Church

I was talking to a young girl not long ago and I asked her where she went to Church, she replied that she did not attend church. I then invited her to attend our Church, but she quickly told me that she just did not have time for Church or God right now in her life.
I thought how sad this was. It brought up a subject that is I think probably the thinking of a lot of people. Is Church attendance really necessary? First a list of reasons that some do not attend church:

1. Don't have the time
2. Football practice
3. Sleeping In on Sunday
4. Staying over night on Saturday night, with someone who does not go to church
5. 4-H projects (stock shows on Sunday mornings)
6. Football games on Sunday

The list could go on and on. I actually had a person tell me that, God does not give me enough time in my day to go to Church. Scriptures tell us that Satan is the father of all lies, he is the great tempter and he leads believers astray. He has worked very hard to put the lie in peoples minds that it is not important to attend church. I think also though that we are quick to blame our struggles and our sin on satan, when it is really our own sinful hearts causing us to act and live the way that we do. Church attendance is so very important.

Reasons for attending church:

1. It is commanded: Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching." We should go to church because it is commanded and we do not want to break God's command. Going to church shows our faithfulness to God, if we have faith in God we will attend church.
2. Lords Supper: Acts 20: 7 " On the first day of the week we came together to break bread...." I don't want to miss church because i don't want to miss the opportunity to commune with my Lord, who gave him self up for me.
3. Fellowship: We need fellowship of other Christians, this strengthens us so much. When we can get together and talk and spend time with each other. We need to keep our fires going.
4. Encouragement: Hebrews 10:25b "......but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching" Church is an awesome time to encourage one another. Pat each other on the back, shake hands and give each other a hug. We all need encouragement, and when we miss Church we miss our encouragement.
5. Jesus is present: Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three come together in my name, there i am with them." If we announced that next Sunday there would be your favorite sports star, or singing star at our building we would have so many people lined up to get in. The thing that we must know and understand is that Jesus is there with us not only on Sunday morning, but every time we meet, Sunday night, and Wednesday night as well. So we should not miss the opportunity to be in Jesus presence.

These are just a few things that remind us of how important it is to be in church. I hope that this has encouraged all of us to make a special effort to be in Church Sunday morning. Start preparing yourself to go to church on Sunday morning, on Saturday night. Get in bed early and get a good night's rest so you will be prepared to worship and learn more about God.

Looking forward to Friday lunch, hope to see all of you there. I wish the band good luck this weekend at the competition. I know that you all will do very well. Also don't forget that we are painting on Sunday afternoon. So be ready to work hard!! I will see all of you on Sunday!!