This is a very foolish question but it is often asked by those who do not know the scriptures.
In this sermon I want to deal with this question in two ways:
(1) With Common Sense
(2) With The Scriptures
Let me deal with this question first with…
I. COMMON SENSE
This question CAN I BE SAVED AND NOT ATTEND CHURCH is asked by folks who are totally IGNORANT OF GOD’S WORD?
If they knew the Word of God they would not ask such a question.
Illus: There ignorance reminds me of the tv commercial on television encouraging young African America young people to attend college. They would state when it comes to education, “The brain is a terrible thing to waste”.
And it is, but we see so much ignorance in today’s church.
Illus: When it comes to ignorance it reminds me of 747 that was flying halfway across the Atlantic …
• When the captain got on the loud speaker. "Attention, passengers. We have lost one of our engines, but we can certainly reach London with the three we have left. Unfortunately, we’ll arrive an hour late as a result."
• An hour later the captain made another announcement: "Sorry, but we lost another engine. Still, we can travel on two. I’m afraid we will now arrive two hours late."
• Shortly thereafter, the passengers heard the captain’s voice again, "Guess what, folks, we just lost our 3rd engine, but please be assured we can fly with only one. We will now arrive in London three hours late."
• At this point, one passenger became furious! He said "For Peat’s sake, he shouted. "If we lose another engine, we’ll be up here all night."
The brain is a terrible thing to waste!!!
I frequently have the opportunity to talk to folks about attending church.
When I invite people to attend I get different responses.
But one response I get sometime is this -"CAN I BE SAVED AND NOT ATTEND CHURCH?"
My immediate thought has to do with common sense. Such as:
• Can I be a fireman but never fight any fires?
• Can I be a doctor but never see a sick patient?
• Can I be a hunter and never go hunting?
• Can I be a golfer and never play golf?
• Can I be a devoted husband and never go home to my wife?
• Can I be a preacher and never preach!
The answer to all these question common sense tells me I cannot be any of these things unless I participate in them.
But let me state that question again, “Can I be a Christian and not attend church?”
Let me ask that question in a different way, if I am a BORN AGAIN Christian WHY WOULDN’T I WANT TO ATTEND CHURCH AND BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD?
Church is a very special place with a special promise from the Lord Jesus.
Look at Matt.18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the MIDST"
Now I take God for His Word and I believe that the Lord Jesus is in the midst of us who have come to worship Him today.
Now if He is not in the MIDST OF US why are we here?
This promise is made to God’s church and nowhere else in the scripture is this promise made.
Now God is Omnipresent but He has promised His church in a special way He is in our midst.
If I did not think He was in our midst I would get in my car and go home because there is no reason for me to be here.
Church is a very special place where God has promised HE IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE.
Today He is in the midst of us…
• He sees those who are showing disrespect to Him playing with their cell phones instead of concentrating on the Word of God.
• He sees those who are cutting their finger nails instead of concentrating on the Word of God.
• He sees those who cannot wait for the benediction and they will do some things they really want to do.
• But He also sees those who are attentively listening to the Word of God.
• He sees those who are taking notes on the sermon.
• He sees those who are soaking His Word like a sponge.
God’s church is a very special place because He promised to be IN THE MIDST OF THOSE WHO CAME TO WORSHIP HIM!!!
Is there anything better than being in the presence of God?
Illus: Listen, I spend many hours in my office each day of the week. And I look forward to going home and seeing my wife. I felt that way before I married her and many decades later I still love to be in her presence.
But I feel the same way when it comes to being in the presence of the Lord.
Illus: I am like David who said, “I was glad when they said let us go unto the house of the Lord.”
All weerk long I have been looking forward:
• To seeing each of you my brothers and sisters,
• BUT MOST OF ALL I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING IN THE LORD’S PRESENCE!!!
Many times people when they do not attend CHURCH they refer to it as MISSING CHURCH!
WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
• They MISS church because they have some chores to do.
