Clem went to church on Sunday morning. He heard the pianist miss a note during the prelude and he winced. He saw a teenager talking when everyone else was bowed in prayer. He sensed the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate and it made him angry. He caught the pastor in five verbal errors in the sermon. As he slipped out of the side door during the closing hymn, he said, "What a bunch of hypocrites. I'm leaving." -- Meanwhile, Claude went to church. He heard the pianist play an arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress" and thrilled at its majesty. He heard a young girl take a moment in the service to share a simple moving testimony of the difference faith had made in her life. He was glad his church was taking a special offering for the hungry children of Africa. He appreciated the sermon, for it answered a question that had been bothering him. As he left the church that day, he thought, "How could anyone come here and not feel the presence of God?" -- ** Both men went to the same church on the same morning. Each found what he was looking for. A-Men
"Why Did You Come to Church Today?"
Hebrews 10:25
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.
Introduction: My purpose this morning in using a question as a sermon title is not to argue whether or not you should come to church. That issue is settled by the text we read and the Savior who attended the synagogue regularly and often. Let me read a short passage to illustrate this truth:
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
No, the purpose of this message is just to ask a simple and straightforward question concerning your own personal reason/s for coming.
We are being told two things about church attendance that ought to concern every one of us. First, over-all church attendance has declined gradually in the last 25 years and second, the frequency of church attendance has declined as well. This has all kinds of implications for the church and our culture. Again, my aim is not to address these things in this sermon but to make it much more personal for each of us. I believe that if we can identify the reasons and motives that people have for coming then we have to opportunity to determine if these reasons and motives have a Biblical foundation or not and then, if not, we can make some changes that hopefully will set us on the right course.
Let me deal with one issue right out of the gate. If you are an able-bodied believer you should attend church. You cannot be just as good of a Christian staying at home. You just cannot.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS ATTEND CHURCH?
An old question: "Can I be a good Christian without joining the church or attending worship?"
Answer: "Yes, it is possible. There are those who are not able to attend who are wonderful Christians; they love the Lord; they pray for and support His work; and they are given the grace to love and serve God despite their limitations. But for all the rest it is a different story. A Christian without a church is like:
a. A student who will not go to school;
b. A soldier who will not join the army;
c. A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote;
d. A salesman with no customers;
e. An explorer with no base camp;
f. A seaman in a ship without a crew;
g. A businessman on a deserted island;
h. An author without readers;
i. A football player without a team;
j. A politician who is a hermit;
k. A scientist who does not share his findings;
l. A bee without a hive."
Why should we go to church? The importance of assembling is both subjective and objective. It benefits the individual with spiritual stability and growth, and it benefits objectively by its positive effect on others. The church meeting is far more than a place for one to be entertained or to hear, for these can be accomplished through radio or television. The purpose for the assembling is for participation in worship and fellowship and with one another. Over the years I have had folks excuse their non-attendance by saying, "preacher, I was there in spirit." I heard a story that is illustrative of this fallacy...
WHEN MY HAT IS HERE...
So, it's not true that you can be just as good a Christian without going to church. You can't simply say "Well, I'm there in Spirit... but I don't have to be there in body."
It's kind of like the true story of an incident that took place at a University. This university had a policy that if the professor was 10 minutes late for class...it was cancelled. But one day a professor put his hat on his desk and then went to the faculty room. He apparently lost track of time and when he arrived back at the class he was 10 minutes late and found it room empty. He was furious.
When the class next met, he informed his students "When my hat is here, I'm here!"
His class learned their lesson well. The following day, the professor arrived at 9 a.m. and he was met by the sight of 25 hats on the desks -- but no students.
(Albert I. Raizman, Reader's Digest 1/05 p. 54. From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Iron Man - The Learning Curve, 6/7/2010)
Let's look at some of the reasons that folks may attend church:
I. Why You May Have Come
People come to church for a variety of reasons, some:
a. Because of the people, programs, or pastor/staff
The number one reason that people come to a particular church is the people who go there. As a matter of fact 85% of people who come to a church do so at the invitation of a friend or family member. We have some of the best people in the world here and we've been told time and again how friendly our folks are and I thank God for that.
