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!
If Samuel was to obey God and do what was best for all Israel, he had no choice bu to confront Saul with his sin. If was painful because Samuel…
What advice can the Apostle Paul give to you and me? Rejoice and Preach the Gospel of Christ! Paul speaks of rejoicing in Christ as One. Having unity we can…
Think about the Christian men you have known throughout your lifetime, particularly those who are up in years. How many can you name who have consistently walked with God from…
Today, as we look at the last three verses in this section (vv. 15-17), we will see that thanksgiving is to be the result of that which comes from our…
Gratitude is the "natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love." Gratitude was a way of life for the Hebrew people. When the experienced good, they thanked…
Like an old coat we take off, we have, as Paul wrote, “put off the old self (lit.“man”) with its evil practices” (v. 9). We replaced this old coat, “old…
Samuel was the result of a tearful prayer by his mother, Hannah. Because God answered her prayer and gave her a son, Hannah named him Samuel which means "asked of…
Christ makes a difference in our lives in every sense of the word. William Barclay once wrote that “when a man becomes a Christian there ought to be a complete…
Toward the end of the period of Judges, we encounter a woman who struggled with some very difficult circumstances in her life. We know her as Hannah, the first wife…
This is very important because if this church is to grow and have a bright future, not only must it have godly leaders, it must also have faithful Christians who…