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!
Over the last ten years the movie industry has inundated us with movies about the various super heroes which first made their appearance in either the Marvel or the DC…
Everyone needs rest. Everyone desires to rest. The longer we go without rest, the greater our desire for it grows. From the beginning, physical rest is a prominent aspect of…
Sometimes there are things about which you just can’t keep quiet — you have to tell someone. That was true all those years ago when Zecharias was allowed to speak…
Since the beginning of Creation, men and women who sought to obey God have found themselves confronted with decisions which challenged their faithfulness to their convictions. Joseph when enticed by…
How is your marriage to Christ? The decision to be baptized into Christ is the greatest decision you will ever make. The understanding that your marriage to Him is more…
The Bible is very complex, yet simple to understand. It is intellectually intriguing to the most avid of its students. When it comes to evangelism the tendency is to overthink…
As Christians, you and I have a host of reasons to sing God’s praises. Mary offers this hymn of praise to the Lord following Elizabeth’s words of blessing to her…
I would like for you to think back to the first moment you met the person who would later become your spouse: Was it love at first sight? Was the…
How can we remain steadfast and abound in the Lord's work when there are so many painful situations in life? God never allows the tests we face to be greater…
When you hear the word Grace, what comes do your mind? Children may think that grace is what you say before each meal. To others it may mean not being…