Skipping Church? Series

SET UP: Let worship service come to an end wait 2-3 minutes(it will seem like a lifetime, also let your worship leader in on this plan), then come in carrying a cooler, golf clubs, fishing pole etc.

Still here? I’ve been on vacation, need to catch up stuff at house, relax little, I’m sure you all understand…

Role play: I sent my wife & kids, I drove all the way back, thought ‘I’d just sit out, get cd, and pray at home…

My life as Christian, I have noticed every church...

1) Tithes go down summer- Christmas

2) Summer slump in attendance

I believe we could see a summer JUMP!

Do you need to ATTEND EVERY SERVICE?"

Hebrews 10:25

We take attendance; know who’s here & who’s not most times, even greater than that, God takes attendance!

I’m going to present you Word of God

Then challenge you to allow the Holy Spirit to show you if you need to attend every service.

a. Some attend every service whenever possible

1) Bible study on Wed

2) They attend both Sunday AM & PM

3) Every business meeting & Christian Education

b. SOME attend less often

1) Attend once-twice a month

2) Don’t participate in the Bible studies or others

a. Why do some Christians attend every service, and others do not?

Does ATTENDANCE make a difference…

a. In spiritual life of Christian?

b. In spiritual life of congregation?

Share w/you some reasons why you ought to attend every service you can, unless hindered by illness or circumstances beyond their control.

For example, we should attend every service...

1st TO FULFILL THE COMMANDS OF GOD

COMMAND NOT TO FORSAKE ASSEMBLING He 10:25 It is warning against the complete abandonment of assembling with others

1. Some have abandoned assembling by attending only once – twice a month...

So you’re fine, as long as your hit Christmas/Easter, mail tithes, if you hospital during Christmas –Easter we’ll pray & come see you

a. Skipping that 1 service makes it a lot easier to skip more & more!

Not talking @ vacation- even Jesus got away, said lets push out,

Even on vacation you should plan on church where you’re at

b. Folks in habit of attending every service are not likely to begin skipping services that can lead to stopping attending altogether!

Those who do skip- can become habit forming

I’m still saved, no big deal…

c. Just like drugs, 1 puff, 1 drink, 1 try

2nd THE COMMAND TO EDIFY ONE ANOTHER

1. We have responsibility to build up one another

Ro 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Ro 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

Heb 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Some say I can’t do what I used to…understand

Your presence alone encourages others to attend

3. Can we really say we are edifying others…

a. When absent most of the time?

Have a fellow pastor that I don’t know, email weekly try help direct my life, has NO IDEA what look like, imagine if I preached, met, did everything over the phone from somewhere else?

What if I showed up every now/ then, but you could pick up a new sermon every week, would I, COULD I be your Pastor?

Well that’s what you get paid for, yes but it GOES WAY FARTHER THAN THAT!

You have just as much responsibility to God & others according to God’s Word to come!

Then you’ve got folks who say oh I don’t go anywhere I just go from church to church to edify

Or – we are currently looking for a home church,

(been looking for 6 years in same area come on!)

How can you know others, if your not here?

c. When not here to notice, others aren’t here?

d. You are not only here to receive something of God, but to GIVE something as well

e. Beyond tithes/offerings- help-words- smile Strength in numbers!

3rd COMMAND SEEK 1st KINGDOM OF GOD...

Jesus commands put Kingdom of God first – READ Mt 6:28-34

a. We all have priorities; must put them in the right order