"WHY DOES THE FAITHFUL CHILD OF GOD ATTEND"
EVERY SERVICE?
Intro.
A. The problem of attendance has become so acute in some churches
that they have resorted to man-made gimmicks to correct it,
e.g., "the entertainment craze."
1. God compels men to be faithful to Him only through the
teaching of the gospel.
B. In this lesson we want to look at the principles in the gospel
which cause the faithful Christian to never miss a service.
1. This lesson could be entitled, "The blessings for faithful
attendance."
C. We will follow with a lesson on "The sins that one involves
himself in when he wilfully neglects the assembly."
1. Notice that our question says, "Why does the faithful child
of God attend every service?"
a. We are speaking here of all the services--Sun. morning
Bible study, Sun. night worship, Wed. Bible study.
b. We are not speaking of when one is "providentially"
hindered; that is, when he misses through no fault of his
own.
I. COMMANDS ARE FULFILLED.
A. He meets the command of Heb. 10:25.
1. "Not forsaking" -- a negative command.
2. "The assembling" -- it does not say the "assembly," but the
"assembling."
a. It is a verb participle that refers to the act of
assembling. Thus, it includes all the assemblies of the
church--Sun. night, Wed. night, Gospel meetings, business
meetings for the men.
b. It is not an optional matter. Attending gospel meetings of
others congregations is optional because that is not the
assembling of ourselves together. Where one is a member,
God did not give us a choice in the matter.
B. He gives God the worship that He seeks. Matt. 4:10; John 4:24
C. He meets with the Lord. Matt. 18:20
II. HE GROWS AND DEVELOPS SPIRITUALLY.
A. Hearing all of the sermons and attending all of the Bible
classes helps one to grow and develop into a mature Christian.
Heb. 5:12-14
B. He is admonished in song. Col. 3:16
1. In a church in Kentucky where I preached, some of the weak
members did not attend on singing night--a service that was
set aside for singing.
a. Is not singing part of worship?
C. He is comforted and encouraged by having spiritual fellowship
with others. Rom. 1:12; 15:32
1. All of us are in need of the fellowship, teaching,
encouragement, and spiritual strength derived from the
services. Why not attend every service to take advantage of
the blessings? Those who don't attend faithfully often miss
important lessons (such as this one) which they sorely need.
III. SO THE CHURCH CAN FUNCTION PROPERLY.
A. The mission of the church is accomplished through our meeting
and working together. The church cannot function without
assemblies.
1. Business meetings are an important part of the assemblies of
the church. If an unscriptural practice is being promoted,
we need to be on hand to voice our conviction regarding it.
2. It doesn't happen often; however, there are times in every
Christians's life where important issues on truth and error
are decided in the business meetings.
3. If the men are not there to voice our convictions, they have
let the Lord down. They have failed in their duty as a
Christian in guarding against apostasy.
B. Gospel meetings are important for our own good, and for
reaching people of the community.
1. I heard of a powerful case example which was done by brother
C.R. Nichol many years ago. He went in to begin a gospel
meeting and after seeing the very poor attendance on the
first night, stayed away the second night. When they asked
him where he was, he replied, "If some can stay home, I can
stay home." After this was spread around in the community,
the attendance got right for the rest of the meeting.
C. Let's briefly notice this chart on the Collective Actions of
the Church:
1. Chooses officers and servants - Acts 6:2-3; 1 Tim. 3:10;
Rom. 16:1-2
2. Has messengers - 2 Cor. 8:23
3. Pays wages - 2 Cor. 11:8
4. Relieves and enrolls - 1 Tim. 5:9-10, 16
5. Hears and speaks - Matt. 18:17
6. Disciplines - 1 Cor. 5:4-5
7. Greets in letters - 1 Cor. 16:19
8. Sends out preachers - Acts 11:22
9. Is reported to - Acts 14:27
10. Has worship - 1 Cor. 11:20, 34
11. Has its own treasury - 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 11:8-9
D. If I don't become actively involved in the functioning unit
that God ordained, I'm failing in my responsibility to God.
IV. FOR A GOOD EXAMPLE AND INFLUENCE.
A. Christians are to set a good example. 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7-8
1. Christians are to shine as light in the world. Matt.
5:14-16; Phil 2:15
B. Faithful attendance is essential for good influence.
1. It sets a good example before babes in Christ, and to the
weak.
