Why Should Christians Attend Church?

What are the pros and cons of not physically attending church services?  With virtual church becoming a norm in society today, is it causing complications for individual Christian living, for the community the church supports, or is it more of a building-use issue?  Are Christians neglecting to attend and support churches on Sunday, as well as other days of the week?  Do they need to?  If spiritual growth and awakening is what Christians want or need, should they get together in a building to worship and learn?  With the technologies that exist today, is church attendance really necessary? 

"Until I come,devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,

to preaching and to teaching." - 1 Timothy 4:13 (NIV)

Society started moving to churches without walls during the late 20th century "Jesus movement."  That was not the first movement of Jesus Christ to question how to be a child of God and it will not be the last.  Jesus started His church with a wandering group of disciples, who later become itinerant evangelists and apostles.  Although the apostles moved a lot, they did work hard at  planting church groups.  Why? So Christ's followers (Christians) could increase their faith, worship, and grow spiritually together under the guidance and leadership of a selected responsible and mature believer who would teach God's word and demonstrate His love in a way they could easily understand.  

Excellent posts to read more on this include:

• Why Is it Important to Go to Church? 7 Reasons from Christianity.com
• Why Attending Church is So Important  - 4 Reasons from Think Eternity blog 
• Why Go to Church When You Can Watch Online? from Christian Post for minister viewpoints
• Why the Church Is Vitally Important for Every Christian - Crossway's 5 Points on Church in the Bible
• 
  

Too Many People Are Going to Hell

Too many people are going to hell of their own free will!  So many people are experiencing hell on earth right now and too many of them are also headed towards eternal hell.  Can anything be done about this?

Some people are involved in violence.  A few want the violence for personal, profitable, or political reasons.  Others are part of the violence for pay, to loot, enjoy villainy, or want unmerited fame;  while others are just going along.  Violence is usually the product of hate, crime, or emotionally-driven unrest. Who is leading the way for violence?   It is a favorite tactic of the devil to destroy both those guilty of participating in violence and the innocent who fear the results of violence. Who can stop the violence?

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and 

hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us"  

- Ephesians 2:14 (KJV)

Some people are lonely or depressed.  For some, depression can come from actual circumstances, things going on around them, words wrongfully spoken, or deceptive thoughts and personal perceptions.  Why has depression increased?  What can be done to help overcome the depression?  Others  have no one to talk with, while another may have people they can turn to but do not feel they can do so.  Then loneliness creeps into their lives. often soon followed by depression.  When will the lonesomeness end?

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 

that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." 

- Romans 15:13 (KJV)

As a Christian, what are you doing about the people you know are headed for hell?  When you see wrong, are you retaliating and screaming back physically or are you fighting spiritually?  Are you telling people about Jesus and leading them in the prayer of salvation.  As a Church body, how is your group helping to: alleviate the pain of others, lead people to Christ, stop crime in your neighborhood, and fight falsehoods and the increasing evil in society?  Is your church bringing in sinners in to be saved from hell?  Or does it allow the sins to stay just to fill a seat or is it too quickly jumping on a social or worldly fads to mollify the ungodly? Pray through Christ for Godly direction to lead more away from hell and toward heaven.

Seven Motivational Spiritual Gifts

Motivational spiritual gifts are very action-oriented and are how Christ moves through us in word and deed.  These gifts will be distributed throughout the Church body. Many of these action gifts are to: edify the Church, grow the flock through spoken and unspoken witness, and make new members comfortable.  

You may have multiples versions of these gifts (or subsets such as those listed as AKA), though you may excel in a particular one.  These gifts reflect the personality of Jesus through you, therefore you should seek to use these gifts wisely and as often as possible.

