Topical Sermon: Why Should I Go to Worship Services?

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111

Why Should I Go to Worship Services?

Intro.
1. E-mail Bible question: "Why do you or I need to go to church?" "Can't we just have it at home?"

2. “Go to church” used to mean “go to worship services” – Why have regular worship services? Why should you go (& be active)?

3. God seeks true worshipers today (Jno. 4:23-24). A study of how NT Christians worshiped helps us learn how to be true worshipers.

4. In trying to justify no assembled worship some misunderstand & misuse what Jesus said about the place of worship in Jno. 4:21 (as if assembled worship is dismissed by Jesus – which is not the case).

5. God has revealed His truth on this subject (Eph. 5:17).

1. Even in the Old Testament God wanted Israel to go to His assigned place.

a. Lev. 17:1-9: Offerings were to be brought to God’s specified place (tabernacle), not offered in the open field.

b. Deut. 12:5-14: Not “in every place that you see,” but where God chose (2 Chrn. 7:12).

c. Today there is a specified place (Jno. 4:21-24), but this exemplifies respect for God’s arrangement for worship: It is not a matter of what we personally prefer (cf. Lev. 10:1-2; Mt. 7:21-23).

2. There are many NT examples of assembled worship: Acts 2:42, 44; 5:12; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2.

a. We are to follow such worthy examples, 1 Cor. 4:16-17; Phil. 4:9.

b. One who wants to be like NT Christians assembles with the church.

3. New Testament Christians “came together” (Heb. 10:25):

a. To break bread, Acts 20:7-8.

b. To worship “as a church,” 1 Cor. 11:18.

c. In one place (to eat the Lord’s Supper), 1 Cor. 11:20, 33-34.

d. For edification, 1 Cor. 14:23, 26.

e. For learning, cf. Acts 14:27.

f. To discipline a sinner among them, 1 Cor. 5:4.

4. Christ expects His body to come together.

a. Christians are “one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:5) – Christ expects the body to come together - otherwise, how are we “one body”? (cf. husband & wife)

b. To edify the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:11-16.

c. Helps keep unity in the body of Christ, cf. Eph. 4:3; 1 Cor. 12:25-27).

5. Because there are some things that cannot be done “at home” (privately):

a. Encouraging one another when we worship together (Heb. 10:24; 1 Cor. 14:26).

b. Speaking to one another in song, Eph. 5:19.

c. Praying with one another, 1 Cor. 14:15-16.

d. Giving on the first day of the week, 1 Cor. 16:1-2.

e. Teaching the word of God, Acts 20:7 (11:26); cf. 1 Ths. 5:27; Col. 4:16.

f. Eating the Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 33-34.

6. We are under commandment not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, Heb. 10:24-25.

a. Moral obligation before God to assemble with brethren to worship.

1) The regular assembly of Christians is God’s will.

2) A personal responsibility to be present & active.

b. Question to ponder: If everyone attended & participated the way I do, would this church have regular worship services?

Conclusion

1. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psa. 122:1

2. If you are not glad to assemble with God’s people to worship God “in spirit and in truth,” then you need to determine why not & repent of your sinful heart against the Lord (2 Cor. 13:5).