Seven Reasons Why Going To Church Is A Big Deal (Pt. 1) Series

Seven Reasons Why Going To Church Is A Big Deal

3 Part Series (1 of 3)

June 22, 2003 Chester, FBC Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A Clara Null asked her granddaughter how she liked her first trip to the circus. The little girl said, "Oh, Granny! If you ever went once you’d never be satisfied with church again!"

a For some, Church is a big show. (Who’s wearing what, Who’s mad at who, what can I can get mad at Mike about this Sunday.)

b For some people in a church it doesn’t take much to make them happy. . . and even less to make them unhappy!

B But for better or worse. . .The Church is special. Jesus didn’t die for the lions, eagles, moose, elks. Jesus is not going to rapture the rotary, toastmasters, optimist club, chamber of commerce, or the salvation army. He died for his church and he will rapture that church at his second coming.

a Eph. 1:22 "And God placed all things under his (Jesus’) feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body. . ."

*Who is the head of the Church? JESUS

Eph. 2:20 [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

*Who is the Church built on? JESUS

b We’re starting a three week series on "Seven Reasons Why Going To Church is a Big Deal."

C Jesus is working through His Church to bring salvation to a lost generation. (ESS)

a I hope you’ll make going to church a big deal to you and your family. (Objective)

b What are you doing that shows church is a big deal to you? (P.Q.)

T.S.: Let’s look at the first two reasons of why going to church is such a big deal.

I The first reason going to church is a big deal is. . . TO EXALT GOD IN WORSHIP.(Gen. 1:1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

A Worship is the proper response of the creation to the Creator.

REV 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

a REV 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Worship is the right response of the dependent on the sovereign.

b The pages in between Genesis & Revelation document how God reconciled a sinful human race to a sovereign Creator and our Ultimate Judge.

*Rev. 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

B Worship centers around God.

a Worship styles are a hot topic and have cost many pastors their job & have caused many churches to be at war with one another.

(Contemporary, Traditional, Blended, Passion, Vineyard, Praise & Worship)

*Folks go some services wanting an emotional boost. (WRONG!!!)

*Emotion may be an end result of worship, but emotions do not take you to authentic worship.

b Worship is not about us. (Our prefrences, our individual tastes. . .worship is about God)

Do you know whose behind worship wars?

*Satan doesn’t care if we have church services as long as we put our focus on anything but God. (Argue about the tool rather than the propose/product of the tool. . .Connecting with God.)

*Devil divides a church. True Worship Unites a church

*Devil offers power True Worship offers Brokeness

C Reginald Heber was always trying to improve the music at the large Urban Anglican church he served, even though his superiors frowned on the use of anything but the old songs. (Heber served at his church for 16 years, then he accepted a call to serve in Calcutta, India.)

a He was surrounded by the worship of false gods in India, reflected on how he was surrounded by sin in the city he had served 16 years in.

b What Reginald was impressed with was with the holiness of God. (Whether Reginald was facing the sin in the city, or idolatry in India. .God was still holy. He wrote this song that puts the view of our worship in focus.

*3rd v. of "Holy, Holy, Holy" on PowerPoint.

II The second reason going to church is a big deal is. . . TO EVANGELIZE THE WORLD THROUGH PROCLAMATION & MISSIONS.