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, 
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." 
- Romans 12:6-8 (KJV) 

Below is some information on the 7 spiritual gifts of motivational actions:  

• Giving (aka Hospitality/Hosting, Sharing) people are excited to share generously what they have with the Church and other people.  They do so cheerfully and without expecting recognition or reward.   They take pleasure in making people feel welcome and cared about.  They also encourage other to give of what resources  and blessings that they may have.  They have a special place in their heart for the needy and lonely.  They are selfless, seek ways to help ,and typically are hospitable towards others.
• Exhorting (aka Exhortation, Encouragement/Encouraging) means to console, support, comfort, strengthen, and counsel others in their Christian growth so they can become all that God wants them to be.  People with this gift may encourage, challenge, or rebuke those whose faith is wavering or to help them continue their growth in the Lord. They desire to buildup the body of Christ for the glorification of God.  
• Mercy spiritual gift allows people to easily sense the emotions of others, be sensitive to their feelings and needs, as well as help them through their burdens.  They are good listeners, empathetic, loving, meek, sympathetic, patient, and communicative with a desire to end suffering and see others healed.  Although the mercy spiritual gift is emotionally sensitive, those with it look for practical ways and compassionate deeds to help those they see suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  They will stay with whomever they are helping through the process of healing.  
• Ministering (aka Service/Serving, Helping) should not be confused with the ministry roles, but in the motivational sense it is that of helper or servant.  People with this spiritual gift desire to meet the needs of the Church and individuals.  When they see a necessary task, they commit to getting it done, either by doing it or by assisting others in the job.  They often work behind the scene filling in gaps around the Church.  People with the ministering gift support the ministry by doing various errands  or jobs in order to free up others for ministry roles aimed at growing the Church.
• Prophesy spiritual gift provides insight or foresight into God's will or plan for the Church body.  They may warn of sin or reveal it which makes the prophet's role seem judgmental, but they are merely dedicated to Gods truth.  This divine message from God is a blessing to the Church, however it must be tested and measured against scripture.  
• Teaching is a foundational gift and it requires dedication to study, research, prayer, lesson planning, and possibly writing.  Whether the gift is to be a Sunday School teacher, youth program, or study group leader; it still requires great responsibility to carry out the role. Those in the teacher's role are typically good speakers or willing group facilitators.  
• Ruling (aka Administration/Administer, Organization/Organize, Leadership/Leading) is the ability to see the "big picture," set long-term goals, guide others to achieve the goals, and find ways to get work done.  People with this spiritual gift typically have leadership skills in planning, organization, and supervision.  This gift includes protecting the Church and often manifests itself in multiple roles and jobs within the Church body.   

A great way to think of the motivational gifts is how they help the Church body to be whole.  For example think of each spiritual gift as a physical body part of Christ: giving is the arms, exhorting the mouth, mercy is the heart, ministering the hands, prophecy the eyes, teaching the mind, and ruling the head. From this example you can see that all the motivational gifts are valuable, each is important to the Church body.

If you feel you have a listed motivational gift, pray that God will direct you in how to use it effectively.  Your pastor may be able to help you in directing your gift towards the best way of working for the Church. 

Fasting: A Good Practice for This Day and Time

The Church is calling for prayer, repentance, and REVIVAL.  Citizens are screaming for patriotism and protection.  Politics are poisoning the world and pulling everyone in different directions.  As a Christina, you are praying, what else can you do?  Have you considered fasting as a form of worship or petition?  Fasting may be for  multiple days as in many Bible instances, or it can just be one day to draw closer to God or make a special supplication.  Fasting is a way for you to demonstrate to God your desire to draw closer to Him, as it is a righteous symbol of your longing to be with God.  Fasting, along with prayer, can help you to recognize His path for you or give you calm in a stressful situation.  Your faithful dedication to spiritual things can help bring salvation, comfort, and fellowship to a world badly in need of it.  

"But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 

that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." - Matthew 6:17-18 (ESV)

Consider fasting as a spiritual symbol, you are replacing physical food (or some other enjoyable thing you are giving up for a limited time) for time with God, which fills you up with spiritual food.  If you are fasting for a specific event or situation, you are covering it with a spiritual blanket of protection.  If you are considering fasting: explore the purpose in Holy Bible, check out how to prepare to fast, then be sure to pray before, during, and after the fast period.  

