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!
There are some things about the life hereafter which are mysterious, but other are perfectly clear. We will see Jesus! Are you one of His? Are you faithful? Is this…
When we show our commitment to the Father by surrendering ourselves in obedience to His directive (Acts 22:16) we willingly submit to baptism by which God works raising us up…
When you think no one is watching, do you step in, step up, or step away? The ethical and moral decisions that must be made should be made based upon…
What must Christians do when opinions collide? Paul said that those who are strong in faith must not look down in contempt at those who are weak in faith. Likewise,…
You have been called by God. You are loved by God. You are kept by God. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make…
Time and again we see in God's Word just how much He desires unity among His people (Psalm 133:1-3; John 17:20,21). Too often, however, there are things which interfere with…
Paul's conversion story teaches up to refuse the tragedies of our past living and rise to the challenge of the need for change in our present lives. We need to…
Much in our society has changed since we have gone from being an agrarian based society to a technologically based one.One of those changes is that we have become slaves…
How would you define prosperity? Jesus said that true prosperity is to be "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). True prosperity is to have a prosperous soul. A prosperous soul walks…
The author of Hebrews compares our Christian journey in this life as a race and, in fact it is a lifelong, grueling race. a.) In this race, we are not…
