How to Go to Church

Introduction

Could there be a simpler question?

Brennan suggested a slide like this (GPS)

Warnings about how we worship

Luke 8:18 — Be careful how you hear God’s Word

1 Cor. 11:28 — Examine your heart before taking communion

Matthew 15:8 — Jesus says lip service is not enough

Most important spiritual discipline

“I thought you said we don’t grow by photosynthesis?”

[Good church attendance doesn’t guarantee maturity in the faith but you can guarantee bad church attendance does guarantee immaturity in the faith.]

There’s something special about the gathering

We used to overemphasize Sunday (e.g. dry counties)

Now we underemphasize (e.g. churchless “Christians”)

Open to Hebrews 13 — 1 sentence, 5 parts

Explanation

Go… (v. 10:24-25)

Hebrews 10:24-25

Make them non-negotiable — Sunday morning, Wednesday night, small group

[I don’t know a single giant in the faith who wasn’t worshiping every week with all of God’s people and getting real every week with a few of God’s people.]

…to one church… (v. 17)

[The shepherd can’t tend the flock if the flock is off wandering around in four different fields.]

Commit to your local church’s “stuff” and go to others on top, on occasion, if you have time and want to.

Inviting other Christians also keeps us from inviting the lost

Find a church by the end of the semester

…to worship God,… (v. 15)

Church isn’t about us.

“It’s too loud.” (Shouldn’t we sing out?)

“The songs are too old.” (Don’t the lyrics come from a 2,000 year old book?)

“I don’t connect with God in that kind of church.” (Is he only present in your style of worship?)

[If you don’t like the music when the music points to God, you don’t have a problem with the music; you have a problem with God.]

When you go to lunch afterwards, are you thinking more about the service or the Savior?

…serve others,… (v. 16)

So often we think…who’s gonna talk to me? who’s gonna check in on how I’m doing? etc.

[Chris’] story about his son

[There should never be a person that walks in the room and goes home without being confused by how much they felt loved by us.]

…and be fed. (v. 17)

[Church is about being fed, not being entertained.]

Rick Atchley being king of one-liners because they have substance

If the pastor is feeding holographic meatloaf, kindly go somewhere else

Ever wonder why Neil is talking about not suing each other? Because he’s more focused on feeding you the Word of God than entertaining you

[If Pastor So-and-So gives you a word, and it doesn’t come from the Word, then he’s not feeding you; he’s failing you. (And you need to head for the hills.)]

Better to have Jimmy Blackmon feeding you the Word than a cool guy feeding you nothing

[If you go to church and always get coddled but never challenged, you’ll feel comfortable but never Christ-like.]

—take notes, pay attention, think about what’s being said—

Exhortation

Go to one church to worship God, serve others, and be fed.

Which area do you need to focus on this semester?

For non-Christians — no better place to figure out what you believe

Share what church is “all about”