LESSON NO. 2
WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD MEAN TO YOU
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:25
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some as; but exhorting yaw another: and so much the more, us ye see the clay approaching.
THE EARLY CHURCH:
God, knowing this pilgrimage journey wouldn't be easy, led the early believers to establish a church whereby they might assemble together, pray, sing and preach, that they might be strong in the Lord. The Acts of the Apostles tell us of the trials and persecutions of this early church, but their
gathering together always gave them new courage to go on.
GOOD ADVICE:
As a new convert, the best advice I could give you is to be faithful to the church and stay under the Word of God.
WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD MEAN:
If you are saved, the Church should mean something to you. The person who boasts he can live just as good at home as he can at Church is not truthful, because if that were so, God would never have led the early Christians to organize the local Church.
THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A PLACE OF JOY:
Psalms 122:1 "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
There was a joy to David's heart to enter the house of God. Instead of a duty, or some goal to attain, going to Church should be a joy. When the old Church bell begins to ring, it should bring to our hearts.
THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION:
Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Paul tells of God's gifts; of some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers for the express purpose of the perfecting of the saints and edifying of the body of Christ.
You should belong to a Church that is sound in doctrine, and then be faithful to that Church and stay under the teaching of the sound doctrine, so that you can be steadfast in the Word without wavering and being tossed about with every wind of doctrine.
I have seen new converts start running after everything that comes along, and before long they did not know what they believed.
IT SHOULD BE A PLACE OF PERSONAL INTEREST: II Samuel 7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, see now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
David realized he lived in a beautiful house, and all his interest had been there, while the ark of God dwelt in a tent.
We should have a personal interest in the Church and desire to keep it the most beautiful building in the community.
IT SHOULD BE A PLACE OF HONOR AND PRAISE: Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Instead of running down the Church and the people, Paul said we should esteem our brothers. Our Church should be a place of high esteem, and instead of criticizing people in it, we should love and pray for them.
The reason sinners have respect for the Church, is because the members are always running down the Church.
THE SIN OF MISSING CHURCH:
If, after God has saved us and we are baptized into the fellowship of the Church, we are not faithful and stay away from Church, we have sinned against God and broken the vows we made.
THE SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD'S COMMAND: Hebrews 10:25
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.
God has commanded us to assemble together, and if we fail to attend Church, we sin against God's commandments.
THE SIN OF NEGLECTING OUR CHILDREN: Ephesians 6:4
And ye fathers, provoke not our children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
As the parent of the child, it's your duty to bring that child to Church. To neglect the Church is too neglect your child.
THE SIN OF FAILING TO GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE: II Peter 3:18
But grow in grate, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Those who fail to attend Church will no doubt neglect studying God's Word. The great sin of many Church members is that they know nothing of the Word of God.
