weekly sermon
8-26-07
Roll Call! Are You In Attendance?
We are believing in the entire word of God, we are walking by faith in the
newness of life, and we are keeping our minds stayed on God. So now what? To be
able to keep our minds there, walk there, and believe it all, we MUST
find a church home and ATTEND.
There was a story I heard along time ago about two boys, around 8 and 10 years
old, that walked a country road from home to their small town. Everyday they
passed this area where the weeds were extremely tall and out of control. One day
they decided to cut down the weeds. Upon cutting the weeds down, they discovered
a small church house with all of its windows broken out, the pews dusty, hymn
books strewn everywhere, and the place in utter shambles. These two young boys
decided to dust off the pews, pick up the hymnals, and give the place a good
spring cleaning. They found a sign with the name of the church on it, and
decided to place it back out by the old dirt road. Once they had cleaned up the
old church, they went to tell their mother about the church. When they got home,
they could hear their mother in the house crying. Their dad, as he had so many
times, had beat their mother and left the house. To cheer their mother up, they
decided to show her the work they had been doing. They led her by the hand down
toward the little church. As they approached, they could hear a voice in the
church. They stopped to listen. It was their dad, knelt at the alter, talking to
God and asking Him to make him a better husband and father. From that moment on,
the family went to that little church, and it began to grow.
I am not sure where this story came from, but it sure hits home. It shows us
just how powerful attending a church can be.
We must find a church home, and attend that church on a regular basis. If we
look in Hebrews 10:25 it says, "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." This is telling us that we need to come
together in a group so that we may urge each other on, advise each other, and
admonish each other. This is not only for us to do with one another, but also to
aid the pastor in his many labors. Just as it says in Matthews 28:19-20, "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world." This is just a few of the many labors that we are
to assist the pastor in doing. Just a few other bits of scripture that will show
us how we are to assist the pastor in our church home. Acts 1:8, "But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth." 2 Corinthians 6:1, "We then, as workers
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain." Showing here that we, as a congregation, are to work together with the
pastor so that we do NOT receive the grace of God in vain. In 2 Timothy
3:17, it states, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works." This is talking about the pastor, being the man of God. We are
to work with this man of God, urge him, admonish him, to do these good works for
God. Act 11:26, "And when he (Barnabas) had found him (Saul), he brought him
unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves
with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch." Because of this assembly of the disciples in
church, they were called Christians here. This should show us that by attending
church we will show the community, we ARE Christians. As I said before,
we may be the only Bibles some ever get to read. When we attend church, we are
showing those that are reading us, that we are Christians. We are performing the
good works of God. Working for the betterment of the church, feeding the church,
with our time, our works, or financially. Whatever it takes to feed the church,
to bring souls to Christ. Act 20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." Jesus Christ
carried His own cross, laid down upon it, and shed His own blood, just as it
says here, He purchased the church with His own blood. I believe He died for me,
I believe I will live for Him. That is a song, that states it all. He did die
for the church, we should come to His house, and live for Him. Just to show how
much we are to think about the church, it states in Eph 5:29, "For no man ever
yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the
church:" Man feeds his own flesh, he cherishes his flesh, wants it to be kept
alive. That is just human nature. Jesus wants the same for the church, feed it,
cherish it, but most of all, keep your church ALIVE.
If we are ever going to think about the church in the right sense, we must
KNOW that the church is truly the bride of Christ. Eph 5:25, "Husbands, love
your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"
Referring here to the church towards Christ, as the wife is to her husband.
Mostly what I am really trying to say here is, once we believe, and start to
walk and talk the way of a Christian, we must find a good church home, that
teaches the entire Bible as the true word of God, feed this church home, and
help the church to bring souls to the amazing grace of God. If you are hungry
you go to where the food is, whether at your home, or out to eat. The same holds
true here, your soul MUST be fed, and to be fed, you have to go to the
ultimate buffet, a church home that believes and teaches the complete word of
God. Your soul can only be fed with knowledge. This knowledge comes from the
word of God, taught at the church. I have sugar coated this with a few verses,
showing you from the Bible what is said about going to church. I can NOT
state how important it is for us to band together as a congregation, as a
church, to stand strong against the enemy. Yes it is important for us to attend
a church home so that our souls may be fed, and our minds taught the complete
truth of the word of God. But to stand up against the enemy and show the world,
by our obedience in our attendance, that we are Christians, not backing down,
that is the ultimate goal of our being in a good church home.
We are believing, walking, talking, keeping our minds on God, and now in
attendance. But if for some reason, one of these categories does not apply to
you, then there is one thing you need to do. You need to say a small simple
prayer with me.
My Lord and Saviour, please come into my life and save my soul. Make me the
Christian you want me to be, and forgive me of my sins. Amen. If you have said
this little prayer with me, then we believe you have received salvation. Now you
MUST find a good church home, as we have discussed, profess this
salvation to your pastor, and feed on the knowledge to become the Christian that
Jesus Christ intended.
Please let us know if you have received this salvation here, so we can rejoice
with you and send you a few things to help you on your new Christian walk in
life.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone