Recent surveys show that professing Christians and church members are skipping church attendance more frequently than in the past. One denomination has reported that of their recorded 16 million members only about 6 million of those members attend church on a given Sunday. That means 10 million members are skipping!!! Where are they? What could be more pressing and important than worshipping and serving God with their faith family??? This is an alarming reality considering the importance and necessity of corporate worship for a Christian. As a pastor, I can accurately determine a person’s spiritual commitment and maturity based upon their level of engagement and participation in a solid local church. When people start skipping church it reveals a spiritual disconnect in their lives…
There are clearly some circumstances in which it is appropriate and even necessary to skip church attendance- sickness, physical disablement, being out of town to care for a family member, or a family vacation (even on vacation why not find a nearby Bible based church and worship? You might just be a blessing to them, and they will be a blessing to you). However, skipping church should be the exception and not the rule in your life.
It has been said, “When a church member skips worship it’s a vote to close the doors”. Ouch!
God uses 3 things to build our faith and strengthen our walk with Him. He uses the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God. If you are trying to live the Christian life alone and not connected to a faith community… you are missing out. God uses the corporate praising, praying, and preaching as primary tools of discipleship in our lives.
Colossians 3:16 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.
Greg Gilbert says “At the very least, therefore, we have to say that, for every Christian, attendance at church gatherings is not optional. The author of Hebrews- and therefore the Holy Spirit himself- commands Christians to be present when the believers to who he or she belongs gather”. God reveals 2 general commands for all people, the first is “Come and keep coming to Him” then “Go and keep going for Him”. Not to do either of these is to be disobedient to His plans and purposes for your life.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 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.
It is said you can identify a person’s priorities by looking at their checkbook and their datebook. How a person is spending their money and time will reveal what is the most important thing to them. If anything is more important to you than God, it has become an idol.
John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Too frequently people think that corporate worship is only about getting their spiritual needs met. Therefore, if they don’t have any spiritual needs now…. They see no pressing reason to attend church. The problem with this mentality is that it is far too individualistic and self-centered. As followers of Christ, our lives are to be spent serving, helping, and encouraging others.
Skipping church robs you of the opportunity to welcome an unbeliever to church, to make a first-time guest feel comfortable, to pray for and with other church members, to encourage the congregations with your singing, to be an example in your giving, to speak words of encouragement to those who are hurting, to volunteer on one of the many Mission Teams and so much more!
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
God created us to worship Him, that is the primary reason we exist! This is why Christ is redeeming a people on earth and is preparing a people for Heaven. I have been to many boring church services, but I have never been to a boring worship service! When we are truly worshipping God it is a little piece of Heaven. If you don’t look forward to worshipping and serving God together here and now on earth what makes you think you would enjoy worshipping and serving God, then and there in Heaven? We are to begin practicing now, imperfectly, what we will enjoy doing then, perfectly.
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
The Mission Church of Lexington has a Church Covenant and a Covenant Membership Agreement which reflect our high view of commitment to the local church:
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord, Savior, and, supreme Treasure of our lives, and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and peace; to promote its spirituality and fruitfulness; to sustain its worship, ordinances, and discipline; to welcome, and test biblically, instruction from the Scriptures by the Pastors of the church, seeking to grow toward biblical unity in the truth; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and personal devotions; to educate our children in the Christian faith; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment, to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to seek God’s help in abstaining from all drugs, drink, and practices which bring unwarranted harm to the body or jeopardize our own or another’s faith.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, if possible, unite with a like-minded church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant.
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- By acting in love toward other members
- By refusing to gossip
- By following the leaders
Romans 14:19 (NKJV)
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
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- By praying for its growth
- By inviting the unchurched to attend
- By warmly welcoming those who visit
1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NKJV)
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
Luke 14:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ “
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
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- By discovering my gifts and talents
- By being equipped to serve by my pastors
- By developing a servant’s heart
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
4. I will support the testimony of my church
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- By attending faithfully
- By living a godly life
- By giving regularly
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 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.
Philippians 1:27 (NKJV)
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NKJV)
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:
1- Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org
2- Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org
3- Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.
4- Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex
5- Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”