Church is important

[Fez]

I hope I'm gettin this right here lol I do agree with you jane we do need church or we will fall out of our spiritual walk with the Lord ty for putting this here

Yep you are getting it right. And I agree with you about church attendance.

[jeffnevins]

I used to love going to church. Today I had a breakdown there.

Post-concussion for one year (sorry to keep bringing this up).

Hurt my left hip & lower back on my office chair Wed., and today-

-banged my right hip on a wood armrest (stupid things- wish they weren't there) sitting in a seat today.

I was crying, nauseous, and couldn't stand for the second song.

I forgot to pray for protection in church. I had to leave as the sermon started.

Hoping God does not allow this latest pain to last a month or lifetime.

I guess I shouldn't have gone. I even had earplugs to protect the brain & teeth nerves from the amplifiers.

Awaiting eternal life & out of this body.

I encourage everyone else to go.

Thank you for the church, Lord God.

[2Joyful]

I used to love going to church. Today I had a breakdown there.

Post-concussion for one year (sorry to keep bringing this up).

Hurt my left hip & lower back on my office chair Wed., and today-

-banged my right hip on a wood armrest (stupid things- wish they weren't there) sitting in a seat today.

I was crying, nauseous, and couldn't stand for the second song.

I forgot to pray for protection in church. I had to leave as the sermon started.

Hoping God does not allow this latest pain to last a month or lifetime.

I guess I shouldn't have gone. I even had earplugs to protect the brain & teeth nerves from the amplifiers.

Awaiting eternal life & out of this body.

I encourage everyone else to go.

Thank you for the church, Lord God.

May the Lord our God extend favor unto you.

Because of your desire to be obedient and gather together with other believers, even in the mist of your pain, etc.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

[jeffnevins]

Thank you very much.

[tjhawks1]

Church is a very important part of our spiritual life, without it, we fall short.

I'm sorry statements like these just bother me. Is the church you are reffering to here the church as the bible describes it. Or are we talking about the building. God's bigger then the building. One can easily live a healthy spiritual life without the going to a church building once a week.

[Fez]

Church is a very important part of our spiritual life, without it, we fall short.

I'm sorry statements like these just bother me. Is the church you are reffering to here the church as the bible describes it. Or are we talking about the building. God's bigger then the building. One can easily live a healthy spiritual life without the going to a church building once a week.

It is not about the building, and often people who don't go to church use this as a reason.

It is about the body of Christ, learning, fellowship, and everything else that church entails.

Tell me, if there had never been early church's, where would you be in your walk now?

Read the Epistles. We need church and have always needed church. Scripture shows us that God desires it.

[Guest]

It is not about the building, and often people who don't go to church use this as a reason.

It is about the body of Christ, learning, fellowship, and everything else that church entails.

Tell me, if there had never been early church's, where would you be in your walk now?

Read the Epistles. We need church and have always needed church. Scripture shows us that God desires it.

Exactly.

I'm in a situation where I would like to be more involved with the local body, but my work schedule and hours prevents it. There have been times when my hours or schedule prevented me from going to church and I "survived," but it wasn't that much fun.

[Fez]

It is not about the building, and often people who don't go to church use this as a reason.

It is about the body of Christ, learning, fellowship, and everything else that church entails.

Tell me, if there had never been early church's, where would you be in your walk now?

Read the Epistles. We need church and have always needed church. Scripture shows us that God desires it.

Exactly.

I'm in a situation where I would like to be more involved with the local body, but my work schedule and hours prevents it. There have been times when my hours or schedule prevented me from going to church and I "survived," but it wasn't that much fun.

I know the feeling. I almost feel my week is not complete if I have not been to church. This is not a law thing, it is just that I am one of those people who need and enjoy church.

[JHERB]

I am in charge of the monthly newsletter for my church. After attending church last week and noticing that not even half of the "regulars" were there, God told me He wanted me to write this article and put the other article aside for now. I thought I'd share my article here.

Church

During the summer / warmer months, church attendance appears to be sparse. Jesus talks about how important it is to continue to assemble as a church. It is necessary for our spiritual well-being. We need to be with other Christians to encourage one another and to worship God.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Attending church on a regular basis through-out the year, increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. This is important when we come face to face with conflicts to our faith. Keeping our focus on God and His Word is necessary so there is no opening for satan to get in.

God wants us to go to church. He designed the church as a place where spiritual leaders can watch out for us. If we answer to ourselves and to this world of sin, we can easily fall into sinful attitudes and / or sinful actions.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-5

Church only sometimes, will hinder your spiritual life and you will be tempted to conform to the sins of this world.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 13:1

Sure it is easy to skip church because you want to get an early start to your day, or maybe you are vacationing. That seems innocent enough. What is the harm in that? When we put our wants and needs first, it leads to worldly and fleshy pleasures, and that becomes idolatry. Church is a very important part of our spiritual life, without it, we fall short.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:3-4

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, Titus 2:12

Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. John 18:36

Blessings,

love, sister-in-Christ,

Jane

[JHERB]

I am in charge of the monthly newsletter for my church. After attending church last week and noticing that not even half of the "regulars" were there, God told me He wanted me to write this article and put the other article aside for now. I thought I'd share my article here.

Church

During the summer / warmer months, church attendance appears to be sparse. Jesus talks about how important it is to continue to assemble as a church. It is necessary for our spiritual well-being. We need to be with other Christians to encourage one another and to worship God.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Attending church on a regular basis through-out the year, increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. This is important when we come face to face with conflicts to our faith. Keeping our focus on God and His Word is necessary so there is no opening for satan to get in.

God wants us to go to church. He designed the church as a place where spiritual leaders can watch out for us. If we answer to ourselves and to this world of sin, we can easily fall into sinful attitudes and / or sinful actions.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-5

Church only sometimes, will hinder your spiritual life and you will be tempted to conform to the sins of this world.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 13:1

Sure it is easy to skip church because you want to get an early start to your day, or maybe you are vacationing. That seems innocent enough. What is the harm in that? When we put our wants and needs first, it leads to worldly and fleshy pleasures, and that becomes idolatry. Church is a very important part of our spiritual life, without it, we fall short.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:3-4

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, Titus 2:12

Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. John 18:36

Blessings,

love, sister-in-Christ,

Jane

Putting other activities ahead of regular worship services is a form of idolatry.

Putting other activities a head of regular worship services is a form of idolatry when it becomes first (before God). It is ok to have pleasures - But, when we (humans) put pleasures before God week after week after week and rather have fun and say, "I'll go to church or worship or fellowship when the weather isn't nice or there isn't anything else or fun to do.........then yes, it becomes a form of idolatry.

Idolatry is not just worshiping another "god" it is a human weakness to value something or someone in a way that hinders the love and trust we owe to God. Putting God first means loving and trusting God first, above all, and with everything we are and have.

In idolatry we fail to give genuine thanks to the Giver of life and its goods. We are like theives and steal God's rightful honor and dissociate fellowship with both God and others. It leaves us with stolen goods that become "bads," and they cannot sustain or satisfy us. Only God, the ultimate Giver of goods can do that.

So putting God first we receive these "pleasures and goods" not on our terms but on the terms of God. This is the key to freedom in life under God, the ultimate gift Giver.

Blessings,

Jane