Why Go To Church?
The text message was precious.
The words permeated deep within my heart.
“Beautiful years of knowing you!”
Why do we attend church?
- When we attend, what benefit exists?
- When Sunday arrives, and we share time together with the local congregation at church, why do we do that—go to church?
- What is it that we hope to gain in attending—the church down the street?
- Where are we to go—once we have come together as a church?
If we were questioned: “Why do you give time each Sunday to attend the house of worship?” what would be our response?
- Why would the unbeliever wish to join us at church this Sunday morning RATHER than (say) going—to the ballgame—OR—to the lake—OR—to the store for necessary items—OR—even to parents’ home for much needed “rest & family” time?
- Why wake up each day and reach for our Bible?
- Why wake up every morning with thoughts of Jesus Christ in our mind?
- Why arise every dawn and think of those we love who do not yet know Jesus as Lord?
Why Go To Church?
- Would we be surprised if our answer had NOTHING to do with us?
&
- Would we be surprised if our answer had EVERYTHING to do with God ? !!!
The apostle Paul knew what it felt like to “suffer for his outward faith-walk” in a world who just really did not want to hear anything about this man named Jesus. Yes, Paul knew what it felt like to live every day as a chained prisoner who was forced to sit twelve inches away from a guard. Every second of every day under “house arrest” because of his public stand, because of his outward witness, and because of his audible testimony of his faith in Jesus—Paul knew what it was to live as a faithful follower of Jesus—no matter what!
“More than that . . .”
(Philippians 3: 8-14 NASB)
[more than “confidence even in the flesh” (verse 4)]
[more than “circumcised the eighth day” (verse 5)]
[more than belonging to a particular country, people, family, clan, or profession]
[more than “But whatever things were gain to me,
these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.” (verse 7)]
“More than [all] that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish,
so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him,
not having righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, [in Christ]
I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- Why Believe in God?
- Why have Faith in the Son of God?
- Why Accept Jesus as your Savior?
- Why Walk throughout life led by the Holy Spirit?
- Why Choose to become a follower of Christ Jesus?
Why Go To Church (a hospital for sinners)?
“Beautiful years of knowing you!”
- It is (ALL) because of Jesus—that we do!
- It is (ALL) because of the Son of God—that we do!
- It is (ALL) because of our Savior & Redeemer—that we do!
- It is (ALL) because Father God sent the Messiah to this world—that we do!
“The Commission” by CAIN sings through song WHY.
- We must “go tell the world” &
- We must never give up “telling the world.”
Because Jesus Christ Came to Save the World!
Because Jesus Christ is Coming Back Some Day!
As we prepare to step fully into this new day the Lord has given, let us recall the “Beautiful years of knowing you (LORD)—
- Meditate on GOD’S Holiness & Majesty!
- Worship GOD through daily Thanksgiving & Praise!
- Offer Total Devotion to GOD!
- Live Fully in Love with GOD!
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,
(Isaiah 6: 8 NASB)
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
[Father & Son & Holy Spirit]
Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”