• They MISS church to be with friends and family.
• They MISS church because they schedule an appointment with someone.
• They MISS church because they are tired.
BUT WHAT DO SOME REALLY MEAN WHEN THEY MISS CHURCH?
They do not have a reason for missing church, but they are loaded with excuses!!!
What they really mean is this...
• I missed church because of some chores I felt was more important than being in God’s presence.
• I missed church because company is coming and that is more important to me than being in THE LORD’S PRESENCE.
• I missed church because I had made an appointment with someone I consider to be more important THAN BEING IN HIS PRESENCE.
• I missed church because I was tired and my LAZY BOY is more important to me than the presence of the lord.
These with all of these illegitimate excuses for missing church sounds like those in the scriptures in Luke 14:16-20. “They all with one consent began to make excuses”.
Again let me ask "Can I be saved and not attend church?"
Let me put this way... using good old common…if I had a salvation that would not take me to church, my personaI opinion is I doubt if it will take me to heaven.
I am not preaching salvation by works, but our works should show we are saved by the grace of God.
We have looked at ATTENDING CHURCH DEALING WITH COMMON SENSE.
But now let us look at…
Il. WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT ATTENDING CHURCH?
Let me begin by saying:
• It doesn’t matter what I think about it,
• Nor does it matter what you think,
• The only thing that matters is what God thinks.
And I might add that He says what He thinks about it.
Look at 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.
GOD ALMIGHTY COMMANDS HIS PEOPLE TO ATTEND CHURCH –
• Note that this is a direct command, it is not a suggestion!
• It is not a Sunday morning discussion whether we will go or not go, IT IS A COMMAND FROM GOD ALMIGHTY OUR CREATOR.
Unless you are sick with a fever and ALL four tires are flat on your car…if you are a born again child of God – YOU SHOULD BE IN CHURCH based on the COMMAND OF GOD ALMIGHTY!!!
The apostle Paul agrees with me. And Paul states we should be faithful to attending especially since we see the day of the Lord approaching.
The word "forsaking" means: to desert, to leave behind.
The word FORSAKE is a dirty word in many cases.
• It is dirty word when a husband forsakes his wife and family.
• It is a dirty word when a soldier goes AWOL and forsakes his fellow soldiers in the heat of the battle.
• It is a dirty word when the child of God forsakes the house of God.
God’s Word states clearly don’t desert God’s church like many are doing. "As the manner of some is." This indicates that some of the Hebrew Christians failed to attend the house of God!
This command is to Christians according to Hebrews 10:25!
Nowhere in Scripture are sinners commanded to go to church, but Christians are!
Christians are to give God first place in their lives!
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
Look at 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Sometime I am ask what is sin and what is not sin?
God’s Word does tell us many things that are sin but there are some things that are sin that the Bible does not tell us are sin.
When the Bible was written there was some sins the devil had not yet invented.
But when it comes to those grey area that we are confronted with…Let me give you my stock answer.
I just read to you from the scriptures that everything we do should be for the glory of God.
• If you can forsake the house of God to watch Gun smoke and do it for the glory of God…THAN DO IT! But if you cannot do it for the glory of God than do not DO IT! (Pause for thought)
• If you can take God’s tithes and spend it on yourself for the glory of God… THAN DO IT! But if you cannot do it for the glory of God than do not DO IT! (Pause for thought)
• If you can take the time you have each day watching television for the glory of God and no time for the Bible study…THAN DO IT! But if you cannot do it for the glory God than do not DO IT! (Pause for thought)
• If you can take the time to talk to your friends, neighbors and family but do not have time to talk to God in prayer…THAN DO IT! But if you cannot do it for the glory of God than do not do it! (Pause for thought)
We Christians everything we do --- we SHOULD do it for the GLORY OF GOD and if we cannot do it for the glory of God the Bible specifically state WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING IT!!!
Sitting at home during church time instead of sitting in your church pew cannot be for the glory of God.
LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY IT IS WRONG TO FORSAKE THE HOUSE OF GOD.
One of the best ways to destroy your Christian testimony is forsaking the house of God!
You can claim all you want to your family, neighbors, co-workers and friends that you are a Christian, but when they see you continuously FORSAKING THE HOUSE OF GOD WITH SOME FLIMSY EXCUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN WHAT YOU PROFESS TO HAVE AS A CHRISTIAN. (Pause for thought)
Illus: For example, if I was to preach the funeral of some church members of this church who hardly ever attend church…and in my sermon I paint a beautiful picture of a dedicated Christian you who know the scriptures would be thinking, I cannot believe that the preacher is preaching such a sermon about a person who hardly ever attend church.
Why? Because that person might be saved or might not be saved but they have destroyed their testimony!!!
Illus: We are told one of the surprises in heaven when we arrive:
Who will be there! Who will not be there!
And may I say when I am in heaven I will be surprise some who profess to be saved and they are not there!!!
WHY AREN’T THEY THERE? Because they could TALK IT but they could not WALK IT!!!
Humor: As you can see I am flunking big time Dale Carnegie course on "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS..."
But…
• Common Sense tells us that Church attendance is a must for us Christians
• The Scriptures tells us that church attendance is a must for us Christians.
But when it comes to church attendance we need to look at something else..
III. CHRIST SET THE EXAMPLE FOR CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
In the scriptures there are things that God tell us how we should live the Christian life.
But in some of these things they are so important He does not use word to tell…HE PERSONALLY SET THE EXAMPLE FOR US WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
For example…
• God set the example for baptism by immersion. Because He wanted us to know the importance of baptism by immersion.
There is only method of baptism in the scriptures…it is by immersion. If you have never been baptized by immersion according to the Word of God you have never been baptized. (I do not care if you had five gallons of water dumped on you...ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BAPTIZED!
The Lord Jesus could have had some water poured on his head like some call baptism, but to Him it was so important he set the example that every child of God should be baptized by immersion.
Why? Because Water baptism is a beautiful picture of what our Lord has done for us. As we are completely immersed in the water we are doing three thins,
1) We symbolize burial with our Lord;
2) We are baptized into His death on the cross and are no longer slaves to self or sin (Romans 6:3–7).
3) When we are raised out of the water, we are symbolically resurrected—raised to new life in Christ to be with Him forever, born into the family of our loving God (Romans 8:16).
Water baptism by immersion also illustrates the spiritual cleansing we experience when we are saved; just as water cleanses the flesh, so the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts when we trust Christ.
This is so important to the Lord Jesus that He set the example of baptism by immersion.
He did not just use word to teach the importance of baptism by immersion…HE SET THE EXAMPE!
Also, He did not just teach church attendance it was so important to Him that He set the example for us to follow
Look at 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."
Notice, from his childhood... "And, as his custom was ..."
Jesus regularly attended church every Sabbath!
We also need to be regular in our church attendance and follow His example!
Many times, we lose sight of Jesus, or lose consciousness of His presence IN OUR DAILY LIVES!
Mary and Joseph lost consciousness of His presence on two occasions:
1) Like Joseph and Mary in Lk.2:43 and guess where they found Him ... The Temple!
2) Like Joseph and Mary in John 6:24, after the feeding of 5,000, they went looking for Jesus. And once again, where did they find Him? In the synagogue,
Luke 2:48-49 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them,(Look at his response) How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
If you want to find Jesus in your life you can always find Him in the house of God where He has promised to be in the MIDST.
This is not the only place you can find Him, but HE HAS PROMISED TO BE IN THE MIDST OF THEM WHO CAME IN HIS NAME IN A SPECIAL WAY.
Matt.18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst"
• This could be the reason that people leave the house of God feeling good because they HAVE BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
• This could be the reason that some people are sad because they have put things ahead of the God that they claim to love.
