The reading For This morning: Hebrews 10:24-27

"Why Attend Every Service?" Hebrews 10:24,25; Acts 2:42-46 You need help, we can help you. You don’t want help, not even God can force you. You're on your own! But in the Judgement day , be ready to give an answer for all of the choices you made in life! IV. To Provide A Good Example And Influence A. Christians Are To Set A Good Example... 1. To Set A Good Example for one Another! – (1 Tim4:12; Tit 2:7,8; Rom 14:13,19-21) a. Newborn Christians - (1 Pet 2:1,2) b. Teaching the weak – (Rom 15:1) c. Visitors – (1 Cor 14:23) 2. To Set A Good Example for the Lost – (Mat. 5:14-16; Phili 2:15) a. Relatives - Neighbors – Friends – Enemies – Visitors - V. To Be Ready, Watching And Waiting A. Christians Are To Be Prepared Because ... 1. The Day Is Approaching! – (Heb. 10:25) 2. Jesus Warned Us - (Mat 25:13; Mk 13:33-37) 3. Paul Taught Us – (1 Thes. 5:1-11) 4. We Must Walk Wisely – (Ep. 5:16) a. “And so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” VI. To Have A Clear Conscience A. A Good Conscience Is Important... 1. Our Conscience Is Clear When We Know We Have Obeyed God! – (1 Pet 3:21; Acts 24:16; Jam. 4:17) 2. Our Conscience Must Be Educated - (1 Tim 1:5) 3. Missing Services Contributes To Ignorance While Attendance Contributes To Knowledge – (Hos 4:6; 2 Tim 2:15) 4. A Conscience Can Become Seared – (1 Tim 4:2) Conclusion 1. Why attend every service? The faithful and fruitful child of God attends... a. To fulfill the commands of God b. To grow and develop spiritually c. To help the church function properly d. To provide a good example and influence e. To be ready, watching and waiting f. To have a clear conscience 2. For such reasons (and many others), the faithful child of God will have the same attitude expressed by Psalmist: "I was glad when they said to me, `Let us go into the house of the LORD.'" (Psa 122:1) Is that your attitude? In redeeming what time you have left (Ep 5:16), may you use as much of it as possible in service to the Lord and His people!

"Why Attend Every Service?" They are present for Bible study on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening They attend both Sunday morning and evening worship services When the church has a gospel meeting, they attend each service They frequently attend any activity of the congregation here at Northside. Some Christians attend every service of the church whenever possible Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

"Why Attend Every Service?" While Some others Do Not Only once on Sunday, and that sporadically Do not participate in the Bible studies Are not present for most services during local gospel meetings As for attending any activity here with the local church...very unlikely Oh, but they know how to play “the Excuse Game” Some Christians attend every service of the church whenever possible

"Why Attend Every Service?" Why the difference? Are there real spiritual consequences? Why should EVERY Christian ATTEND EVERY service possible? Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

"Why Attend Every Service?" To Worship God, To Praise God, To Glorify God, To Be Taught By God Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." Does one’s Attendance Affect His / Her Spiritual Life?

"Why Attend Every Service?" Hebrews 10:19-27 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

"Why Attend Every Service?" Hebrews 10:19-27 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

#1 – To Keep The Commands of God "Why Attend Every Service?" #1 – To Keep The Commands of God Negatively: “Not To Forsake Our Assembling”... He 10:25 Forsake - ἐγκαταλείπω enkataleipō (a) "to leave behind; among; leave surviving" Rom. 9:29; (b) "to forsake; abandon; leave in straits; or helpless" . . . of things; by Christians (negatively); Heb. 10:25. Vine's Expository Dictionary Positively: Consider One Another – (Heb 10:24) Stir Up Love & Good Works - (Heb 10:24) Exhorting One Another - (Heb 10:25) Edify One Another – (Rom. 14:19; 15:1-3) Seek First The Kingdom of God – (Mat 6:33) Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

#1 – To Keep The Commands of God "Why Attend Every Service?" #1 – To Keep The Commands of God Negatively: “Not To Forsake Our Assembling”... He 10:25 Forsake - ἐγκαταλείπω enkataleipō (a) "to leave behind; among; leave surviving" Rom. 9:29; (b) "to forsake; abandon; leave in straits; or helpless" . . . of things; by Christians (negatively); Heb. 10:25. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words While one may not have totally abandoned assembling with other Christians by attending only once a week, one has left the work and duties given to all Christians to others thus neglecting his/her share of responsibility Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

"Why Attend Every Service?" #2 – To Grow & Develop Spiritually The design of Bible Classes – (Heb. 5:12- 14; Titus 2:1-6; Eph. 4:11-16) The design of Preaching - (2 Tim 4:2; Col. 1:28) The design of Singing - (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) The design of Prayer – (Acts 2:42,46,47)

