Category: Attendance

Last week the Old Granbury Road congregation had a gospel meeting, with Harry Osborne doing the preaching. We announced it, and I am thankful that several of our number took advantage of the opportunities to hear the gospel preached by a capable servant.

In fact, we had 21 that attended on Monday, 6 on Tuesday (as reported to me), and 16 on Thursday. That is a pretty good representation, and the support was an encouragement to that fine congregation.

However, the greater benefit was to those of us who attended. The singing was encouraging, the messages edifying, and the association with other Christians a joy.

I know some may tire of my many appeals to attend such efforts, but I feel like the apostle Paul who wrote the Philippians, “I seek the fruit that abounds to your account” (4:17). Paul was referring to their gift to him, but the principle applies here as well. By encouraging and supporting brethren elsewhere, you bear fruit for the Master. God is pleased with your selflessness, and you receive the added strength that worship and study brings. It is a win—win experience, and one I wish that more brethren would pursue regularly.

I know that it takes time, especially if the building is an hour or so away. It takes effort to get the kids ready, or to get those old bones moving. But I promise the effort is worth it. Many opportunities will present themselves in the next few months. So, how about it!

Would it be considered controversial to state that the purpose of our worship assemblies is not to evangelize? Perhaps it would be less so if I explained what I mean by the statement.

First, I am not saying that evangelism can’t take place in the assembly. In fact, first principle preaching in the worship assembly is one way that the children of Christians reach the point of being convicted, and thus converted. Also, it is conceivable that the conversion of an occasional visitor may be the salutary consequence of such lessons. More probably, first principle lessons will serve to “stir up your pure minds by way of reminder” (cf. 2 Peter 3:1), equipping the saints to share with others what they have learned, and had reinforced by the preacher’s words.

Continue reading “The Purpose of Our Assemblies” →

1 Samuel 20:18, Jonathan’s statement, “You will be missed, because your seat will be empty” serves to introduce the lesson, will you be missed if your seat is empty?

Audio

Speaker: Dennis Craig

Certain responsibilites and privileges follow one who becomes a Christian. The sermon discusses these things that follow becoming a child of God:

• Rejoice for Salvation
• Be Holy
• Study God’s Word
• Pray to God
• Assemble with the Saints
• Pepare for the Future

Audio

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:12-13).

I recently read an article by Keith Barclay, in Think on These Things (Volume 44, Number 2). He suggested that faithfulness to God demands much more than is contemplated in the phrase “going to church.” That phrase could simply indicate someone who shows up to a weekly assembly. The verses above indicate a person who truly understands “the significance of God’s steadfast love, faithfulness and work.”

I can’t improve on his thoughts, so carefully consider his application of Psalm 92.

“As a result they [the righteous] firmly plant themselves (the tree metaphors of the text) in God’s house. It is where they reside, not someplace they visit. They relish their place there because there is no other place they would rather be. Morning and evening they praise their God and give Him thanks. As you look into this Psalm does it reflect similarly your attitude toward God and His house today—the church? Are you planted there and do you flourish?”

A long time ago I heard a wise preacher say, “Missing one worship service or class may not condemn your soul, but the attitude that leads to that absence most assuredly could!” Those words have stuck with me for over 30 years, and I remembered them again while reading brother Barclay’s words. What is your attitude toward God?
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Invitation delivered by: Josh Cox

In this short talk (5:45), Josh discusses the text of Hebrews 10:24-25, and the importance of attending services as a means of edifying one another. Application was made to the upcoming gospel meeting.

Audio

The sermon asks the questions: Are you regular in your attendance; do you demonstrate your love; are you an encouragement; are you dependable?

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Brethren, let’s be considerate of one another!

In Hebrews 10, the writer states, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (24-25).

Not everyone took advantage of the opportunity we had last week to be edified during our meeting. If you didn’t come, you missed out on some fine lessons and encouragement.

If you chose not to come, rather than being hindered from coming, you also could be said to have been inconsiderate of your brethren. (Those are the Hebrew writer’s words, not mine!) So, let’s be better about considering others, and take advantage of our opportunities to edify one another.

Jesus was plain in His preaching (cf. John 10:22-28), as were the apostles (cf. 2 Cor. 3:12). We should strive to be as well. The sermon describes 5 areas where plain speech is needed in teaching others:

• How to be saved from sins
• The Nature of the Church of Christ
• Assembled worship is required of Christians
• Christians are called to godly living
• A Judgment is coming!

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Much of the religious world claims a “personal relationship with God.” They then attempt to self-define that relationship, rather than realizing such a relationship is dependent upon God recognizing their standing before Him. This sermon details what is necessary to have such an intimacy with the Almighty.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

AOTS Number 58

We should ask ourselves, “Why do we go to church services.” Are we interested in being entertained, or listen to a “favorite” preacher? Or are we being faithful to God?

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AOTS Number 47

People have many different reasons (excuses) for not coming to church, but none have any real validity. We should rejoice that we can be in God’s presence!

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Podcast Number #9

Whether it is observing the Letter of the law (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25) or observing the Spirit of the law (cf. Matthew 10:37,39) it is obvious that God expects for us to be regular and diligent in our attendance to worship services and classes in the local church. We should not be seeking to do the “minimum”, rather we should be diligent to do all we can for the Lord.

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Sermon Title: Why I Should Attend the Worship Assembly

This sermon examines the attitudes which sometimes cause people to neglect assembling to worship God, and what the scriptures teach about our responsibility to assemble.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .