How To Come To Church
Psalm 122:1
We have looked at “How To Read The Bible” and “How To Pray.” Tonight we want to look at HOW TO COME TO CHURCH!
Where the idea came from that church attendance is an option to be considered rather than a command to be obeyed, I don’t know, but I know where it didn’t come from. It didn’t come from the Bible. If you want to know what the Bible says about it, it’s easy to find. It’s in Hebrews 10:25, where Paul is writing to a group of Christians who were giving serious thought to turning away from their commitment to Christ, and to them Paul writes, “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.” Paul’s words here are not suggestive, they are imperative. Notice he states that being in church is more imperative the closer we get to the coming of the Lord.
NOW, it’s possible to do the right thing — come to church — and yet come in the wrong way.
Have you heard the story of Jim and Ron? Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note, and he flinched. He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying. He felt certain the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate, and it made him boil. Five times, by actual count, he caught the preacher in slip-of-the-tongue mistakes. During the invitation, he slipped out the side door, all the while muttering to himself, "What a waste of time!"
Ron went to church, also. He heard the pianist play an arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," and he was stirred to worship by the majesty of it. A special missions offering was received, and he was glad his church was doing what they could for people around the world. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday; it really spoke to a need in his life. He thought, as he shook the preacher's hand and left, "How can anyone come here and not feel the presence of the Lord?"
Both men were in the same church the same day. Each found what he was looking for.
I’ve often been puzzled at how two people can attend the same church service, hear the same music, and sit through the same message, but experience things totally different. I believe the difference is found in how they came to church.
How you come to church will make all the difference in how you leave church.
I.THE ATTITUDE WITH WHICH WE SHOULDCOME TO CHURCH
The word “glad” is most often translated “rejoice.” It comes from another Hebrew word that means “to brighten up.” When someone said to the psalmist, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord,” or in our case, “Let’s go to church,” his face lit up. Going to the house of the Lord was not a burden, it was a blessing. It wasn’t drudgery, it was a delight, and so it should be with us.
Though we take it for granted, attending a Bible preaching church is a privilege.
The psalmist’s attitude was one of:
A.Excitement
You can determine what a person loves just by knowing what excites them?
If you love the Lord, and love His church, you’re going to be excited about going there.
For some people church is no longer a inspiration it is an interruption.It is no longer a celebration; it is a chore.
We should not look at attending Church as a burden, but a blessing. It should not drudgery, but a delight.
B.Expectancy
There is excitement! There is joy! There is an air of expectancy!
On Sunday, some get out of bed and said, “Good morning, Lord!” Others get out of bed and say, “Good Lord, its morning.” Some, after a furious struggle, force a leg off the side of the bed, and say, “I’ve got to get up and get ready for Church.” On the other hand, there are some who jump up and say, “Praise the Lord, it’s Sunday. I get to go to Church!”
No excusesare offered for not attending for some.
Much of what you do and where you go on Saturday night will affect your attitude on Sunday morning.
II.THE AIM IN WHICH WE MUSTCOME TO CHURCH
Jerusalem was the place where the children of Israel came for their solemn feasts. It was mandatory, under the law of Moses, that the Israelites make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year. And what they did while they were there — meet with the family, hear the Word of God, and worship the person of God — are the same reasons why we should come to church.
Our aim or purpose for coming to church ought to be to:
A.Help the People of God
Note David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
He wrote “Our feet,” in verse 2; and “tribes” in verse 4; and “brethren and companions” in verse 8. This was a corporate gathering of God’s people.
Let me share a couple of thoughts with you about assembling ourselves together on the Lord’s day. First of all, there’s . . .
1.The Loveliness of Assembling Together
I can’t help but think of Paul’s analogy put forth to the Corinthians of the church there being a body, and every part being of value — of worth — of significance (1 Corinthians 12:14-27).
The reason we assemble together is because weare a body, and without all the parts, we cannot function as effectively as we should. Everybody is somebody in the body.
2.The Needfulness of Assembling Together
Hebrews 10:25, “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.” We are to come together to exhort one another, or to encourage one another. We meet together corporately because we need to inspire and cheer one another on.
B.Hear the Word of God
The focus of every service ought to be the preaching of God’s Word.Paul wrote to young Timothy, in 2 Timothy 4:2, and issued this challenge, “Preach the word.”
2 Timothy 3:16
God had given us the scripture so that we will know:
- Doctrine - (What is right)
- Reproof - (What is not right)
- Correction - (How to get it right)
- Instruction in righteousness -(How to stay right)
C. Worship The Person Of God
We come to Church first and foremost to worship God.
The main reason we go to Church is to give something rather than get something. We go to Church to give praise to HIM alone who is worthy.
True worship is the occupation of the heart not with its needs, nor with its blessings, but with God Himself.
III.THE ADVANTAGE OF WHICHWE GET WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH
If we will come to Church for the right reason it will have great profit to our Christian life. Coming to the house of God the right way will give us an advantage!
Psalm 84:4–Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be stillpraising thee. Selah.
- His love is centered in the House of God (1)
- His longings is centered in the House of God (2)
- His life is centered in the House of God (4)
Psalm 92:13 -Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 73:17 -Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
A. Problem that confronted him (2)
B.Place that changed him (17)
The place of praise, prayer, and preaching often isthe place of illuminating perspective.
If we come to Church as we ought to come to Church, it will have a spiritual impact in our life. It will benefit us greatly in our Christian life.
Conclusion
It’s not enough just to come to church. You must come with the right attitude, and the right aim. Only then will you gain the right advantage from the time and effort you’ve invested.
) The attitude in which we should come to Church
II.) The aim in which we must come to Church
...III.) The advantage we get when we come to Churc
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