"Why Attend Every Service?" #3 – To Help The Assembly Function Passing out Bulletins Cleaning Building – Counting Money - Checking microphones– Lesson Material - Keeping grounds – Building Upkeep - Heater- Visitor Cards - Preaching - Song Leading - Leading Prayer – Teaching Bible Classes – Announcements - Reading Scripture – Serving Lord’s Supper - Preparing Communion – Singing Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

#3 – To Help The Assembly Function "Why Attend Every Service?" #3 – To Help The Assembly Function The Work Of The Church Is Dependant Upon It’s Members! Teaching the lost – Teaching each other - Helping the needy - Visiting the sick – Strengthening the weak Ephesians 4:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-19 3. A church is no stronger than the collective strength of its members 1 Cor. 12:12-19 (NKJV) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. [14] For in fact the body is not one member but many. [15] If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? [16] And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? [18] But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. [19] And if they were all one member, where would the body be? Ephes. 4:15-16 (NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Churches where the attendance drops on Sunday and Wednesday nights, where the members do not attend gospel meetings, will never live up to their potential in service to the Lord. Do we want to have to give an answer to the Lord for why we hindered His church?

#4 – To Provide A Good Example "Why Attend Every Service?" #4 – To Provide A Good Example We Must Provide A Good Example For: One Another! – (1 Tim4:12; Tit 2:7,8; Rom 14:13,19-21) Newborn Christians - (1 Pet 2:1,2) The weak – (Rom 15:1) Visitors – (1 Cor 14:23) The Lost – (Mat. 5:14-16; Phili 2:15) – [Relatives – Children – Siblings - Neighbors – Friends – Enemies – Visitors] Provide A Good Example One Another! – Romans 14:13 (NKJV) Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. Romans 14:19-21 (NKJV) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. [20] Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. [21] It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 1 Tim. 4:12 (NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Titus 2:7-8 (NKJV) in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, [8] sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Newborn Christians - 1 Peter 2:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, [2] as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, Teaching the weak – (Romans 15:1 (NKJV) We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.) Visitors – (1 Cor. 14:23 (NKJV) Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?) The Lost – (Mat. 5:14-16; Phili 2:15) Relatives - Neighbors – Friends – Enemies – Visitors - We cannot escape being an influence to others. Will our influence be good or poor? Here is yet another reason to attend every service when possible...

Because: #5 – To Be Ready, Watching, & Waiting "Why Attend Every Service?" #5 – To Be Ready, Watching, & Waiting Because: Jesus Warned Us - (Mat 25:13; Mark 13:33-37) Paul Taught Us – (1 Thes. 5:1-11) We Must Walk Wisely – (Ep. 5:16) The Day of Judgment Is Approaching! – (Heb. 10:25) Jesus Warned Us – Matthew 25:13 (NKJV) Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Mark 13:33-37 (NKJV) Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. [34] It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. [35] Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- [36] lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" Paul Taught Us – 1 Thes. 5:2-4 (NKJV) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. [3] For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. [4] But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. We Must Walk Wisely – Ephes. 5:15-17 (NKJV) See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, [16] redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. “and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Can we say that we are ready, watching, and waiting for the Lord, when we willfully miss many of the opportunities to be with His disciples?

#6 – To Have A Clear Conscience "Why Attend Every Service?" #6 – To Have A Clear Conscience Our Conscience Must Be Educated - (1 Tim 1:5) Missing Services Contributes To Ignorance While Attendance Contributes To Knowledge – (Hos 4:6; 2 Tim 2:15) A Conscience Can Become Seared – (1 Tim 4:2) Our Conscience Is Clear When We Know We Have Obeyed God! – (1 Pet 3:21; Acts 24:16; Jam. 4:17) Our Conscience Is Clear When We Know We Have Obeyed God! – Acts 24:16 (NKJV) This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. James 4:17 (NKJV) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV) There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Our Conscience Must Be Educated – 1 Tim. 1:5 (NKJV) Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, Missing Services Contributes To Ignorance While Attendance Contributes To Knowledge – Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 2 Tim. 2:15 (NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. A Conscience Can Become Seared – 1 Tim. 4:2 (NKJV) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

"Why Attend Every Service?" To Worship God, To Praise God, To Glorify God, To Be Taught By God Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." Does one’s Attendance Affect His / Her Spiritual Life?

"Why Attend Every Service?" To Fulfill The Commands Of God To Grow And Develop Spiritually To Help The Church Function Properly To Provide A Good Example And Influence To Be Ready, Watching And Waiting To Have A Clear Conscience

"Why Attend Every Service?" Who Is Hurt When “I” Don’t Attend? I am hurt - My family is hurt - The weak or new Christian is hurt - Other "older" Christians are hurt The world is hurt -

"Why Attend Every Service?" Psalms 122:1 1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Can You Honestly Say What The Psalmist Said? Psalm 78:24-25 (NKJV) Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. [25] Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. Numbers 21:5 (NKJV) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

Are you faithful to Him today? If you are not a Christian this morning . . . If you have NOT been obeying the Lord the way you should: Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .” Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30). Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). Be Baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15-16). Live your life in all faithfulness as Revelation 2:10 says.