You Shall Honor and Respect Others, Love Thy Neighbor

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 

forgiving one another, 

as God in Christ forgave you." 

- Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

According to Jesus Christ, the most important command is is to love God as covered in first 4 of 10 commandments.  The second greatest command is related to loving and respecting others.  If you love and respect others, you automatically follow commandments 5-10. 

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 

and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

There is no other commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)

If you love others, you should have no issues with following the final six commandments of the ten.  These last six commandments deal with respecting people and their property.

5. Honor thy (Your) father and thy (Your) mother.
6. Thou (You) shalt (Shall/Will/Can) not murder.
7. Thou (You) shalt (Shall/Will/Can) not commit adultery.
8. Thou (You) shalt (Shall/Will/Can) not steal
9. Thou (You) shalt (Shall/Will/Can) not bear false witness against thy neighbour
10. Thou (You) shalt (Shall/Will/Can) not covet (Want/Desire/Take) ... any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Are you following the second important command of Jesus Christ?  If you are young and living with  your parents, do you  respect  them and follow their instructions?  If your parents are older, do you visit them or take proper care of them?  Do you get angry with people and wish they were dead or gossip to others about them?  Are you jealous of others or lust after things someone else has?  If you have any of these issues, pray for God's forgiveness and for guidance to overcome.   Then look for ways to help others (love your neighbor) to put your prayers into action.

"If anyone says,'I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; 

for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen 

cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

And this commandment we have from him 

whoever loves God must also love his brother." - 1 John 4:20-21

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Depression Rising? Look for Strength in the Joy of the Lord

Have you heard that more people are getting depressed each year?  Is depression really on the rise?  
--  According to CBS News, from 1980 to 2014, the use of anti-depressants in the United States doubled.
--  According to NBC News, major depression diagnosis rose 33% in four year period (from to 2013 through 2016) based on 2018 BCBS report and charts.
--  According to NAMCS survey, since 1987 the number of depression diagnosis had 450% increase plus 2020 Happier Human reports the estimated cost of depression is $100 Billion per year.

Why?  Some blame technology and social media because it builds a barrier to people being close and continual communication.  Others say it is situational because there are lots of different types of depression.

"... For this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; 

for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)

Could the increase in depression be related to the decrease in church attendance or Christian faith in America?  A correlation in the statistics does make it seem very likely this is part of the problem. Church not only provides a basis for faith, it provides a fellowship with other Christians.  Prayer to God and physically having someone to talk with is an important part of recovery.

-- According to 2014 Religion News article, from 1997 to 2012 the drop in religious activity [like church attendance and dedicated prayer] was double what the drop was during the "free love" hippie culture of 1960s through early 1970s.
-- Was the leveling of religion from the 70s to late 90s  due to Christian conversion turnaround in history of the Jesus Movement from late 1960s through 1970s?  There was a church attendance spike and another religious awakening after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001.  What will it take to bring the USA back to one nation under God?

Find out ways to help in 2018 column from Everyday Health that offers 5 ways faith can help depression.  Belief Net shares 6 truths about depression and faith.  Compelling Truth also posts ideas on types of depression and multiple Bible references.

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The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

The golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is biblical.  It is not just a mom-ism nor a historical mantra that has withstood the passing of time.  However it is the basis used throughout generations to stop human atrocities and promote the ethical treatment of others.  After all, there is a lot of truth in treating others the way you wish to be treated by them.  The golden rule is not the law of reciprocity or win-win negotiation, since you are commanded by Christ to do it no matter what you may or may not get back.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 

do ye even so to them: 

for this is the law and the prophets. - Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

The generally accepted golden rule wording is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  It may be expressed using different phrases, but the scriptural  meaning is still the same.  The golden rule, of treating others the way you wish to be treated, is a principle taught by Jesus to his followers and the crowd during His Sermon on the Mount.  It is believed that around the 17th century the scripture was translated to the popular phrasing in the golden rule.  The point of the golden rule is mutual respect.  Remembering that forces us to proactively think unselfishly before acting (or talking).  Jeaus' teaching and mutual respect are keys o healing the wounds of this world.

