Why do I have to go?

 “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:25

 If you have children, you have probably heard them ask, why do I have to attend church? It’s a legitimate question. How did you respond? What would you say to a new believer about being a member of a local body? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, if He is your Lord and Savior, belonging to a local body is not an option. After the three thousand were saved, what did they do? Luke records that they, were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers (Acts 2:42). They   did church.

The New Testament contains over 50 one another’s. The following are just 15 of them: Pray for one another (James 5:16), Greet one another (1 Corinthians 16:20), Be kindly affectionate to one another (Romans 12:10), Give preference to one another (Romans 12:10), Live peacefully with each other (Romans 12:16) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), Accept one another (Romans 15:7), Admonish & warn one another                        (2 Thessalonians 3:15), Serve one another (Galatians 5:13), Be patient with one another (1 Thessalonians 5:14), Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32), Submit to one another       (1 Peter 5:5), Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9), and Do not speak evil of one another (James 4:11).

Christian, should the Lord not expect more from you than your children’s sports teams? If your child belongs to a sports team, specific requirements and expectations are expected and required from the child. They are       expected to make a certain amount of practices, be on time for those practices, and show up for the game or event ready to do their part for the team or individual competition. If those requirements are not met, the      child does not play and is let go from the team.

Some Christians care more about what a coach expects from their child than the Lord expects from His children.

God saved you for His glory and for us to love and serve one another. Does your life reflect that love and service? I submit that it is impossible to practice the one another’s if you do not belong to and serve the local body.

Your shepherd,                                                                                                                                                                       Pastor Mark