You may also come to First Church because of its programs. Even though we would probably be considered a small congregation, we are blessed with a variety of programs and ministries for our size. With but few exceptions we have almost everything a larger church might have, just on a smaller scale obviously.
b. Because of the convenience, custom, or conscience
Some folks attend a church because it is geographically close to their home. That is, it is convenient for them to come but this is not always true because here at First Church we have people who come every Sunday from Headland, Slocum, Ashford, Cowarts, Haleburg, and Midland City just to name a few.
Still others come because it is a long habit or custom that has endured for years. They have never known a time when they did not attend church so when Sunday comes they attend the house of God.
I've even had a few tell me that "they just couldn't get by without attending church on Sunday." For them it's a matter of conscience.
Whose Side Are You On?
A story is told about a believer who was stone cold deaf. Despite this, they faithfully attended and participated in the local church of which they were a member. When asked why they bothered, they said, "I want everyone to know whose side I'm on."
From a sermon by Dave McFadden, Why Church Membership? 6/1/2010
c. Because of affinity, acceptance and affirmation
Some folks come to fulfill a sense of community with folks that they have things in common with. I believe that if we look around in our congregation you can see that generally speaking we are worshipping with those who are "like" us in a lot of ways.
There is also the need for acceptance and affirmation that is met when we come to church. It is important for all of us to have a feeling of "belonging" and this should not be discounted. Young people in the inner city join gangs to meet this need and they are willing to do anything to be a part of or be included in this type of group.
II. Why You Should Have Come
a. Because this is a commandment
Now the easiest and most obvious reason for attending church comes straight from God's Word as indicated in my opening remarks. If you study the language of our text there is only one conclusion you can come to, God commands His people to assemble together.
DRUG PROBLEM
A little old lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. Every day he would help her gather things from her car or help her in her yard. One day, the old lady finally ask the young man, "Son, how did you become such a fine young man?"
The young man replied, "Well, when I was a boy, I had a drug problem."
The old lady was shocked. "I can't believe that."
The young man replied, "It's true. My parents drug me to church on Sunday morning, drug me to church on Sunday night and drug me to church on Wednesday night."
Pastor and author, Chuck Swindoll says of these verses, "it isn't just a suggestion, an off-the-cuff, casual idea like, "Oh, by the way,...it might be good, while your holding fast to the faith, to toss in a little encouragement." The whole family of God is responsible to encourage others.
Psalms 100:1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
b. Because this is a caution
Our text is not an isolated principle in the middle of this passage. Read it careful and you will find that it is part of statement about what happens to the individual who "...forsakes the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is..."
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Why Go To Church
A Churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
c. Because this is a comfort
Finally, notice that our text declares that we are to "...exhort one another and so much more as we see the day approaching..." The word "exhort" means to encourage one another. How does this happen and what does it have to do with why I should come to church. Simply put, we need each other!
PITCHERS NEED THEIR TEAM
Behold, a team went forth to play a game of baseball.
Just as the umpire was saying, "Batter up," the catcher for the home team arrived and took his place behind the plate. The center fielder didn't show up at all but sent his regrets. The third baseman likewise failed to come to the game, having been up late the night before. The shortstop was present, but left his glove at home. Two of the substitute fielders were away on a weekend trip but said they were there in spirit.
The pitcher went to the mound and looked around for his teammates. But his heart was heavy, for their positions were empty. The game was announced, the visitors were in the stands, and there was nothing to do but pitch the ball and hope for the best. But in addition to pitching, he had to cover first and third base, as well as short and center field.
When the absent players heard that their team had lost, they were very upset. They held a meeting and decided to get a new pitcher.
Like a baseball team, the church can't survive without everyone pulling their weight. The pitcher---the pastor---is important, but unless everyone else shows up and fields their position or gets a hit, the game will be lost.
(From a sermon by Johnny Creasong, "The Gambler" 1/28/2009)
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. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The truth of the matter is there are a number of "right reasons" to come to church today. We need each other for a sense of community (41) and that is right, we need each other for communion (42) and that is right, we need fellowship among believers because it is essential to growth and that is right, we need other for cooperation (44-45), we can do far more together than we can apart, and that is right, we need each other for continuance (46), it's hard to quit with someone there with you, and that is right, we need to worship corporately (46b), and that is right, and we need to work together to communicate the Gospel to the whole world beginning right here in our Jerusalem, and that is right! (47)