We are All Brothers and Sisters through Christ's Blood

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." - Genesis 1:26

God created man in his image out of his desire for fellowship.  One man (Adam) and one woman (Eve) were the parents of all the  races on mankind. But man separated himself from God when he chose to disobey.  Humans continued to withdraw from God and each other as time went on.

"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions 

and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; 

avoid them." - Romans 16:17 (ESV)

Jesus Christ, the son of God, was sent to shed his blood as a sacrifice for mankind.  Through Him all may be redeemed and adopted into the family of God.  After receiving salvation, each one becomes a new brother or sister with Christ.  Members of God's family are to avoid evil and share His love.

The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy. 

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10 (ESV)

Why do we continue to exacerbate human issues?  Psychology Today article, "What's the problem?" makes a suggestion.  However to solve the true problems in this world, we should read the Bible for guidance.

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, 
and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, 
and does not know where he is going, 

because the darkness has blinded his eyes." - 1 John 2:9-11 (ESV)

In the video below, Aveda King shares that we are all part of the human race and have the same red blood.  The key is to remember this and unbiblical-ness of racism shall begin to fall away.  Until then, continue to pray for God's healing and deliverance for His sons and daughters in this world

Pray for God's Justice and Righteousness in this World

In times of despair, injustice, or violence - men and women may get emotional. Humans try to explain what they think happened in the past or should happen in the future.  Sometimes they believes a lie, other times they may know only a half truth, then again the facts may be clear.  What is the motive behind the pre and post actions?  Can mankind really understand why people do what they do? Can any group understand another?  Satan loves to spread lies, encourage hate, and stir up conflict; is the devil behind what is happening? Are humans qualified to judge the actions and motives of each other?  Who knows everything that is behind what is going on?

"But let justice roll down like waters, 

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." 

- Amos 5:24 (ESV) 

If you are concerned about things going on in the world, turn your concerns to the most righteous one - God.  God not only sees the actions of any man or woman, he knows the motive behind their actions.  Before you react, pray for God's justice using the scriptures of His Word.  Read the Bible and ask for His guidance.  He will lead you to the correct path 0r tell you to stand still.  Wait upon the Lord and leave judgement to God, as he is the only one able to make a truly correct decision.

Finding the Best Bible Version and Using Bible Gateway

Whether you are a new Christian or have been one for many years, it can be difficult to choose the best Bible for yourself from the many options out there.  Do you want a Bible for personal study, for group study, or to follow along during church services?  If for personal study, you need to find a single version you can understand easily if you a new Christian.  If you are more mature in your faith, you may want a study Bible or one that contains two or more versions side-by-side. 

It is important to figure out your needs before you buy as Bibles can be expensive.  A paperback is light and usually less expensive.  However hard back, vinyl covers, or leather-bound editions will be more expensive.  Some translations will have standard book quality paper whereas others will have thinner pages to keep them from being too heavy to regularly carry.  If you want the Bible for church or group study, you may want to ask your leader or minister for their most-used version as a suggestion to make following along easier.  If you want the Bible for personal study, you may also ask them or another fellow Christian who you trust the advice of, or research popular translations. 

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, 

that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” 

- Romans 15:4(KJV)

For personal study, before spending money on a Bible, you may want to use an on-line tool like BibleGateway.com to check out various versions of your favorite scriptures to see which speaks to you or is easier to comprehend.  Bible Gateway allows you to check out parallel verses from different versions side-by-side.  An example of side-by-side is 2 Timothy 3:16-17(KJV, NET, NIV, ESV).  How to use the side-by-side tool is detailed with step-by-step instruction below a video on their “Did You Know” blog post.  Bible Gateway also offers Bible reading plans and devotionals that you might want to check out.  If you want devotionals, you may also want to check out YouVersion options.

If you are a mature Christian wanting to purchase a Study Bible for personal growth or teaching purposes, there are a lot of choices for those too.  Plus they are very expensive compared to a single version Bible, so you want to be sure you are getting something you will really use rather than just put on a shelf.  Here you may want to consult teachers, preachers, and other experts before you buy.

