Preacher David's Corner

Church Attendance 

I believe in going to church! It’s biblical! Hebrews chapter ten verses twenty four and twenty five shares with us “ v.24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: v.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”. The thing we are to provoke and be provoked into doing is, to love and to do good works. There is no true faith which can be separated from love, and there is no true love that is separated from good works. The great opportunity of Christian communication among believers should be to excite one another to love which is the fountain of all good works: provoking one another to good works; as the genuine effect and fruit of sincere love to God and our neighbor. In the apostle’s time there were Christian assemblies in which Christians did meet together to worship, serve God and edify and comfort one another. In times of peace and liberty, Christians had convenient places erected where they separated for worshipping together. The witness of nature, as well as of Scripture, dictates that God is to be worshipped solemnly and publicly. Public worship pleases God, and He accepts cooperate worship as an obedient act. It was the manner or custom of some in the early church to forsake the public assemblies; some out of sloth and negligence; others out of fear and persecution. This was a dangerous habit for Christians, and yet continues today. God the Father and Jesus Christ esteem themselves forsaken, when their worship and worshippers are carelessly forsaken. Psalms 122:1 shares with us “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go unto the house of the Lord.” IF I GO TO CHURCH it likely causes people to have more confidence in me. It makes people know that I regard my spiritual welfare and that of others as a matter of great importance. It has a good effect on the services. It makes my friends feel more welcome. It encourages the brethren and helps the preacher. It causes others to go to church. It makes my life stronger for another week. It removes stumbling blocks from the sinners path. It pleases God and that is a good thing. I am happy! It causes others to say "he practices what he preaches”. IF I DON”T GO TO CHURCH, it raises some questions about the reality of my commitment to God. It makes some think I am a pretender. Folks may think that I regard my spiritual welfare and that of others as a matter of small concern. It weakens the effect of the church service. It influences the preacher to have great concern for his congregations. It discourages the brethren, and therefore robs them of a blessing that they should have. It causes others to stay away from church. It makes it harder for me to escape the temptations of life. It gives the devil more power over lost souls and encourages the non-church attendees to stay away. In a courtroom a witness may have relevant information to testify about, but if the opposing lawyer has evidence that he is not a person of integrity, he can present proof to the court and have that case thrown out. We must make sure that our testimony and life style doesn't make us appear as a person without integrity. Going to church gives us some integrity in the eyes of the world. To prove to others and yourself that Christ lives in you then going to worship Him is a sure sign. LET’S GO TO CHURCH! The good out weighs the bad. The Bible teaches it! Don’t let the devil trick you into staying home this Sunday. The more we are in church the better chance we have of being closer to God. There are lots of excuses for not going to church. There are 150 churches in Ashe County I know there is one where you can worship. Make it a habit, no matter what the excuse! We’ll BE LOOKING FOR YOU IN CHURCH SUNDAY!!                                                                            Your Servant, David