Importance of attending church services
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
I wouldn’t trade this group for any other in the whole wide world. They’re zany, fun-loving and combine for an out-of-this-world potluck.
We also have each other’s backs concerning spiritual warfare. They’ll battle via prayer at the drop of a hat.
Need encouragement? They’re right there to help. The same goes with support.
Back to the best potluck ever. The Thanksgiving potluck is what I’m talking about – we have so much for which to be thankful.
Sister Debbie comes through with the chicken and dressing. Then there’s Sister Barbara’s corn casserole, sweet potato casserole and mac and cheese. Tammy’s turkey is tender.
These are southern dishes at their best. Ole Times Country Buffet at the Auburn Mall can’t hold a candle to these fixings.
We have a good ole time sitting around the table, eating to our heart’s content while enjoying each other’s company.
I’m talking about our congregation at The Church of God in Alex City at 405 13th Avenue North. Potluck speak here could generate growth.
We are, no doubt, a family. That’s why they call it a church family.
We have a social media page to share prayer requests. When a need emerges, prayer responses begin immediately.
It’s important for a congregation to be close to one another. We want to be so tight (knit together in love) that Satan can’t wedge his way between.
The devil will always try. But through the Word of God, we say, “Satan, get behind me.”
The devil also does his best to keep us out of services. He doesn’t want us congregating together. After all, there is a lot of power and victory in meeting for service. If anything, the devil desires to isolate us from our brothers and sisters.
Island Christians – they’re out on an island by themselves – find difficulty surviving.
Here’s the most used Bible verse on attending service: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
That day appears to be rapidly approaching, so it should be “so much more.”
When we don’t attend, it not only weakens us, but all the others. Maybe God wanted to do something special through you that would touch others. Or maybe God would use others to provide something special for you. It goes both ways. There will never be another service like the one you missed.
Directly after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples were assembled at a specific location out of fear of the Jews. They needed each other. They witnessed a miracle when, the doors being shut, the risen Jesus appeared to them to provide peace and comfort. What an appearance!
It was, no doubt, a faith builder for those there.
But there was one who missed the meeting. It doesn’t say why Thomas couldn’t be there. But he wasn’t. Because of his absence, Thomas missed one of the greatest miracles of all – the risen Savior’s appearance to His disciples. We don’t want to miss experiencing God. He’s at our services (where two or three gathered together in My name…).
Though the others who saw Jesus told Thomas of the encounter, he still didn’t believe. Missing that meeting created a lack of faith with Thomas, who said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
But Thomas attended the next gathering in which Jesus appeared. Thank God for His mercy. Jesus said this to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”
Sam Kaufman pastors The Church of God at 405 13th Ave. N in Alex City. Contact him at 432 266-0154.