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!
We have come to the last of our lessons on elders. Over the last three weeks we have focused on . . .Who these men are and why we need…
God has great power available toward us who believe. It is power which according to Paul is “in accordance with the working of the strength of His might” (1:19). It…
This morning as we continue to look at the character traits that God looks for in these men, I will also see what God expects them to be able to…
Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus is rich in what it details for us concerning our standing in Christ. It is as if Paul says “I have so much…
The church, the body of Christ, of which many of us here this morning are a part, if it is to function at its greatest potential, needs godly leaders. This…
Upon investigating Thanksgiving in both the Old and New Testament, we come to three questions that will show us why we are to truly be thankful. What blessings have we…
Two of the most powerful words you have in your vocabulary are the words “Thank you.” Many of us may recognize Paul’s words to the Christian in Colosse, “Let the…
You and I, like the Ephesians before us, are people who God has blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” How has God blessed us? What…
Counting the cost is important in any financial endeavor. Before buying an automobile it is important to ask yourself not only if you can afford the monthly payments of that…
Most if not all of us have received an invitation to a special event at one time in our lives (i.e., birthday party, graduation, wedding, retirement celebration, special dinner, etc.)…