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…
4. INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS THROUGH COOPERATION
When we attend corporate worship, God communicates His presence to us individually
God inhabits the praises of His people
When we attend corporate worship, we hear the preaching of God’s Word individually
Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART.”
The Word of God preached publicly and corporately will do its work as it penetrates the places in the heart individually
Attending corporate worship benefits us as we love the brethren corporately and that love is reciprocated back to us individually
This demonstration of love for each other says that we have eternal life with Him
Turn to 1 John 3:14-19 (read)
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have love you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
When you don’t attend corporate worship…you lose out on the benefit individually and corporately
In a sense, you are saying you don’t love the brethren because you are putting your desire NOT TO WORSHIP CORPORATELY ahead of what’s best for the brethren
I need you here to sharpen me as iron; to comfort me; to encourage me; to love on me; to allow me to love on you
But mostly I need you here to worship corporately the KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS
Your worship of Him corporately is one of the greatest builders of my faith in my walk with Him individually (can I get a witness)
Regular worship attendance with the people of God demonstrates that we have eternal life
Gathering together for teaching; for worship; for edification is an indication of our love for God, the redeemed & a sign our salvation unto eternal life
Conclusion
We’ve seen what God is like…He is deserving of our worship…and we need to worship Him as the body…corporately…together together
Why?
1. It’s a biblical mandate
2. For Spiritual Recharging & Blessing
3. It Makes a Public Statement about me as a true follower
4. It benefits me individually through cooperation with other believers
I close with this quote from the great A.W. Tozer “God is trying to call us back for which He created us, to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever”
Pray