    

October Daily Devotionals: You Care for Others

In Christ, who do you need to love and care for: spouse, children, parents, extended family, fellow Christians, friends, those in need, and/or others?  God’s Word says you should help those in need, support your family, train your children, and look out for the interests of many people.  If someone needs prayer, you pray for them. If they need clothing, drink, food, or whatever – you give it to them (or help them find it).  If they need someone to: listen and/or, share with them about Christ - it is God’s will that you do that too.  In doing these works for God, you will bless others and He will bless you for your obedience. 

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Please read the scriptures below and think about the different ways you can help those in need and what these verses may be telling you to continue doing or start doing more of.

October References for Daily Devotionals

Please note: Links below take you to another site to view the scriptures references.  If you are using a print Bible or a preferred Bible App, you should skip clinking on the links in the devotional table.

Date	Scripture	Date	Scripture
1	Matthew 5:43-48	16	Psalm 41:1-3
2	Matthew 6:1-4	17	Galatians 5:13-14
3	Matthew 18:2-6	18	Galatians 6:1-10
4	Matthew 25:34-40	19	Ephesians 4:29-32
5	Exodus 20:12	20	Ephesians 5:20-33
6	Mark 12:29-31	21	Ephesians 6:2-4
7	Luke 6:38	22	Isaiah 1:17
8	John 13:34-35	23	1 Timothy 2:1
9	John 15:12-14	24	1 Timothy 5:8
10	Deuteronomy 6:6-9	25	Hebrews 13:1-3
11	Acts 20:35	26	Isaiah 58:10-11
12	Romans 12:8-10	27	James 1:27
13	Romans 15:1-7	28	James 2:14-17
14	1 Corinthians 13:1-13	29	1 Peter 2:16-17
15	2 Corinthians 1:3-5	30	1 Peter 4:8-11
		31	1 John 3:17-18

What Truly is a Bible-based Church?

 If you are looking for a church that will help you grow your faith, then you want to consider a Bible-based church.  A Bible-based church will preach and teach from the Word of God (the Holy Bible).  To determine if a church is Bible-based before attending, check their website or Facebook page to see what they say they believe.  Then if you decide to checkout a service, listen for scripture references during the main sermon or Sunday School.  Write all references down so you can look them up in your own Bible.  This allows you to test what you heard against God's word to verify if the teaching is Biblical.

"when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, 

hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. 

Let all things be done unto edifying." - 1 Corinthians 14:26 (KJV)

If the purpose of the pulpit seems to enforce religious doctrine, promise blessings without personal effort, ignores Christ's teaching, or puts mankind above or equal to God - then it is not truly Bible-based.  Religion that does not encourage members to strive to follow Christ and the teachings of God's Word cannot claim to be Bible-based.  If no scriptures are given during the sermon or study sessions, then how can the teaching be considered Bible-based?  If the Bible is not used as the basis for all preaching and teaching, then false teaching or cult doctrine may become a future possibility.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; 

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." - Colossians 3:16 (KJV)

Helpful reference you may want to review include:

• Chuck Lawless offers a 10-point survey to test if a church is Bible-based on his blog.  On point 6, I was taught memorizing Bible books in order is a helpful tool in quickly finding scripture references while attending preaching and teaching.  Knowing the order is really more for personal study and growth.
• Steven Cole on Bible.org offers 10 qualities a good Bible-based church should have and supporting scriptures for each in choice of listening to 45-minute audio or reading text.   I like that this one includes fellowship and prayer as key qualities. It also supports communion and baptism as Biblical teachings.  If you want to check out the funny video mention, click here to go to YouTube.

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The Five P's of Church Attendance

Many people claim to be Christians but do not feel attending church is necessary to grow in the Lord.  That type of reasoning is NOT scriptural!  The Bible tell us that we must meet together for fellowship, learning God's word, and worship.  Church is more than a building, it is the House of he Lord.  Below are a few scriptures that support what I am calling the 5 P's of church attendance: presence, preaching, participation,  praise, and prayer.



