Worshipping Well
#4 Scheduling Around the Church
Peace be with you!
“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.” Hebrews 10:24-5, ESV
Regarding the importance of our commitment to the church, Paul wrote to Timothy, “I am writing these things to you so that… you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15b
Because Scripture requires us to assemble together as the church of the living God, scheduling the Christian life around the assembly of the church must be of the highest priority to every Christian believer. We must be reminded by these passages of Scripture to build our schedules around the regular and established rhythms of God’s household (His people: not a building) as much as it is within our ability (not our choice) to do so.
As a new year approaches as of the writing of this encouragement to you, reconsider your commitment to the people of God’s household in the following areas: your attendance at corporate worship and regular participation in a community group of God’s people, your punctual arrival at these gatherings, and your practical preparation and planning for attending and participating in these gatherings. The regular participation in the activities of the local church is one of the greatest counter-cultural declarations about the lordship of Jesus Christ that a Christian can make to a watching world!
In The Church at the End of the 20th Century, Francis Schaeffer wrote, “The church is so often simply a mirror of the society around her, rather than a living demonstration of the Lordship of Christ.” A.W. Tozer’s writing, The Waning Authority of Christ in the Churches, declares, “If Christians were putting the same zeal into getting to heaven as they put into getting to the ball game, we would have a revival overnight.” These men remind us how slipping into secular scheduling priorities is a constant threat to the contemporary Christian believer.
This Week’s Suggestions for Preparing to Worship Well
As always, worship well, Christian!
Pastor Brandon
#4 Scheduling Around the Church
Peace be with you!
“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.” Hebrews 10:24-5, ESV
Regarding the importance of our commitment to the church, Paul wrote to Timothy, “I am writing these things to you so that… you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15b
Because Scripture requires us to assemble together as the church of the living God, scheduling the Christian life around the assembly of the church must be of the highest priority to every Christian believer. We must be reminded by these passages of Scripture to build our schedules around the regular and established rhythms of God’s household (His people: not a building) as much as it is within our ability (not our choice) to do so.
As a new year approaches as of the writing of this encouragement to you, reconsider your commitment to the people of God’s household in the following areas: your attendance at corporate worship and regular participation in a community group of God’s people, your punctual arrival at these gatherings, and your practical preparation and planning for attending and participating in these gatherings. The regular participation in the activities of the local church is one of the greatest counter-cultural declarations about the lordship of Jesus Christ that a Christian can make to a watching world!
In The Church at the End of the 20th Century, Francis Schaeffer wrote, “The church is so often simply a mirror of the society around her, rather than a living demonstration of the Lordship of Christ.” A.W. Tozer’s writing, The Waning Authority of Christ in the Churches, declares, “If Christians were putting the same zeal into getting to heaven as they put into getting to the ball game, we would have a revival overnight.” These men remind us how slipping into secular scheduling priorities is a constant threat to the contemporary Christian believer.
This Week’s Suggestions for Preparing to Worship Well
- Begin moving faithful attendance to Sunday worship gatherings and community groups with the Center Point Church family to the top of your scheduling priorities. Maybe it’s time to start saying no to some social events so that you can say yes to regular and meaningful participation in the life of your church family.
- If you are a member of Center Point Church, one great way that you can “encourage one another” as stated in Hebrews 10, is to engage and converse with other members and congregants in the 15-20 minutes before worship begins. You lose that opportunity when you arrive at 9:30 (and later). Challenge to all CPC Members: begin considering yourself “late” to worship if you aren’t in the building by 9:15am. 15 minutes of intentional, weekly engagement with your brothers and sisters in Christ adds up to 12.5 hours of relational investment over the course of an average year, and all you have to do is be there at 9:15.
- Ensure that your other choices of activities throughout the week will not infringe upon the quality of your preparation and participation in church worship and community group events. Also carefully consider how the activities of Saturday affect the quality of your participation in worship on Sunday and your ability to show up early so that you can also participate in meaningful engagement with your church family.
As always, worship well, Christian!
Pastor Brandon
Posted in Worship & Liturgy