SHOULD CHRISTIANS GO TO CHURCH?

I. INTRODUCTION

Hebrews 10:19–25 NET 2nd ed.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

II. BIBLICAL COMMAND

Hebrews 10:24–25 NET 2nd ed.

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

THE JEWS WERE COMMANDED TO COME MEET WITH GOD 3 TIMES A YEAR (DEUT.16:16) - OT EXAMPLE

III. BIBLICAL PRACTICE

THE JEWS MINISTERED BEFORE THE LORD DAILY IN THE OT, OFFERING SACRIFICES AND FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCES OF THE MOSAIC LAW

THE JEWS MET REGULARLY IN SYNAGOGUE DURING JESUS’ DAY

THE EARLY CHURCH MET DAILY TO PRAYER/WORSHIP, HEAR THE WORD, PRACTICE THE SACRAMENTS, AND TO FELLOWSHIP (ACTS 2:42).

THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN, AND ALL THE SAINTS, WORSHIP NIGHT AND DAY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD IN HEAVEN

IV. SPIRITUAL GROWTH, MATURITY, AND PROTECTION AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE/TEACHERS

Ephesians 4:11–16 NET 2nd ed.

And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

Colossians 1:3–8 NET 2nd ed.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf—who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

V. THE BODY NEEDS ITS PARTS

1 Corinthians 12:4–27 NET 2nd ed.

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things. For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. If they were all the same member, where would the body be? So now there are many members, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Hebrews 10:24–25 NET 2nd ed.

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NET 2nd ed.

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

Hebrews 3:13 CSB

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

Romans 15:2 CSB

Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1 Corinthians 12:7 CSB

A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:

COMFORT (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NET 2nd ed.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Galatians 6:2 NET 2nd ed.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

CONFESSION AND HEALING JAMES 5:16

James 5:16 NET 2nd ed.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

WE ARE ALL UNIQUELY GIFTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FULFILL OUR FUNCTION IN THE WORLD AND IN THE LOCAL BODY

IF WE’RE NOT AT CHURCH, WE MISS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE USED BY GOD AS HE HAS INTENDED, AND THE BODY MISSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MINISTERED TO

VI. BE COMMITTED TO SOMETHING, MAN

VII. PRIORITIES AND FIRST FRUITS

VIII. LOVE & HONOR

We are faithful to appear before the LORD because He is worthy of our time, our love and adoration, and our honor

When we don’t come because “we don’t feel like it,” what does that tell the LORD? Imagine if a husband said that to his wife?

IX. A DISPLAY OF HIS GLORY - A PEOPLE OF HIS PRESENCE (A CITY ON A HILL)

BY THIS THEY WILL NOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES - LOVE

ALL PEOPLES TOGETHER IN UNITY SPEAKS VOLUMES

HE FILLS ALL IN ALL THROUGH HIS BODY

Ephesians 1:20–23 NET 2nd ed.

This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.