Attendance 2
Why Attendance Is Important #2
By Bill Denton
Introduction
A. Last week I spoke on the subject, "Why Attendance is Important."
1. Heb 10:19-25
2. To the writer of Hebrews, assembling together is directly connected to the following:
a. drawing near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith
b. holding fast the confession of our hope without wavering
c. considering how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds
3. The truth of the matter is that the Christian faith is not a "go-it-alone" religion
a. despite the claims of some that they can be just as faithful never, or seldom,
attending church assemblies, it's just not true
b. faith thrives in community, not a vacuum
4. But, neither is the issue some magic number of acceptable assemblies to attend
a. the question is broader and deeper than that
b. we would be much better off understanding what is the purpose of our
assemblies and connecting to that purpose
c. that was the Hebrew writer's encouragement
B. I want to address this issue one more time before we move
1. I want to look a bit more some things that relate to attending church assemblies
2. It is far more important that most of us understand, and everything to do with the
quality and depth of your faith than you might imagine
I. Interesting Church Problems
A. You have probably heard about some of the silly laws that have been enacted that either
don't make sense or appear to be completely irrelevant -- did you know that some of them
relate to church assemblies?
1. Illustration
a. Young girls are never allowed to walk a tightrope in Wheeler, Mississippi,
unless it's in a church.
b. In Blackwater, Kentucky, tickling a woman under her chin with a feather
duster while she's in church service carries a penalty of $10.00 and one day in
jail.
c. No one can eat unshelled, roasted peanuts while attending church in Idanha,
Oregon.
d. In Honey Creek, Iowa, no one is permitted to carry a slingshot to church
except a policeman.
e. No citizen in Leecreek, Arkansas, is allowed to attend church in any red-
colored garment.
f. Swinging a yo-yo in church or anywhere in public on Sunday is prohibited
in Studley, Virginia.
g. Turtle races are not permitted within 100 yards of a local church at any time
in Slaughter, Louisiana.
Robert W. Pelton in The Door. Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 5.
2. I will have to admit that I do not understand how most of those laws ever came to be,
but I suspect there was an interesting background to each one
B. Today, churches everywhere are facing problems relating to church assemblies
1. Everybody wants an assembly that caters to their particular likes and dislikes
a. Elmer Towns, "Worship Wars," 1996
1) Historically, when Protestant church members have moved their home
from one location to the next, they usually chose a new local church
on the basis of doctrine, not on the basis of worship style. While the
style of worship was important to them; doctrine was the final criteria.
The priorities were (1) doctrine, (2) the name of the church and (3)
denominational alliance.
2) Today, Americans are not as choosy about church names. Now they
choose a church primarily by its style of worship or its philosophy of
ministry. People are not looking for denominational labels, doctrine or
a predetermined name. Presbyterians are not necessarily looking for a
church that has Covenant Theology or Reformed Doctrine, or
Presbyterian in name. They may attend and join a charismatic renewal
church because they enjoy clapping, lifting their hands or singing
praise choruses. If they feel comfortable, they feel this is the way God
should be worshiped. So they sublimate their doctrinal preferences and
abandon their tradition for a new philosophy of worship. What is the
primary source of this change? It is coming from without the Church,
not within. Culture is influencing the Church more than the Church is
influencing the culture.
b. I don't want you to misunderstand my point here - I'm not really talking about
the right or wrong of any particular practice, I'm talking about a problem that
lies behind the whole issue of "worship wars" -- letting culture shape what
happens to the church rather than the church shape our culture.
2. There are two extremes in response to all these stresses that will not help
a. over-react and establish silly, irrelevant laws to prevent culture's influence
b. over-react and go along with everything that comes down the road
C. Somebody says, "Yes, that's right, culture should never influence what we do as a church,
and especially in our assemblies."
1. Bless your heart, you're just not aware of the many ways culture has already had its
influence on us
2. Does anyone really believe that the conduct of a modern church assembly really
has much in common with a first-century church assembly? Only in the most general
sort of ways
3. Whatever things we do, and however we do them, must always be guided by the
following things:
a. is it biblical?
b. does it help us accomplish the purpose of our assemblies?
c. do our assemblies produce stronger, more faithful, energetically serving
Christians, or do they produce the opposite?
4. If we're not willing to deal with those questions, then likely we'll be more influenced
by culture in negative ways than positive ones
II. Give Me Some Practical Reasons To Attend Church Assemblies
A. Let's go back and re-read that passage from Heb. 10:19-25
1. I believe it was Charles Swindoll, commenting on this passage, who said that the
three imperatives in 10:22-24 could be stated this way: "draw near. . . speak out. . .
and stir up"
2. We need to emphasize the point that these things cannot be done alone, they are
necessarily activities that involve the whole congregation
B. Let me give you a short list of good reasons that attending church services is important
1. Your faith will be stronger for it
2. Your knowledge of God's word will be better, deeper, wiser, and you will be able to
make more effective application of scripture to your life
3. Your fellowship will deepen because you become part of something bigger than
yourself
4. Your ability to minister others becomes real and practical
5. You will receive encouragement, motivation, help from others
6. You make it possible for the church to impact the larger community
Conclusion
A. Several years ago I was talking with a preacher from another church in the town where we
lived. He mentioned that the church he preached for had about 800 members. I was
impressed. I remember telling him I didn't know they could get 800 people in his building.
He replied, "Oh, we don't have 800 in attendance. We usually run about 150 on Sundays."
Then he asked, "How many members does your church have." I replied, "About 130." "And
how many do you have in attendance on Sundays?" he asked. "Between 130 and 150," I
said. Both of us were baffled!
B. I've been around long enough now to have some firm convictions
1. One of them is that attending church assemblies is a vital activity - not just so we can
post numbers and brag, but so we can be strong Christians
2. I've watched those whose habit was to abandon church assemblies for other things
a. it's exactly the kind of thing the Hebrew writer warned about
b. I have watched those people struggle with their faith in so many ways
c. most of those struggles could have been minimized with the help of loving,
caring brothers and sisters, who could have ministered to them, encouraged
them and picked them up when they were down
C. Here's what I want us to close with today
1. I'm glad you're here - it demonstrates that you have at least some of the right
concerns at heart and are willing to be involved with your brothers and sisters
2. We don't always give you the time or the opportunity to really do what the Bible
tells us ought to be done in assemblies - really looking out for one another
3. Today, I'm going to ask you to do something a little different
a. don't hurry off
b. I want you to look for people you don't know well, or folks you haven't
talked to in a while
c. I want each of you to make a special effort to shake a hand, hug a neck, and
say a kind, encouraging word to each other
d. some of you are in great need of some spiritual attention - let somebody know
e. some of you are in great shape to help others -- if you'll not be selfish or
self-centered and be willing to help them
4. Tonight, we'll meet in the gym for our combined CARE group meeting
a. you especially need to attend that assembly because somebody there needs
you, and you need somebody
b. it is why our small group assemblies are so powerful
D. Invitation