Why attend every worship service?
By Bro. Waymon Stewart
In my life as a Christian, I have noticed the following in every congregation that
I HAVE ATTENDED:
There are some Christians who attend every service of the church whenever
possible.
They attend Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening.
They attend gospel meetings by the local congregation and local gospel
meeting as well.
However, there are Christians whose attendance is infrequent.
They attend once on Sunday and that is sporadic.
They do not participate in the Bible studies.
They are not present for most services during local gospel meeting.
And very unlikely to attend gospel meetings elsewhere.
Why is there a difference? Why do some Christians attend every service and
others do not? Does it really make a difference?
I am convinced that it makes a very real in the spiritual life of the congregation.
I would like to share some reasons why every Christian ought to attend every
service, unless hindered by illness or circumstances beyond their control.
There are several reasons why many Christians have chosen to attend as they
do. For example, we should attend every service ...
To fulfill the commands of God ...
1. The command not to forsake the assembling of the saints. In Heb 10:
25, THERE IS A WARNING AGAINST COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF THE
ASSEMBLING WITH THE OTHER SAINTS. Forsaking one assembly with the
saints. Forsaking one assembly a week becomes a lot easier when it
becomes a habit.
2. The command to edify one another. We have the responsibility to
build up one another—Rom 14:19 and Heb 3:12-14. Or presence encourages
others in attendance, Can we say we our edifying others when we absent
most of the time?
3. The command to seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus commands us
to put the kingdom of God first in our lives. Some Christians will not accept a
job if it means missing services, and yet God provides for their needs. Some
stay home on Sunday because of aches and pains, but on Monday, they go
to work.
4. To grow and develop spiritually. The services are designed by the
elders for or spiritual growth. Hearing the sermons and attending the Bible
classes helps one to grow and develop into a mature Christian (Hebrews 5:12-
14). Even the songs are designed to teach as well as praise (Colossians 3:
16). Prayer, the Lord’s Supper, even the collection, is designed to bring us
closer to God as well as to one another.
I have never known a person who chose to attend only one service a week to
be a strong, faithful Christian. They were more like chaff than the rooted tree
described in Psalm 1:1-6.
The church is like a body, needing every individual part to do its share
(Ephesians 4:15-16). No one can say they’re not needed, nor that they do not
need others (1 Corinthians 12:12-19). To function properly, a church needs
both spiritual and physical service.
The church is dependent on its members. Churches where the attendance
drops on Sunday and Wednesday nights, where the members do not attend
gospel meetings, will never live up to their potential in service to the Lord. Do
we want to have to give an answer to the Lord for why they hindered His
church?
Christians are to provide a good example for one another and for the world (1
Timothy 4:12 and Matthew 5:14-16). It sets a good example for babies in
Christ, the spiritually weak, relatives, and neighbors (1 Peter 2:12). They
admire our conviction and devotion to the Lord. They wonder what it is that
makes us so devoted to the church.
We cannot escape being an influence to others. Will our influence be Good or
Poor? Here is yet another reason to attend every service when possible, so
we can be ready, watching, and waiting for the return of the Lord. Disciples of
Christ are to be prepared at all times.
We should have the attitude of the psalmist, “I was glad when they said to
me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1.
By Bro. Waymon Stewart
In my life as a Christian, I have noticed the following in every congregation that
I HAVE ATTENDED:
There are some Christians who attend every service of the church whenever
possible.
They attend Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening.
They attend gospel meetings by the local congregation and local gospel
meeting as well.
However, there are Christians whose attendance is infrequent.
They attend once on Sunday and that is sporadic.
They do not participate in the Bible studies.
They are not present for most services during local gospel meeting.
And very unlikely to attend gospel meetings elsewhere.
Why is there a difference? Why do some Christians attend every service and
others do not? Does it really make a difference?
I am convinced that it makes a very real in the spiritual life of the congregation.
I would like to share some reasons why every Christian ought to attend every
service, unless hindered by illness or circumstances beyond their control.
There are several reasons why many Christians have chosen to attend as they
do. For example, we should attend every service ...
To fulfill the commands of God ...
1. The command not to forsake the assembling of the saints. In Heb 10:
25, THERE IS A WARNING AGAINST COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF THE
ASSEMBLING WITH THE OTHER SAINTS. Forsaking one assembly with the
saints. Forsaking one assembly a week becomes a lot easier when it
becomes a habit.
2. The command to edify one another. We have the responsibility to
build up one another—Rom 14:19 and Heb 3:12-14. Or presence encourages
others in attendance, Can we say we our edifying others when we absent
most of the time?
3. The command to seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus commands us
to put the kingdom of God first in our lives. Some Christians will not accept a
job if it means missing services, and yet God provides for their needs. Some
stay home on Sunday because of aches and pains, but on Monday, they go
to work.
4. To grow and develop spiritually. The services are designed by the
elders for or spiritual growth. Hearing the sermons and attending the Bible
classes helps one to grow and develop into a mature Christian (Hebrews 5:12-
14). Even the songs are designed to teach as well as praise (Colossians 3:
16). Prayer, the Lord’s Supper, even the collection, is designed to bring us
closer to God as well as to one another.
I have never known a person who chose to attend only one service a week to
be a strong, faithful Christian. They were more like chaff than the rooted tree
described in Psalm 1:1-6.
The church is like a body, needing every individual part to do its share
(Ephesians 4:15-16). No one can say they’re not needed, nor that they do not
need others (1 Corinthians 12:12-19). To function properly, a church needs
both spiritual and physical service.
The church is dependent on its members. Churches where the attendance
drops on Sunday and Wednesday nights, where the members do not attend
gospel meetings, will never live up to their potential in service to the Lord. Do
we want to have to give an answer to the Lord for why they hindered His
church?
Christians are to provide a good example for one another and for the world (1
Timothy 4:12 and Matthew 5:14-16). It sets a good example for babies in
Christ, the spiritually weak, relatives, and neighbors (1 Peter 2:12). They
admire our conviction and devotion to the Lord. They wonder what it is that
makes us so devoted to the church.
We cannot escape being an influence to others. Will our influence be Good or
Poor? Here is yet another reason to attend every service when possible, so
we can be ready, watching, and waiting for the return of the Lord. Disciples of
Christ are to be prepared at all times.
We should have the attitude of the psalmist, “I was glad when they said to
me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1.
Waymon Stewart Jr. is an
evangelist, author and
commentator on issues
related to the church of
Christ. He resides in
Bolingbrook, Ill.
evangelist, author and
commentator on issues
related to the church of
Christ. He resides in
Bolingbrook, Ill.
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