WHY ARE YOU HERE [IN THE ASSEMBLY]?

From A Booklet by David Pratte

INTRODUCTION: Why are you here? There are several good reasons to be here but what is your reason? And was it important enough that you were here before time to start? If the reason you are here now is still true tonight will you be here then? If it is still true Wednesday night will you be here then? What about next Sunday morning? What about next Sunday evening? And if you are not here, where will you be and why will you be there? Will it be in spite of plans to be here or because you simply did not plan to be here?

DO YOU WANT TO WORSHIP AND PRAISE GOD?

A. God wants saints to worship Him:

1.    In spirit and truth (John 4:23,24).

2.    Through prayer, singing, Bible study, Lord's Supper, and in giving (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Col. 3:16).

B. Saints should want to worship God (Matt. 22:37,38; Rom. 5:6-8; 1 John 4:8-10,19; Heb. 13:15; Col. 4:2; 1 Pet. 2:2,9; Eph. 1:5,6; Psalm 1:1,2; 119:97-99; 122:1).

DO YOU WANT TO EDIFY AND BE EDIFIED?

A. Each saint must teach and allow others to teach him (Heb. 3:12,13; 5:12; 1 Thess. 5:11; 2 Tim 2:2,24-26; Acts 8:4; Gal. 6:1).

B. It is a work of the local church to provide a forum in which members can teach and be taught (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 14:19,26,31,40; Eph. 4:15,16; Heb. 10:23-25; 13:17).

DO YOU WANT TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE?

A. Each saint should be a good example to others (1 Tim. 4:12; Matt. 5:14-16; 18:6,7).

B. Saints should especially be good examples to children. We should train our children to be what God wants them to be (Eph. 6:4). (See also Ezek. 16:44; Neh. 13:23,24; 2 Tim. 1:5.)

DO YOU WANT TO IMITATE JESUS AND OTHERS?

A. Saints should imitate Paul and other apostles (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 4:9).

B. Saints should imitate faithful elders and preachers (Heb. 13:7; 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 4:12).

C. Saints should imitate Jesus (1 Pet. 2:21; Gal. 2:20). [See also Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 13:54; 18:20; Luke 4:15,16; John 18:20.]

DO YOU WANT TO PRACTICE WHAT IS RIGHT?

A. We have already seen many passages that tell us it is right to assemble for worship (Acts 11:26; 20:7; Heb. 10:23-25).

B. No passage tells us it is all right not to do so.

C. But we are told not to forsake assembling (Heb. 10:25-29).

D. We are also told it is a sin not to do good (James 4:17).

DO YOU WANT TO PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?

A.   The Christian's life belongs, not to himself, but to God (1 Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 12:1; Matt. 16:24,25; 2 Cor. 8:5).

B.   Saints must seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God (Matt. 6:33; 10:34-39).

C.   One may be sick or otherwise unable to engage in spiritual activities (2 Tim. 4:20).

D.  One's ox may be in the ditch (Luke 14:5). But if it is the same ox in the same ditch time after time, one may need to build a fence, fill the ditch, or get rid of the ox.

E.   There may be times when something else is more pressing (Matt. 5:21-26). Your plans to be here went awry.

1.    Unforeseen sickness in the home.

2.    Traffic accident on the way to the building.

3.    It could be anything over which you have no control.

DO YOU WANT TO PREPARE FOR HEAVEN?

A.   Heaven is prepared place for a prepared people (John 14:1,2; Rev. 2:10).

B.   Heaven is place where there is continuous praise toward God (Rev. 5:9-14; 7:9-15; 15:2-4; 19:4-8)

C.   The one thing on earth that is most like heaven, therefore, is the public worship assembly of saints in a local church.

CONCLUSION: If you are here for one or more of these reasons will not the same reason(s) bring you back each time the members meet for the same purpose(s)? If your attitude is correct, the question is not “Do I have to attend every assembly?” but “Why would I want to be absent from any of them?”