2. It influences our friends, relatives, and neighbors--all
outsiders. 1 Pet. 2:12
C. It is a great support to the preacher, and to all others.
1. Let not any of the older widows say, "There's nothing I can
do," or "I'm not much help to the church." Your faithful
attendance is a great encouragement to all.
a. You are an encouragement in the Bible classes because you
can be depended on to be there. The church can have any
type of service and can depend on you to support it.
V. TO HOLD FAST HIS ALLEGIANCE, PROFESSION AND HOPE.
A. He holds fast that which he confessed when baptized. Acts
8:36-37; Rom. 10:9
1. To confess that Jesus is the Son of God or that He is Lord
is essentially the same.
a. To confess Him as the Son of God is to say that he is
Divine, and you will now submit to His laws.
b. To confess Him as Lord is to say that He will now be
ruler of your life.
B. It is holding fast his confession. Heb. 4:14
C. He holds fast the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb. 3:5-6
1. Let us show diligence and be not slothful. Heb. 6:11-12
VI. IT IS PUTTING CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM FIRST. Matt. 6:33
A. It is seeking things above. Col. 3:1-3
1. It is wrong to stay home on Sunday because of aches and
pains, but on Monday go to work, the grocery store, or the
mall when we have the same aches and pains.
B. It is putting Christ first (Luke 14:26); it is putting him
before family (Matt. 10:37-38).
1. Some stay home because of family visiting. This is not
putting Christ first.
2. I heard of a woman who stayed home from Sunday morning
services to fix a meal so she could have the preacher over
for lunch. However, when the preacher heard of it, he
didn't go to the sister's home. She was angry at him for
this; however, he did the right thing.
C. It shows that our attitude is right.
1. Not like some who say, "What is the least I can do and still
go to heaven?" but "How much can I do for the Lord" or, "I
want to do all I can for the Lord."
VII. HELPS FULFILL HIS DUTIES TO OTHERS.
A. Helps parents fulfill their duties to their children. Eph. 6:4
B. It brings us more knowledge so that we can always give the
right answers. 1 Pet. 3:15
C. It helps fulfill the commands of exhorting our brethren. Heb.
3:13
1. We are not to go to everyone's house or call daily--but on
Sundays and Wednesdays we have an opportunity to fulfill
this command.
VIII. IT IS BEARING FRUIT AND DOING GOOD WORKS.
A. We are to bear much fruit (John 15:8) and to be full of good
works (James 3:17).
1. Notice he did not just say, "bear fruit" or "have good
works," but "bear much fruit and "be full of good works."
B. We are to be zealous of good works (Titus 2:14), and always
abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).
1. We are to be ready unto every good work (Titus 3:1), and are
to be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8).
2. The faithful child of God attends every service because he
wants to be zealous of, always abounding in, ready unto, and
careful to maintain good works.
C. We must do good works ourselves and exhort others to do good
works. Heb. 10:24
1. We couldn't rightfully exhort someone to attend on Wednesday
nights when we don't attend ourselves.
IX. IT IS PART OF BEING READY, WATCHING AND WAITING.
A. Matt. 24:44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37
1. What if the Lord came on a Wednesday night and I wasn't with
the saints because I was wilfully forsaking? I John 2:28
B. It is part of enduring unto the end. Matt. 10:22; 24:12-13
1. It is "redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:16) in our short stay on
earth.
2. I once caught a young college student red-handed one Sunday.
His mother had asked me to exhort him. I took my family
home after the services and then went to his apartment. I
found him sitting in his house-coat watching TV. As I began
to show him his neglect, he was very embarrassed. However,
he needed to be concerned about what the Lord thought about
him, not what the preacher thought.
3. Too many people want to make sure that the preacher
understands why they were not present at services. Their
actions need to be resolved with God, not the preacher.
X. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN.
A. God has promised that many marvelous blessings are waiting in
heaven for the faithful. John 14:2; 1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 22:14
1. The faithful Christian attends every service because he
wants to have part in these marvelous things.
Concl.
A. Why does the faithful child of God attend every service?
(Summarize main topics)
B. The word of God is powerful and strong on this subject. It
overpowers by such strong reasons.
C. Psalm 122:1. Let us be glad that we have time and opportunity
to worship God.
1. Let us take advantage of this great privilege and afford
ourselves of the many spiritual blessings that are derived
from worship.
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