ATTENDANCE #1

WHY DOES THE FAITHFUL CHILD OF GOD ATTEND

EVERY SERVICE?

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The problem of attendance has become so acute in some churches 
      that they have resorted to man-made gimmicks to correct it,  
      e.g., "the entertainment craze."
      1. God compels men to be faithful to Him only through the 
         teaching of the gospel.
   B. In this lesson we want to look at the principles in the gospel 
      which cause the faithful Christian to never miss a service.
      1. This lesson could be entitled, "The blessings for faithful 
         attendance."
   C. We will follow with a lesson on "The sins that one involves 
      himself in when he wilfully neglects the assembly."
      1. Notice that our question says, "Why does the faithful child 
         of God attend every service?"
         a. We are speaking here of all the services--Sun. morning 
            Bible study, Sun. night worship, Wed. Bible study.
         b. We are not speaking of when one is "providentially" 
            hindered; that is, when he misses through no fault of his
            own.

I. COMMANDS ARE FULFILLED.
   A. He meets the command of Heb. 10:25.
   1. "Not forsaking" -- a negative command.
   2. "The assembling" -- it does not say the "assembly," but the 
      "assembling."
      a. It is a verb participle that refers to the act of 
         assembling.  Thus, it includes all the assemblies of the 
         church--Sun. night, Wed. night, Gospel meetings, business 
         meetings for the men.
      b. It is not an optional matter.  Attending gospel meetings of 
         others congregations is optional because that is not the 
         assembling of ourselves together.  Where one is a member, 
         God did not give us a choice in the matter.
   B. He gives God the worship that He seeks.  Matt. 4:10; John 4:24
   C. He meets with the Lord.  Matt. 18:20

II. HE GROWS AND DEVELOPS SPIRITUALLY.
   A. Hearing all of the sermons and attending all of the Bible 
      classes helps one to grow and develop into a mature Christian. 
      Heb. 5:12-14
   B. He is admonished in song.  Col. 3:16
      1. In a church in Kentucky where I preached, some of the weak 
         members did not attend on singing night--a service that was 
         set aside for singing.  
         a. Is not singing part of worship?
   C. He is comforted and encouraged by having spiritual fellowship 
      with others.  Rom. 1:12; 15:32
      1. All of us are in need of the fellowship, teaching, 
         encouragement, and spiritual strength derived from the 
         services.  Why not attend every service to take advantage of
         the blessings?  Those who don't attend faithfully often miss
         important lessons (such as this one) which they sorely need.

III. SO THE CHURCH CAN FUNCTION PROPERLY.
   A. The mission of the church is accomplished through our meeting 
      and working together.  The church cannot function without 
      assemblies.
      1. Business meetings are an important part of the assemblies of
         the church.  If an unscriptural practice is being promoted, 
         we need to be on hand to voice our conviction regarding it.
      2. It doesn't happen often; however, there are times in every 
         Christians's life where important issues on truth and error 
         are decided in the business meetings.
      3. If the men are not there to voice our convictions, they have
         let the Lord down.  They have failed in their duty as a     
         Christian in guarding against apostasy.
   B. Gospel meetings are important for our own good, and for 
      reaching people of the community.
      1. I heard of a powerful case example which was done by brother
         C.R. Nichol many years ago.  He went in to begin a gospel 
         meeting and after seeing the very poor attendance on the 
         first night, stayed away the second night.  When they asked 
         him where he was, he replied, "If some can stay home, I can 
         stay home."  After this was spread around in the community, 
         the attendance got right for the rest of the meeting.
   C. Let's briefly notice this chart on the Collective Actions of 
      the Church:
      1. Chooses officers and servants - Acts 6:2-3; 1 Tim. 3:10; 
         Rom. 16:1-2
      2. Has messengers - 2 Cor. 8:23
      3. Pays wages - 2 Cor. 11:8
      4. Relieves and enrolls - 1 Tim. 5:9-10, 16
      5. Hears and speaks - Matt. 18:17
      6. Disciplines - 1 Cor. 5:4-5
      7. Greets in letters - 1 Cor. 16:19
      8. Sends out preachers - Acts 11:22
      9. Is reported to - Acts 14:27
     10. Has worship - 1 Cor. 11:20, 34
     11. Has its own treasury - 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 11:8-9
   D. If I don't become actively involved in the functioning unit    
      that God ordained, I'm failing in my responsibility to God.

