Four Reasons Why Being Together Matters
Four Reasons Why Being Together Matters
This morning I received a text from a dear friend asking how to register to attend worship this Sunday. I exchanged a couple of texts with him describing how to register and told him I would look forward to seeing him on Sunday. My friend wrote back and said, “I’m looking forward to being at church this week… I have really missed being with fellow believers.”
As I was driving into the office this morning, I couldn’t help reflecting on the text exchange with my friend. The more I thought about his words, especially the sentiment of being with fellow believers, the more I started to think about why coming together in corporate worship is both meaningful and an essential aspect of being a follower of Christ. So please pardon my rambling, but here are a few of my thoughts on the matter. ☺
First, gathering for worship is instructed and expected in Scripture. Over the last several months I have come to appreciate the reasoning behind Hebrews 10:24-25, which says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (ESV). Gathering together gives us the opportunity to inspire and encourage one another. Let’s be honest, if there was ever a time when we need to encourage one another, it would be now.
Second, gathering for worship communicates that Christian fellowship is an essential aspect of the Christian life. Worshipping together can foster a strong sense of community among followers of Christ. When you read about the early church in the book of Acts, it is clear that they devoted themselves to “the fellowship.” Gathering for worship was a way of demonstrating their devotion to community while reading the Bible and singing in worship. They lived in a time of great stress and oppression… and the early church demonstrated the strength to endure you gain by gathering together in Christian worship.
Third, gathering for worship communicates the importance of the church to an unbelieving world. When I was young, I can remember a moment when my mother was talking to some folks on our front porch. I remember them saying to her, “we notice you all go to church every Sunday morning.” I’m still not sure what the conversation was about, but it was clear they knew attending worship was important to our family. When Christians demonstrate a lifestyle of coming together to worship God, we offer a sweet testimony for God as referenced in Matthew 5:14-1: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV).
Finally, gathering for worship allows us to be with our spiritual family. Our spiritual family at GBBC is much like your own family. We have all kinds of personalities and sometimes our gatherings can be interesting! And that is okay, because we are family! In 1 John 3:1 we read, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called Children of God; and so we are” (ESV). Because God is our Father, and we are His children, that makes us family. So unfortunately, you are stuck with me! ☺ And because we are family, we have a desire to gather together for worship.
These thoughts, though rambling, come from Scripture and have formed my core convictions about corporate worship.
The past six months have been difficult on Christian fellowship all over the world. I am thankful for the creative opportunities for worship we have experienced. Online worship has been happening for years, but Drive-In was brand new experience for us! I never dreamed I would say “honk if you love Jesus” in a sermon, and then hear honking!!
If you are high risk, I encourage you to continue to take advantage of our live stream or drive-in worship opportunities. However, if you are not high risk and haven’t tried coming back inside for worship, let me encourage you to consider it. I know you might feel some of the requirements are a drag, but what I’ve discovered is when I fix my eyes and attention on Jesus, I leave feeling blessed. Yeah, it will be a little different experience, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad experience. It has been a blessing for me to hear other people sing, hear the responses of people to a song or the message, and to see the twinkle in each other’s eyes as we smile. It is easy to register, just click here.
This week, we are talking about God’s unconditional love. I can’t wait!
See you Sunday!
Will
As I was driving into the office this morning, I couldn’t help reflecting on the text exchange with my friend. The more I thought about his words, especially the sentiment of being with fellow believers, the more I started to think about why coming together in corporate worship is both meaningful and an essential aspect of being a follower of Christ. So please pardon my rambling, but here are a few of my thoughts on the matter. ☺
First, gathering for worship is instructed and expected in Scripture. Over the last several months I have come to appreciate the reasoning behind Hebrews 10:24-25, which says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (ESV). Gathering together gives us the opportunity to inspire and encourage one another. Let’s be honest, if there was ever a time when we need to encourage one another, it would be now.
Second, gathering for worship communicates that Christian fellowship is an essential aspect of the Christian life. Worshipping together can foster a strong sense of community among followers of Christ. When you read about the early church in the book of Acts, it is clear that they devoted themselves to “the fellowship.” Gathering for worship was a way of demonstrating their devotion to community while reading the Bible and singing in worship. They lived in a time of great stress and oppression… and the early church demonstrated the strength to endure you gain by gathering together in Christian worship.
Third, gathering for worship communicates the importance of the church to an unbelieving world. When I was young, I can remember a moment when my mother was talking to some folks on our front porch. I remember them saying to her, “we notice you all go to church every Sunday morning.” I’m still not sure what the conversation was about, but it was clear they knew attending worship was important to our family. When Christians demonstrate a lifestyle of coming together to worship God, we offer a sweet testimony for God as referenced in Matthew 5:14-1: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV).
Finally, gathering for worship allows us to be with our spiritual family. Our spiritual family at GBBC is much like your own family. We have all kinds of personalities and sometimes our gatherings can be interesting! And that is okay, because we are family! In 1 John 3:1 we read, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called Children of God; and so we are” (ESV). Because God is our Father, and we are His children, that makes us family. So unfortunately, you are stuck with me! ☺ And because we are family, we have a desire to gather together for worship.
These thoughts, though rambling, come from Scripture and have formed my core convictions about corporate worship.
The past six months have been difficult on Christian fellowship all over the world. I am thankful for the creative opportunities for worship we have experienced. Online worship has been happening for years, but Drive-In was brand new experience for us! I never dreamed I would say “honk if you love Jesus” in a sermon, and then hear honking!!
If you are high risk, I encourage you to continue to take advantage of our live stream or drive-in worship opportunities. However, if you are not high risk and haven’t tried coming back inside for worship, let me encourage you to consider it. I know you might feel some of the requirements are a drag, but what I’ve discovered is when I fix my eyes and attention on Jesus, I leave feeling blessed. Yeah, it will be a little different experience, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad experience. It has been a blessing for me to hear other people sing, hear the responses of people to a song or the message, and to see the twinkle in each other’s eyes as we smile. It is easy to register, just click here.
This week, we are talking about God’s unconditional love. I can’t wait!
See you Sunday!
Will