Illus: One Christmas Eve, the phone rang in the office of the Pastor of a church in Washington DC that President Franklin Roosevelt attended.
• "Tell me Rev." the voice inquired, "Are you holding a Christmas Eve service tonight?"
• When told that there would certainly be a service that evening, the caller asked, "And do you expect President Roosevelt to attend your church tonight?"
• "That," explained the Pastor patiently, "I cannot promise, I’m not sure about the President’s plans for this evening." "But I can say that we fully expect God to be in our church tonight, and we feel secure in the knowledge that His attendance will attract a reasonably large congregation."
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Notice, this crowd saw Peter and John…AND THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE OF THEM THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.
When we come to church and we have been in the presence of Jesus it greatly affects us and others are aware we have been in the presence of Jesus.
I cannot tell you the times I have seen folks come to church burden down with the cares of life but leave the house of God with a smile on their face.
Listen to this song, “I’ve been with Jesus”.
Illus: Bill & Gloria Gaither - I've Been With Jesus (Live)
YouTube
21K views
Nov 16, 2012
by GaitherVEVO
Again, “Can I go to heaven without attending church?”
• Common Sense asks us IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO ATTEND.
• Scripture teaches us that the Lord Jesus set the example…it was the Lord’s custom to attend church even from His childhood.
Conclusion:
How important is this church in your life?
But in closing I want to ask you why did you come to church today?
Illus: Now if we ask our children why they go to school, I am sure we already know their reply. The reply would go something like this: because my mother and father makes me go to school.
Illus: During election times we often hear about the various polls that are taken during this time.
• You have what is known as a straw poll,
• Then you have a telephone poll,
• Then in recent years they have even come up with what is known as the online poll.
All of these polls usually take place before the election.
But there is a poll that is taken after a person has cast their vote. This poll is known as an exit poll which is most accurate of all the polls.
Well this morning let us suppose, assume or imagine that after the benediction is given here today and you’re preparing to enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
As you’re on your way out the door of the church and into your cars, there is on the outside of this church a Heavenly reporter (which is hard to imagine) with cameras flashing and notebook in hand, ready to take an exit poll. As it relates to why you showed up at church this morning?
That is, you are asked:
• Why did you get up from the comfort of a warm bed,
• Browse through clothes in your closets,
• Jump into the shower,
• Get dressed,
• Get into your car,
• And drive to this church?
Why did you show up at church this morning?
It is as natural for a saved person to go to church, as praying and reading your Bible!
Know why I came to church?
Psalms 122:1 says. “I was glad when they said unto me; Let us go into the House of the Lord.”
The writer said “I was glad, (Not sad) when they said unto me.”
• I could have went to the beach
• I could have went to the mountains
• I could have went fishing
• I could have played golf
But coming to be in the Lord’s presence is more important to me than all these other things.
And every time I come to church I am showing Him that He is more important than anything in this world TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
WHAT CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD JESUS!!!
Illus: Illus: Did you hear the modern day version of “the wisdom of Solomon?”
Two women came before wise King Solomon, dragging a young lawyer in a three-piece suit between them.
• The first woman said: "This young lawyer agreed to marry my daughter."
• The second woman said: "No! He agreed to marry MY daughter."
• Finally Solomon said, "Bring me my biggest sword i HAVE, and I shall saw the young attorney in half. Each of you shall receive a half."
• The first woman said, "Sounds good to me."
• The second woman said, "Oh Sire, do not spill innocent blood. Let the other woman's daughter marry him."
Which one do you think loved the young attorney?
Attending church has never saved anyone, but the fact that a person faithfully attends the house of God is SURE PROOF THEY LOVE AND ENJOY BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
And listen, if they do not love being in His presence in the House of God they certainly are not going to enjoy heaven.
When it comes to church attendance we have looked
I. COMMON SENSE TEACHES IT.
II. SCRIPTURES TEACHES IT.
III. EXAMPLE OF CHRIST TEACHES IT.
