Ministers Blogs
“"When You Miss a Service – You Miss a lot!"”
Years ago, I used to listen to the daily program of a news commentator on the radio. During the day, the program was promoted by the catch line "if you miss a day – you miss a lot." If that is true of a radio program, it is certainly true of every opportunity that we have to be in the services of the church!
When asked "Why a Christian should faithfully attend the worship services of the church?" the best answer that many can give is "because it is commanded." Well, it is true that God expects us to be faithful to the assembly of the saints. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) But, is the fact that it is commanded our highest motivation?
Asking if "Christians have to attend all of the services of the church?" is sort of kin to asking "do I have to go home and have dinner with my family each night?" If one has a loving family at home, where else would they want to be? Yes, God has said not to forsake the assembly, but for the conscientious Christian, who loves the Lord and his brothers and sisters in Christ, where else would they want to be? I have been asked, "Where does it say that I have to attend on Sunday night or on Wednesday night?" I like to look at the example of the early church (Acts 2:46-47) and ask "Where does it say that we should no longer be together daily?"
When we miss any service of the church, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Midweek Bible study, Gospel Meetings, etc., - we really do miss a lot! Consider the following things you miss when you fail to assemble with your Christian family:
When you miss the Lord’s Day, you miss being with the Lord and your brethren as they surround the Lord’s table. Jesus told us when He instituted the supper that He would take it with us in the kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)
When you miss any service, you miss the opportunity to be with the Lord in a unique and special way. He also said "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
You can sing by yourself (although it is doubtful that you do), but you miss the opportunity to join your voice with others being taught and admonished by the words that you sing. (Ephesians 5:19)
You miss the opportunity for an organized and prepared study of the scriptures.
When you don’t attend, you fail to receive the encouragement of other Christians as they admonish one another and "stir one another up to love and good works." (Hebrews 10:24)
When you forsake the assembling of the saints, can it be truly said that you are "seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?" (Matthew 6:33)
How can you "let your light shine before men" (Matthew 5:16) and "be an example to the believers" (I Timothy 4:12) if the church isn’t more important than the things of the world that keep many away.
When you, without any true cause, forsake the assembling of the saints, you are actually guilty of committing a "willful sin." (Hebrews 10:28) Consider your choices in light of James 4:17 "Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
When you miss a service – You miss a lot!
