WHY YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE
Below are notes to a sermon preached at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia Sunday morning and evening, May 30, 1999:
WHY YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE
By Michael D. O’Neal……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church…… Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31
Text: John 20:24
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Introduction: One of the simplest and yet most important keys to Christian growth is to be in the right kind of church every times the doors are opened.
I REPEAT: One of the simplest and yet most important keys to Christian growth is to be in the right kind of church every times the doors are opened.
Thomas missed one service, and he missed out on being able to see the risen Lord when He appeared to the disciples. You always miss a blessing if you miss a service!
People sometimes tell me they want their children to turn out as well as my daughters did. Well, praise God for His grace and mercy, brother, but one thing we DID, was we saw to it that they attended church faithfully! Both of our girls are grown now, and we had them in an independent, Bible-believing, fundamental Baptist church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, for all of their lives! You can count on ONE HAND the number of services each of them have missed, including sickness, hospitalization, and in Grace’s case, having two babies! I’m not sure that Joy, who is now 21, has EVER missed a service!
As you can tell, church attendance is a big thing with our family. Pastor Labolito, who was called to preach under our ministry and is now pastoring in Tallahassee, Florida, said he believes it is THE key to growing as a Christian.
Not every preacher feels this way. Some preachers are canceling their Sunday night and Wednesday night services. Some preachers never attend church while they travel or are on vacation.
I want to give you seven reasons why I believe you should not miss a single church service.
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
I. BECAUSE OF THE COMMANDMENT OF SCRIPTURE
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.
Some people think that as long as they attend occasionally, they have not forsaken the assembly. That is not the way the word is used in the Bible.
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
In the above verse, God forsook His Son, but only for a moment, during the time that He was taking our curse upon Himself. If you miss one service you have forsaken the assembly of the church, even if only for one service.
A. It is commanded for the glory of God
B. It is commanded for the good of the Christian
C. It is commanded for the growth of the church
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
II. BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTENCY OF STEWARDSHIP
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A. We should be consistent stewards of our income
B. We should be consistent stewards of our influence
C. We should be consistent stewards of our information – the teaching and preaching we receive
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
III. BECAUSE OF THE CLEANSING IT SECURES
Heb. 10:25 “… exhorting one another …”
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
A. It will clean up your heart
B. It will clean up your habits
C. It will clean up your home
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
IV. BECAUSE OF THE CONVERTS WHO SURRENDER
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
A. Lost people becoming saved
B. The Lord’s people becoming servants
* Getting baptized
* Joining the church
* Rededicating their lives
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
V. BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS
Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
A. It is a fellowship of the redeemed
B. It is a family reunion
C. It is a feast of rejoicing — the word of God!
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
VI. BECAUSE OF THE CHOICE IT SHOWS
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
A. It shows you put worship before work
* It IS possible to get a job that doesn’t prevent you from missing a single service.
B. It shows that you put preaching before pleasure
C. It shows that you put the scriptures before sleep
YOU SHOULD BE IN EVERY SERVICE:
VII. BECAUSE OF THE COMING OF THE SAVIOR
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.
“… and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
A. At church we are encouraged to look for His return
* We teach it.
* We preach it.
B. At church we are encouraged to love His return
C. At church we are encouraged to live in light of His return