing of the water by the word cleanses us and leads us into a life of holiness.
VIII. Best Place to Take Your Kids
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
I believe in family time and going on vacations. We have been blessed to travel several places. We invest time and money into our kids. From all the places we go, the most important place we have ever taken or will ever take our kids is to the house of God. I cannot over emphasize this point.
A story was told of a pastor and his friend who were good fishing buddies. The friend was raised in church but never got in church. In fact as an adult, the friend never went to church. The two men would go fishing and enjoy their trips together. Time after time, the pastor would ask his friend to come to church and the friend would decline. Finally, after many attempts to get his friend to come to church, the pastor pleaded to his fishing buddy and told him how wonderful church was and how it was the best thing to do.
With tears streaming down his face, the fishing buddy said, “Pastor if church is so great and grand, why did my parents only go half the time?”
Moms and dads – your sons and daughters are watching you!!! They see when you pray and when you don’t. They see when you come to church and when you stay at home. For their benefit and yours, be faithful to the house of God. As society trends toward no church, we need to stand strong on our attendance to church.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Pastor Kelley