John 20:19 tells us, Acts 2 tells us too, so does Acts 20:7, Heb. 10:25 encourages it, 1 Cor. 16:2 states it and the Apostle John thought that it was so important he did it by himself Rev. 1:10.  What is it that these godly men and women did?  They worshiped God and remember Jesus Christ’s resurrection on the first day of the week, regularly.  As we read these passages sometimes their worship was very late at night, sometimes it was only the one person and God, but regardless of what time of day or how many people were gathered, they remembered the Lord.

As one studies church history it is interesting to note that these early Christians did not have the day off to come in the morning or evening as many of us do today.  Sunday was a regular workday in the first century. They would have to get up early in the morning to worship or wait until their work was done and worship in the evening.  Their worship time was not a convenient thing to do.

This brings me to my point, are we willing to make the necessary sacrifices to worship God as the early Christians did?  Would it not be nice if when we went on vacations that we sought out the local congregation of the Lord’s church where we were visiting and worshiped?  Would it not be nice if in our datebooks and palm pilots we schedule Sundays and Wednesdays evenings as important days and not allow other activities to hinder our worship and Bible study?

Second, we can see that the early Christians met together regularly because they wanted to.  No one forced them to come to worship.  They came because they loved the Lord and wanted to remember what He had done for them.  Would it not be nice if instead of feeling like we had to come to worship that we desired and wanted to worship God?   A big reason people do not come to worship is that they do not want to.  Think about it.  If you really want to go play golf, you will make the time for it; if you really want to go shopping, you will make time for it; and if you really want to go to worship, guess what? You will make time for it.  When we really want to do something and I mean really want to do something we will make time for it.  We will skip work, postpone appointments, change our schedules around and jump all kinds of hurdles to do what we want.  Now just think if we wanted what God wanted, our lives would be changed (James 4:2-3). 

If those who are Christian want to worship God they will make the necessary sacrifices to do so no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  So, what are we going to do about our worship to God?

By Mark T. Tonkery

A small boy from a Chicago slum was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.  There were seven children in his family and hunger often went unsatisfied.  Even a glass of milk, when such could be afforded, had to be shared by at least two or more.  A finger would be placed on a certain spot and the child who was about to drink would be cautioned, "Only to here!"  During his hospital stay a nurse brought the little boy a large glass of milk.  He looked at the glass longingly and then asked, "How deep can I drink?"  Understanding his question, with tears welling up in her eyes, the nurse replied "As deep as you desire!"

Jesus once called out in a crowd, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink"  (John 7:37).  Christ is to the thirsty soul what water is to the thirsty mouth.  Thirst, when intense, can be a most unpleasant and even painful sensation.  The dry throat, the swollen tongue, and the parched, broken lips are precursors of death unless water in some form is quickly administered.  Next to air, water is the requisite of life.

Only when there is thirst, desire within the dying soul, do persons drink of Christ.  Unfortunately, upon imbibing that initial draft which brings the remission of sins, some feel no need for further drinking.  It is as if they think that the water of life can all be swallowed in one big gulp!

As with the little boy, our desire will govern how deeply we drink.  We can but imagine how such an impoverished lad would drink and drink still more from such a full glass.  So it is with us; the supply of Christ for our thirsty souls is abundant and exhaustless.  Why do we drink so sparingly?

Our Bible classes, worship assemblies, prayer meetings, are for "the thirsty."  Do not deny your soul the drink it must have.  How true it is: we drink or we die!  (Author unknown)

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"

Matthew 5:6

This preacher found a chart on Facebook Monday evening that was entitled “Pray for Your Pastor”. It is understood that the definition of pastor in this chart is used in the denominational sense and not as the Bible uses the term. Recognizing they are talking about preachers, consider what this chart shares about the lives of preachers.

97% of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused or hurt by their trusted friends.

70% of pastors battle depression.

7,000 churches close each year.

1,500 pastors quit each month.

10% will retire a pastor.

80% of pastors feel discouraged.

94% of pastors' families feel the pressure of ministry.

78% of pastors have no close friends.

90% of pastors report working 55-75 hours per week.

Take another look and let those figures sink deeply into your thought processes. Christians often look to their preachers for counseling, yet 70% of preachers battle depression themselves. The pressures of preaching are such that only 10% will stay with preaching till they retire. That is alarming. It is difficult to get people to study the Bible or talk about God and effective evangelism is difficult.

Preachers (and elders) have the constant care of declining membership and possible closing. In our brotherhood, there was almost 13,200 congregation in the USA in 2003. In 2015 that number is below 12,300. We have lost almost 1,000 congregations in 12 years. There is an old saying, “if you want a better preacher, pray for the one you have”. Good idea, especially since we lose more preachers each year than we graduate. No church is perfect and neither is any preacher. May churches and preachers realize we are a team. Help us to look to God for strength and help to “fight the good fight”.

By Randy Chapman

            You had Heaven in your hands. Your sins had been washed away in the blood of Jesus. You could stand before God redeemed. Whiter than snow. You were Heaven-bound.

And now you’ve thrown it all away. What did you trade all of the treasures of Heaven for? Money? Sundays on the lake? Anger toward a brother in Christ? Sexual sin? Extra sleep on Sunday mornings? Simple loss of interest?

Can you think of anything that is really worth losing Heaven for? Please Come Home!

Your brothers and sisters at church miss you! We want you to come home and we want to go with you to the Father’s home forever. But that requires faithfulness on your part and ours.

Please, come home, today. Call the preacher or an elder and come back to the Lord.

Why do you wait, dear brother,

O why do you tarry so long?

Your Savior is waiting to give you

 A place in His sanctified throng.

What do you hope, dear brother,

To gain by a further delay?

There’s no one to save you but Jesus,

There’s no other way but his way.

Michael L. Ray

South Fulton, Tennessee

THE SEQUOIA TREES of California, known as Redwoods, are spectacular - towering as much as 300 feet above the ground… Strangely, these towering trees have unusually shallow root systems that spread out just under the surface of the ground to catch as much of the surface moisture they can. And this is their vulnerability. Storms with heavy winds would almost always bring these giants crashing to the ground but this rarely happens because they grow in clusters and their intertwining roots provide support for one another against the storms.

When we are together, either as a family or a church, we provide this same support. Pain and suffering come to all of us. But, just like those giant Sequoia trees, we can be supported in those difficult times by the touch of one another's lives. The knowledge that we have someone; that we are not alone; that there is someone who is willing to touch us, hold us - keeps us from being destroyed.

The apostle Paul said that we are “many members, yet one body” (1 Cor. 12:20), and he goes on in that context to tell us that every member is vital to the whole (1 Cor. 12:22-27). As the body of Christ are built up by one another. “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16). To stand alone will bring destruction – we need one another. Tell your brethren this week how much you need them and appreciate them. And be the support for your brethren that they need.

By:  Tom Moore, Hamilton, Texas. KneEmail:

"That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." 1 Corinthians 12.25 Via KneEmail