04.04.08
Church, Again?
As the Pastor of a new church, I am thrilled every time someone walks
through the doors of our church for worship. I hope I will always feel
that way, no matter how long I serve this church and no matter how many
people attend.
According to (Hebrews
10:24-25), attending church is a means of exhortation;
“And let us consider one another
in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The word translated “exhorting” in the passage is the Greek word, “par-ak-al-eh'-o” and it means, “to call near or call for”. Not only are we not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together but we are to “call near” or “call for” others to worship as well.
What reason should one give when encouraging others to be faithful church attendees? What should we tell our children, when they ask, “Why do we have to go to church again?” How do we explain that on Sunday, our day off work, we spend so much time at church? How do you justify to a family member or friend that you need, or should I say, want to attend church? How can you make them see that, for you, it is not an obligation but an opportunity?
Well, the Scriptures reveal several reasons we need to attend church and why we should encourage others to do so as well.
1. We need to attend the services of the church because they stimulate the upward look of faith.
The Book of Hebrews addresses this in several places. (Hebrews 4:16) “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The writer of Hebrews also tells us to be “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. The phrase, “looking unto” can be translated, “fixing our eyes upon Jesus”. (Hebrews 12:2)
Worshipping together stimulates us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, no matter what kind of week we may have had.
2. We need to attend the services of the church because they create the forward look of hope.
On numerous occasions, the writer of Hebrews also addressed the subject of “hope” - for instance, (Hebrews 10:23), “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”. Also, consider, (Hebrews 11:1); “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
As we worship together with other believers, we are persuaded to focus our attention on our potential not our past – “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13).
3. We need to attend the services of the church because they encourage the outward look of love.
As we worship together, we become aware of the blessings and battles faced by our fellow-believers. By the direction and prompting of the Holy Spirit, we also become aware of what we can do to help meet their needs. Worship helps cut the nerve of selfishness and self-centeredness. We are reminded that we are all part of a family – the family of God – and that we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
As your Pastor, I am so proud of the faithfulness of everyone who
attends SouthPoint Church. You have been faithful in your attendance,
in your financial support, and in your willingness to serve as the Lord
leads you. Please continue this pattern and we have the promise of God
that He will continue to bless our efforts in this new church start.
Have a blessed day,
Pastor David