Message topic: Why is going to church important?
Text: Hebrews 10: 16-25
I am going to start our service a little difference this morning by asking you a couple of questions: First,
What would your answer be if I should ask you where are you right now, and why are you hear, what would your answer be? I know also that you all are committed followers of Christ Jesus, so did Jesus ever go to worship in any temple, synagogue or church?
We find that the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness is recorded in Luke four starting at verse one through thirteen: and in verse sixteen we find these words: and he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read: And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.
Now the question comes to our minds, church attendance is not just a good suggestion” it is God’s will for believers: the writer of Hebrews has these encouraging words for believers in Christ Jesus as Lord. We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching. Even in the early church, some were falling into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. The author of Hebrews says that’s not the way to go: going to church is a way of encouragement.
We need the encouragement that church attendance affords, and the approach of the end times should prompt us to be even more devoted to going to church. Church is the place where believers can love one another: (1 john 4:12) encourage one another, (Hebrews 3:13) spur one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10: 24), serve one another, (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15: 14). Honor one another) (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
When a person trust Jesus Christ for salvation, he or she is made a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 27). For a church body to function properly, all of its body parts needed to be present and working together. (1Corinthians 12: 14-20).
It’s not enough to just attend a church; we should be involved in some type of ministry to gather, using the spiritual gifts God has given us (Ephesians 4: 11-13) a believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without having that outlet for his gifts, and we will need the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12: 21-26.
For these reasons and more, church attendance, participation, and fellowship should be regular aspects of a believer’s life. Weekly church attendance is in no sense “required” for believers, but someone who belongs to Christ should have a desire to worship God, receive His word, and fellowship with other believers.
Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church (1 Peter 2:6) and we are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). As the building material of God’s spiritual house, we naturally have a connection with one another, and that connection is evident every time the people goes to church.
What is the true reason for people going to church?
People attend church for different reasons: including worshiping God: the primary purpose of going to church is to love God for God’s sake, not to be inspired or motivated. Attending church is a way to express love for God and to build spiritual strength, listening to the words of God can help build spiritual strength.
Going to church can strengthening relationship: it is the place to encourage each other in faith, and build lasting friendship. The church is to teach the truth so we can be grounded in our faith, so that we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waved, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
The church is to be a place of fellowship. Where Christians can be devoted to one another and honor one other as in Romans 12:10. We are also encourage to be kind and compassionate to one another, encourage one another, and most importantly to love one another. The church is to be the place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf.
Another commission given to the church is proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ: the church is called to be faithful in sharing the gospel through word and deed. The church is to be a lighthouse in the community, pointing people toward our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is to both promote the gospel and prepare its members to proclaim the gospel truth.
By this time I trust that you realize that the church is not a building, but a group of people with like minded beliefs and hope to tell their story to whosoever will listen to their message: and accept their true message.
The answer to the question where are we right now? Is, we are in our Father’s house, we are here to talk with him about our continuous dependance on him for all our physical and spiritual needs. We come to talk to Him because we know that heaven is His dwelling place, and the earth is His foot stool, so He knows all that is happening concerning the needs of those who on earth who trust and hope is in him for all our needs.
We are here to talk to Him as our loving heavenly father who calls us to seek him in all our needs and is always ready to supply all our needs.
The greatest need that mankind has ever had, is The need of a redeemer so that the severed relationship with God can be restored as it was in the beginning before he was expelled from the of Eden.
God, because of his love for mankind sent his only son Jesus to earth to take on the form of sinful man so that he will offer the redemptive plan so that mankind could be redeemed and be brought back into the right relationship with God our heavenly father, why?
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him should never die, but have everlasting life. AMEN and AMEN.