1993 West Church Street, Freeport, IL 61032
Church 815-235-1993 School 815-232-3511 CDC 815-232-3443
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Christians need to be regular in worship and in receiving the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). We need to "sanctify" or "keep holy" a day for the Lord. Generally, we set aside Sundays as a day of worship and Bible study, though because of work and other commitments some people worship and study God’s Word on other days. Attending church then becomes a time of worship, praising and glorifying our God. We "tune God in" to our lives. We fellowship with others who share our believe. We are touched by God through the fellowship of ministering to each other. When we avoid church we are shutting out the fellowship of believers and we may be holding other "things" more important that our fellowship with out Lord. We In today’s world, people lead such busy and hectic lives. There are so many choices of activities that fill our days with non-stop action. For the Christian, an hour or two spent in church each week is time well spent. You see, what we receive by attending church can not be found anywhere else in this world. In God’s Word and Sacraments we receive God’s Grace. The message of salvation in Jesus Christ (John 3:16) is proclaimed. Forgiveness and salvation are received in the Sacraments of Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. The fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ is the Body of Christ that shares His love in Word and Sacrament. (Acts 2:41-42) While God’s power and glory can be experienced in nature, how many of us actually stop to praise God during our Sunday morning fishing trip or as we read the paper? While we can read God’s Word anywhere and at any time, how many people actually do? Even if we do read our Bibles and praise God while enjoying His creation, what are we missing by not attending church? We miss the fellowship of the body of Christ and the building up of that body and of our faith that worshipping in church brings. Church speaks of God’s power and glory not only in nature, but also in His grace and love through Jesus Christ that saved us from our sins. As we join in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we also join in fellowship with God. By attending church, the people of God have their faith fed through God’s Word and Sacraments. With the Holy Spirit, we build ourselves and others up in faith and in prayer (Jude 20). The early church knew the importance of gathering together as they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s doctrine, The Gospel, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. They observed the first day of the week in commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). A Christian desires to attend church for the building up of his faith and the building up of the fellowship of believers as he gladly hears God’s word and learns it. Our Lord God also desires us to gather together in His house, to be in His presence in a special way and to worship Him. Jesus regularly attended the synagogue to worship and to be about His Father’s business. Should we be any less willing to attend church? God’s Word encourages us to gather together and not stop coming to church (Hebrews 10:25). God, from the beginning, has wanted us to worship Him at His altar. While many people wonder why they should attend church, a better question to ask is, "Why not go to church?". While living in this world, our worshipping empowers us to not be of the world. As the saved children of God we eagerly attend church and confess with our mouths what we believe in our hearts (Romans 10:10). May we always say with the Psalmist, "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8 |
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