Why Is Corportate Worship Important Series

Why is Corporate Worship Important?

Hebrews 10:19-25

Introduction

Over the last couple of weeks we looked at What God is like and we looked at 13 distinct characteristics

We did that so that it will helpfully hope us to focus in on WHO God is as we enter in a time of worship

This morning I want to continue our Dynamics of Worship series as we answer the question “Why is Corporate Worship Important?”

Scripture is clear that Jesus died for the church – Acts 20:28 “…Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with His blood.”

Rom 12:5 & 1 Cor 12:27 along with many other scriptures tells us that the church is His body (1 Cor 10:17; Eph 1:23; Eph 4:12; Eph 5:30; Col 1:18, 24; Heb 13:3)

Participation in a local church is essential to the spiritual health of individual Christians

However, statistics gathered by a recent Barna study show that church attendance is in drastic decline in this country

52 % of Americans do not attend church and only 48% attend occasionally

This is a drastic change from American’s in years past as from 1937 – the 1980’s about 73% attended church

That began declining in the 1990’s and now for the first time non-church attendees outnumber church attendees

Organized gathering in church is becoming less and less important…that’s why I want us to see the importance of corporately gathering and worshipping together

Read Heb 10:19-25 / Pray

Trans: So why should Christians attend worship? First because…

1. WORSHIP IS A BIBLICAL MANDATE

Our passage in vs 24-25 tells us that we should “…not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…”

Paul wrote this letter of Hebrews to the church that was under threat and persecution

Going to church would open them up to public persecution and abuse

But Paul is telling them here that the benefits of attendance outweigh any possible threat

Of course, we will surely face that in the future but right now…it’s more of laziness; or making of excuses like “I don’t have to go to church to worship”

The Christian life was never meant to be solitary

All of the biblical metaphors for church indicate plurality and never singularity

Such as We are one body; a flock; a building; a holy nation; many members of one body

Prov 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”

Ecc 4:9 “Two are better than one…if either falls down, one can help the other up…pity to the one who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Our passage Heb 10:24 “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”

There are no “lone wolves” in biblical Christianity

Trans: A second reason for attending church to worship is…

2. SPIRITUAL RECHARGING & BLESSINGS

In a negative sense, worship attendance helps to prevent backsliding and apostasy (false teachings)

Without regular attendance to worship, we can easily drift spiritually

In a positive sense, regular worship attendance promotes fellowship & encouragement

Acts 2:42 “…devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching & fellowship…”

Again, our passage in vs 25 tells us to “spur on or encourage one another”

EXPOUND –

• not alone; been there;

• pray for;

• scripture;

• commonness, togetherness, like faith (Acts 2:44)

• in one accord (Acts 2:46 “…continued daily with one accord in the temple”

Corporate worship recharges us as we are together…we are blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit…not alone…not forsaken.

Trans: A third reason for corporate worship is…

3. THE PUBLIC STATEMENT IT MAKES

If I am a true follower of AMWAY and its sales philosophy…I am a regular attendee to the “rallies” and I consume and use “the products”

The same should be said of those that are true followers of THE WAY

Jesus said I AM THE WAY – Jesus said He is seeking worshippers that will DENY himself and take up His cross and follow Him, daily

I like to (you fill in the blank) on Sundays – “deny himself”

When I am a FAN of something…I sit on the sidelines and cheer for my team

NOT A FAN…I am participating in the game

When we attend worship regularly, we publicly demonstrate our obedience to God…the command to love God

We demonstrate that we are NOT A FAN sitting on the sidelines but are PARTICIPATING in the faith

How can we say we love God and neglect to worship with His body?

How can we say we are for God and yet not attend the very basic of mandates to meet together in worship corporately?

People are watching – attending worship makes a public statement that we are taking up our cross to follow Him…to follow in His Way

Trans: Lastly, attending corporate worship brings…