Why We Worship Together

TITLE: WHY WE WORSHIP TOGETHER

TEXT : Hebrews 10:24-25

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good‑works:

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner‑of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day‑approaching.

INTRO: Can you imagine going to a baseball game by yourself.

PROP: THE SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGES US TO WORSHIP THE LORD TOGETHER.

INTER: BUT HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WORSHIP‑TOGETHER. THE FIRST AND FOREMOST REASON WE WORSHIP TOGETHER IS TO EXPERIENCE A‑SPECIAL UNVEILING OF THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

I. Connecting with other believers welcomes the presence of God

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am‑I in the midst of them.

1. As we are "gathered together", to‑gather together you have to have a‑place and a time.

a) times of services

2. Christ comes among us in a special‑way as we worship/praise His name.

Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou‑that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

a) Any given service is only as‑dry as is the praise.

TRANS: THE SECOND REASON WE WORSHIP‑TOGETHER IS THE NEED FOR‑RELATIONSHIPS.

II. Connecting with other believers through worship helps us

to stay spiritually secure and encouraged (1 Cor. 12:25-

26;Gal6:1-3)

1 Cor 12:25 That there should be no‑schism in the body; but that the‑members should have the same care one‑for another.

1 Cor 12:26 And whether one member‑suffer, all the members suffer with‑it; or one member be honoured, all the‑members rejoice with it.

1. We all need care, love, nurture.

2. We each need empathy (when‑discouraged)

3. We each desire encouragement

4. We all have to have appreciation

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be‑overtaken in a fault, ye which are‑spiritual, restore such an one in the‑spirit of meekness; considering‑thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens,‑and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to‑be something, when he is nothing, he‑deceiveth himself.

5. We each need occasional‑assistance, and even forgiveness at‑times, because we all fall short.

a) This verse seems to say the‑first church was abundantly more

open‑than we to one another.

6. We each need answerability

Elijah was lonely and discouraged, because he was not connected with other believers.

He was all alone in the wilderness.

The questions is, “why was he all alone in the wilderness”?

God said that there were 7000 other believers in Israel.

IKing 19:9(KJV)

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the

10 LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

IKing 19:13(KJV)

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

IKing 19:18(KJV)

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

NO TIME FOR PEOPLE: He could have neglected his call to worship with other believers, because he was too busy. (Marriage Supper)

PEOPLE DIDN’T MAKE TIME FOR HIM: Odd man/difficult person…

FEAR OF PEOPLE: Maybe he was afraid of being hurt by people. (Jezebel)

HE UPSET PEOPLE: Maybe people didn’t enjoy being around him. After all, he was very elitist. He had the audacity to tell God that there wasn’t anybody else right but HIM!!!

HOLIER THAN THOU: Felt superior/ more spiritual than everyone else.

SELF RELIANT/GOD AND ME MENTALITY: Maybe he said, “as long as I have God on my side, I don’t need anybody else.”

EGOCENTRICISM: He didn’t see anyone else’s need besides his own.

Believers feel depressed, lonely and spiritually defeated when they become isolated from other believers.

But staying committed to fellowship isn’t easy. To remain committed to other believers, we must maintain the right attitude.

III. Connecting with other believers, requires that we have the right attitude towards one another!

PEOPLE RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER BETTER IN AN ENVIORMENT OF ENCOURAGEMENT

A. The apostle Paul wrote an encouraging letter to the new believers in the Greek city of Thessalonica. I find most people are starving for a word of appreciation and encouragement. (EMOTIONAL AIR)

Here is a quick summary of what he communicated to these believers:

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers” (1:2).

We are “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father” (v. 3).