BIBLE BASICS

		       For Smart People
		 Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies
		    About God and the Bible

Lesson 17 - What About Church?

Reasons for Going to Church (Cont'd.)

5. It brings spiritual fellowship and encouragement (Acts 2:41).

   Fellowship is more than socializing
   Socializing is the setting where fellowship happens.
   Fellowship exceeds socializing in beauty and enjoyment as
   does the spring tulip over the bulb.
   Fellowship involves the sharing of the Christian life with other
   followers of Christ.
   Fellowship involves talking about the things of God with each
   other -- telling and hearing. 

	Talking of the working of God's Spirit in our lives; 
	Serving together; 
	Worshipping and serving as one people. 
	Extending and receiving from one another the love of
	Christ. 

   Encouragement comes from:

	(1) the teaching and preaching;
	(2) by the perseverance of others who are buoyant in
	their faith despite discouraging circumstances,
	(3) by the examples of more mature believers; by
	others who are struggling successfully with some of
	the same daily issues;
	(4) by praying and singing praises with others.

   If a child is going to be emotionally healthy, he needs the
   socialization and encouragement a family can provide. The
   same is true of a child of God. 

6. Going to church expresses obedience to the greatest
commandment (Mark 12:28-30).

   How can we say we are fulfilling the greatest
   commandment ("Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
   all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind
   and with all thy strength"): 

	a. If we won't obey his commandment to
	meet with God's people by getting out of
	bed to worship. It shows that God is not
	our greatest love and highest priority.

	b. If you turn your back on the worship of
	God to: 

	     Work; 
	     Attend ball games (including your
	     children's ball games); 
	     Entertain guests; 
	     Participate in recreational sports, 

	It indicates to your family and friends
	that God is really not your first love.

   You let those who do not love God or care about his
   kingdom determine your priorities, set your schedule,
   and keep you from worship and work of God. 

7. Going to church follows Jesus' example (Luke 4:16).

   People who go to church regularly also have things to
   do or that need to be done. If people came only when
   they have nothing else to do, most churches would be
   empty. Jesus also had countless things to do, even
   spiritual and eternal reasons He could have given.

8. Going to church is a testimony of support for God's work to the
world.

   "He that gathers not with me, scatters" (Matthew
   12:30).

   When you stay away, you fail to support the work of
   gathering. You actually work against it like scattering.
   You scatter your family and friends who might be
   gathered. People know where you go on Sunday while
   they exercise, garden, or read the newspaper. Staying
   away does not help to gather people to Jesus. 

9. Going to church enables you to hear in person.

   God has ordained preaching (2 Timothy 4:2-3). 
   If he commands preaching, then He means for the preaching
   to be heard. 
   With radio, you can turn it off if it makes you uncomfortable.
   You may miss what God has for you. 
   Hearing in person has a sense of immediacy that is absent
   from media teaching. 
   It is better to hear your fiancé say "I love you" in person than
   on video. 
   Sermon tasting by remote control breeds disloyalty to the
   church and fosters an isolated, private, and individualistic kind
   of Christianity. 

10. It enables you to take the Lord's Supper.
11. It helps you prevent an unbalanced Christian life.
12. It is one indication, although not proof, of eternal life.
13. Not going to church is self-centered and foolish.
14. Not going to church is a willful disobedience to God's authority.
15. It is a place where you can obey God in paying tithes as the
Lord commanded (Malachi 3:8-11).

"Do you despise the church of God?"

   1 Corinthians 11:22 

"Please tell me more." 

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