5 P's of Church Attendance:

Presence definition = "the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing."

"How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, 
hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. 
Let all things be done unto edifying." - 1 Corinthians 14:26 (KJV)

Preaching definition = "publicly proclaim or teach a religious message or belief."

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, 

for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."  - 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

Participation definition = "the action of taking part in something."

"But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, 
and keep it." - Luke 11:28 (KJV)

Praise definition = "express one's respect and gratitude toward a [GOD] deity."

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father 
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" - Ephesians 5:19-20 (KJV)

Prayer definition = "the act or practice of praying to God."

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing 

that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 

For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

 there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:19-20 (KJV)

Are you a Christian?  Are you in church on Sunday and doing all of the 5 P's of church attendance?  If yes, God bless you!  If no, why not?

Fight the Devil's Goals - Up Your Spiritual Game

I wrote down a quote from our associate pastor last year because the truth of it really made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  He said "The devil's goal is to divert and pervert your walk with Jesus."  We need to be more aware of the tricks the devils plays and up our spiritual game so the devil does not beat us down or put us out.  If we do so, We Will Win!

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,

walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" - 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) 

Think about that!  What do those words mean to you?

Divert

• Webster's definitions are: "1. to turn from one course or use to another, 2. to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses."
• Synonyms are: Avert, Deflect, Deviate, Distract, Redirect, Reroute, Sidetrack, Transfer

Pervert

• Webster's definitions are: "1.to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right, 2.to divert to a wrong end or purpose." 
• Synonyms are: Abuse, Bend, Corrupt, Deflect, Divert, Distort,  Falsify, Garble, Misapply,  Misconstrue, Misdirect, Misinterpret, Misuse, Misrepresent, Subvert, Twist, Warp

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 

which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)

How do you up your spiritual game?

1. Read and study your Bible more!
2. Find a devotional plan that works for you.
3. Pray earnestly for your needs.
4. If appropriate, ask others to pray too.
5. Attend church services.
6. Fellowship with other Christians.

Should You Be in Church on Sunday?

If you are a Christian, should you be in church on Sunday?  Pastors are getting worried about attendance as it seems we have raised a generation who do not think going to a building on the Sabbath is important.  Where are you on Sunday (attendance statistics)?  If you are not attending Church, take some time and reflect on the questions and scriptures below to decide whether or not you should attending local church service.

Do you attend a sports game or play video games on Sunday morning?  What are you teaching your children?  Is it that game time is more important than learning about God?  How much is this lesson costing you and them?  Does your family know the difference between Heaven and Hell or why they might end up in either?

"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." Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

Do you stay home and watch TV or go to entertainment venues (concert, movie, play, and etc.) on Sunday mornings?  Are you unknowing communicating to your children that passive engagement is more important than actively worshiping God?  Again, how much might this lesson costing you and them?  Do your family members know about the salvation offered through Christ or the lessons he teaches us?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 (KJV)

Do you do your shopping or go to brunch with friends on Sunday morning?  What does your skipping church for these activities say to your friends and family?  Are you saying learning about the Bible is not as important as completing your to do list or eating something you can not get the rest of the week?  What are your actions telling others?  What would you prefer they think or know about you and your dedication to your faith?

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,

 for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:12 (KJV)

The fear of not paying the building mortgage may lead some to open their doors not just to sinners who will repent, but to acceptance of sin just to fill the seats. Before you decide that church attendance is not that important, you need to ask yourself the above questions, read the scriptures for yourself, and pray to God to find out what you should be doing.   Remember we, as Christians, are called to be apart for the world.Are you doing your part to further God's plan? Are you doing your part to support His Church and His missions?  If you want churches to be there when you need them, you have to support them now.  If you want church doctrine to continue to be Bible-based, you need to pray for that too.

Want more reasons and supporting scriptures to be in church, read  article 10 Reasons to Go to Church (Even When You Don't Feel Like It),  #10 in list should be your #1 reason!

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