Mark Twain in chapter five of his book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, wrote of Tom at a church service: The service began with a list of announcements which he thought would go on “to the crack of doom.” He talked about the prayer which was generous in its detail and he resented it whenever anything new was added in. The preacher’s sermon “droned along [so] monotonously… and was so prosy that many a head began to nod.
This reminds us of what happens when we come together to worship. The announcements are a little long, the songs aren’t to our liking, the preacher is a little boring. Some of us even do things to keep ourselves awake. We are at a different time. Forty years ago people didn’t ask, why do I have to go to church (worship)? Things have changed, culturally and intellectually so that we look at life a little differently. Sunday morning is now seen as a time to relax. If we don’t like the way things are where we presently worship, we will look for a place where things are the way we want them to be. Most people when they think about worship do not think about it as essential or the most critical thing they will do during the week.
We come together every Lord’s Day to be in the presence of God. Even though it may not look like much, and even when we don’t leave with a feeling of excitement, what happens during worship is of great importance because this is where we approach Mount Zion and we offer our praise to the One who is worthy of all praise. May we never as Christians take this opportunity in a light manner!
Where are you at this moment in your spiritual life? a. Full speed ahead. b. Cruising at a comfortable pace. c. Dead in the water. d. Drifting with the current.…
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19a). Jesus told the eleven apostles to “make disciples of all nations.” The apostles mission and ours as well is one with a worldwide scope. Our goal is to make all the world His disciples. We seek to win all people to Christ. No one is to be excluded. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? You are if you have been baptized “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) and are now seeking to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). However, if you haven’t yet come to Christ in obedient faith, why not do so today?
When John writes, “and it was night,” he means more than the fact that it was dark outside. Judas had just walked away from the Light of the world. The…
Do you realize how little we deserve the cleansing which Christ offers in our lives? Does His love for you humble you and cause you to hate your sin? Are…
If you are a Christian tonight, you have a life that is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). As we continually come to Christ, we are being built up…
The marks of the first Spirit-filled community are all concerned with the church’s relationships. The challenge for each of us this year is that we become more like these first Christians by; Submitting ourselves to the teaching and authority of God’s Word, Loving one another, even as our Lord has loved us (John 13:34)
God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and said, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). After writing about a…
In his Parable of the Sower, Jesus addressed some reasons as to why we do not finish:
a. For some, it is affliction or persecution which drives them off course.
b. For others, it is the distractions and cares of this world which cause them to abandon the race.
Only by putting things in proper perspective can we finish our course (Acts 20:24)
When we walk with Jesus (the Light) . . .
a. We are delivered from fear.
b. Liberated from doubt.
c. Possess a joy which no one may take from us.
Jesus’ challenge is that we “believe in the Light” (Him).
