Houston Congregational Christian Church

Pastor James Manuel
4883 Russia-Houston Road
Houston, OH  45333
Phone:  937-295-3591
Email:  click here

Message Title:     Why Go To Church?

Call to Worship:     Psalm 122:1 

Scripture Reading:      Luke 4:6  &  Hebrews 10:25  &  1 Timothy 4:12

Prayer:  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto You O Lord on this Your day.

Today I would like to begin by asking you a question.   Does attending Church really make a difference,   and if so,   to whom?     I believe that it makes a very real difference to everyone.    It makes a difference to the individual involved.    It makes a difference to the church that could use their talents.    It makes a difference to the community to whom they could become another shining light.    And it makes a difference to God and His desire that we all become doers of the Word rather than just listener.   As James 1:22 tells us,  ‘Be ye doers of the Word  and not hearers only.’ 

I believe that every Christian should feel an obligation to attend Church on a regular basis.    Jesus gave us a good example of this as Luke 4:16 tells us,  ‘On the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue   as was His custom.’     Even though Jesus was the perfect Son of God   and His local synagogue undoubtedly left much to be desired,     Jesus attended service every week.    Jesus wants us to do as He did and make regular worship a part of our life.  

If we are serious about Christ   we should also be serious about doing what He tells us to do.     First of all the Bible tells us not to ignore getting together with other Christians.     In Hebrews 10:25 we read,   ‘Let us not give up meeting together,  as some are in the habit of doing,   but let us encourage each other.’      God wants us to value time spent with other Christians.   There may be some who need just the encouragement you could give them.    And if you’re not in church   you have lost the opportunity to be a blessing to someone else.    Have you ever noticed how long one hour in church is,   but how short it is when watching your favorite movie?   And how thrilling it is when a ballgame goes into extra innings   but how agitating it is when the pastor goes 10 minutes longer than usual?    

Do you know that most people who have fallen away from going to church have done so,    not because they were let down or hurt in church   but they gradually started missing services until they finally saw it too difficult to go at all?            May I say God knows that every time you attend a church service   you’re giving up something else.    You may give up sleeping late to be here Sunday morning.     You might be giving up a good fishing trip with your buddies   or maybe seeing a sporting event that’s on during the time of service.     Or we may use the excuse that we’re just too busy. 

We all want something from God.     We want God to keep us safe for eternity.     Let me ask you---how would you feel if God told you He was just too busy to pay attention to your needs    or that maybe someone else   or some other event was more important to Him than your life?        Would that make you feel bad?   I’m sure it would.   

So let me ask you what kind of message are many people sending to God each week?      We don’t want to be inconvenienced enough to attend church service each week      and we sure don’t want to feel obligated to serve the church either in time,   talent   or money.      How do you think that makes God feel?       That must hurt Him very much.    After all God loves you enough to have sacrificed His Son for us.              John 3:16,   ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,   that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’         And God thinks the least we can do is Love His Son enough to sacrifice a little time for Him. 

So how does going to Church help us?      We get fed God’s Word when we are in Church.   We get fed God’s Word when we hear the sermons in church.    You see the Lord may use the pastor to say something that is just what you need to hear at the time.         And we get fed the Spirit of God when we associate with other Christians.    We get fed even in the songs as they are designed to teach us to praise the Lord.       

How does going to Church help the Church?   May I say the Church family is held together by each one of us.    And just as your body needs your heart to operate    the Church needs the hearts of all the church family to operate.   As Ephesians 4:16 says,   ‘From Him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament,    grows and builds itself up in love   as each part does its work.’    You need to be in church because there are times when a special need arises that the Lord may want you to help meet.     

There was a small country church desperately in need of a new roof.   They had a small congregation and most didn’t  have much money,   except one older man who owned the bank.     He would be one of the first to get to church so he could sit in the back  so he could leave just as the offering was passed.   One day an accident made him late and he had to sit in the front pew.    During the prayer time they were praying that God would supply money for them to fix the roof.   Just as they started praying for more money a piece of ceiling fell and hit the banker on the head.    He instantly yelled out that he would give $1,000 for the roof.       In the back of the church someone yelled---hit him again Lord.

Have you ever noticed how $20 looks so big when you take it to church,  but looks so small when you take it to the mall?    One of the ways in which a church needs help is in your tithes and offering    Churches do not get any of their services like gas,   electricity   payrolls for free.    We must pay for them just like you do.

Also attending church will influence others.     1 Timothy 4:12 tells us to,  ‘Set an example for the believers in speech,   in life,   in love,  in faith,  and in purity.’      God can use you   and we are to live so others can see Christ in you.            Also  Matthew 5:14 tells us that we are to be an example to others,    Jesus said,     ‘You are the light of the world.    A city on a hill cannot be hidden.’    We are to be a beacon of truth and not shutting our light off for others to see.    

Faithful church attendance  lets you set a very good example for visitors   and your family and neighbors to see.    Since it is your Eternal life that hangs in the balance,    don’t you think it’s best for you to associate with those in church.     

In closing let me say that Church attendance help us to be ready.   And you know how important it is to be ready when something important is going to happen.       And may I say it is especially important to be ready when the most important thing in your life is going to happen.    Many people will not be ready when Jesus comes back. 

Many people will be focused on many things other than going to Church and worshiping God   and they’ll miss out on going to meet Jesus.     Matt. 24:44 tells us,   ‘So you also must be ready   because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.’     And again in Matt. 25:13 Jesus tells us,  ‘Therefore keep watch   because you do not know the day or the hour.’ 

May I say the best way to make sure you are totally ready is to be faithful  in going to Church.     Everything you experience in church is designed to bring you closer to the Lord    and to help you adjust your life to a more righteous life.   So we can be ready to go when we least expect it.   

Let us always remember what Psalm 122:1 says,   ‘I was glad when they said to me,   let us go into the house of the Lord.’

              EXCUSES          EXCUSES           EXCUSES

In the summer time it’s too hot   and in the winter time it’s cold.

In the springtime when things are just right we’ll find some where else to go.    Maybe to the mountains   or camping,  or visiting family. 

The church pews are too hard   and the choir sings too loud,  and you know how nervous you get when you’re in a big crowd.

A headache Sunday morning and a back ache Sunday night.

One of the children got a cold,  pneumonia or something and the whole family had to stay home to blow that poor kids nose.

The preacher’s too young   or maybe too old.    His sermons are too hard   or else too soft on things.        His voice is too quiet   or else it’s too loud.         His sermons are too long    or maybe too short.        And besides he didn’t even shake my hand.  

Excuses,   Excuses,  Excuses.   Now you’ll be hearing them every day.    Why because the devil will supply them if from church you will stay.     For you see when people come to know the Lord the devil always looses.    So to keep them folks away from church he offers them Excuses,   Excuses,   Excuses.  .