IV.  FOR A GOOD EXAMPLE AND INFLUENCE.
   A. Christians are to set a good example.  1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7-8
      1. Christians are to shine as light in the world.  Matt. 
         5:14-16; Phil 2:15
   B. Faithful attendance is essential for good influence.
      1. It sets a good example before babes in Christ, and to the 
         weak.
      2. It influences our friends, relatives, and neighbors--all 
         outsiders.  1 Pet. 2:12
   C. It is a great support to the preacher, and to all others.
      1. Let not any of the older widows say, "There's nothing I can 
         do," or "I'm not much help to the church."  Your faithful 
         attendance is a great encouragement to all.
         a. You are an encouragement in the Bible classes because you
            can be depended on to be there.  The church can have any 
            type of service and can depend on you to support it.

V. TO HOLD FAST HIS ALLEGIANCE, PROFESSION AND HOPE.
   A. He holds fast that which he confessed when baptized.  Acts 
      8:36-37; Rom. 10:9
      1. To confess that Jesus is the Son of God or that He is Lord 
         is essentially the same.
         a. To confess Him as the Son of God is to say that he is 
            Divine, and you will now submit to His laws.  
         b. To confess Him as Lord is to say that He will now be 
            ruler of your life.
   B. It is holding fast his confession.  Heb. 4:14
   C. He holds fast the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.  
      Heb. 3:5-6
      1. Let us show diligence and be not slothful.  Heb. 6:11-12

VI. IT IS PUTTING CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM FIRST.  Matt. 6:33
   A. It is seeking things above.  Col. 3:1-3
      1. It is wrong to stay home on Sunday because of aches and 
         pains, but on Monday go to work, the grocery store, or the 
         mall when we have the same aches and pains.
   B. It is putting Christ first (Luke 14:26); it is putting him 
      before family (Matt. 10:37-38).
      1. Some stay home because of family visiting.  This is not 
         putting Christ first.
      2. I heard of a woman who stayed home from Sunday morning 
         services to fix a meal so she could have the preacher over 
         for lunch.  However, when the preacher heard of it, he 
         didn't go to the sister's home.  She was angry at him for 
         this; however, he did the right thing.
   C. It shows that our attitude is right.
      1. Not like some who say, "What is the least I can do and still
         go to heaven?"  but "How much can I do for the Lord" or, "I 
         want to do all I can for the Lord."

VII. HELPS FULFILL HIS DUTIES TO OTHERS.
   A. Helps parents fulfill their duties to their children.  Eph. 6:4
   B. It brings us more knowledge so that we can always give the 
      right answers.  1 Pet. 3:15
   C. It helps fulfill the commands of exhorting our brethren.  Heb.
      3:13
      1. We are not to go to everyone's house or call daily--but on 
         Sundays and Wednesdays we have an opportunity to fulfill 
         this command.

VIII. IT IS BEARING FRUIT AND DOING GOOD WORKS.
   A. We are to bear much fruit (John 15:8) and to be full of good 
      works (James 3:17).
      1. Notice he did not just say, "bear fruit" or "have good 
         works," but "bear much fruit and "be full of good works."
   B. We are to be zealous of good works (Titus 2:14), and always 
      abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).
      1. We are to be ready unto every good work (Titus 3:1), and are
         to be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8).
      2. The faithful child of God attends every service because he 
         wants to be zealous of, always abounding in, ready unto, and
         careful to maintain good works.
   C. We must do good works ourselves and exhort others to do good 
      works.  Heb. 10:24
      1. We couldn't rightfully exhort someone to attend on Wednesday
         nights when we don't attend ourselves.

IX.  IT IS PART OF BEING READY, WATCHING AND WAITING.
   A. Matt. 24:44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37
      1. What if the Lord came on a Wednesday night and I wasn't with
         the saints because I was wilfully forsaking?  I John 2:28
   B. It is part of enduring unto the end.  Matt. 10:22; 24:12-13
      1. It is "redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:16) in our short stay on 
         earth.
      2. I once caught a young college student red-handed one Sunday.
         His mother had asked me to exhort him.  I took my family 
         home after the services and then went to his apartment.  I 
         found him sitting in his house-coat watching TV.  As I began
         to show him his neglect, he was very embarrassed.  However, 
         he needed to be concerned about what the Lord thought about 
         him, not what the preacher thought.
      3. Too many people want to make sure that the preacher 
         understands why they were not present at services.  Their 
         actions need to be resolved with God, not the preacher.

X. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN.
   A. God has promised that many marvelous blessings are waiting in 
      heaven for the faithful.  John 14:2; 1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 22:14
      1. The faithful Christian attends every service because he 
         wants to have part in these marvelous things.

Concl.
   A. Why does the faithful child of God attend every service?  
      (Summarize main topics)
   B. The word of God is powerful and strong on this subject.  It 
      overpowers by such strong reasons.
   C. Psalm 122:1.  Let us be glad that we have time and opportunity 
      to worship God.  
      1. Let us take advantage of this great privilege and afford 
         ourselves of the many spiritual blessings that are derived 
         from worship.