Today’s sermon topic is on church; and we see in our sermon passage that the early believers were devoted to fellowshipping together (Acts 2:42). Yet while the Christians in Acts 2 couldn’t wait to meet together ‘daily’ (Acts 2:46), many Christians today struggle to do this weekly. Why is it that so many Christians today have a habit of giving up meeting together each week, because something else has come up (e.g. a sleep in, a party, family commitments, work, sport, etc).
The reason is, these Christians do not understand that church is God’s blessing UPON his people; not a religious practice he demands FROM his people. When God wants to bless people, he gathers them around Himself; e.g. The Garden of Eden, Mt Sinai, the Temple, and the throne in Heaven. When God curses people, he scatters them away from him; e.g. Adam and Eve, Cain, the tower of Babel, and the Babylonian Exile.
To think that a party, or looking after family, or recreation, or catching up on some work, or relaxing on the couch is better than church shows a sad ignorance of God’s purpose for church. Meeting for fellowship with other Christians around God’s word is HOW God blesses us. Staying away from church is akin to being ‘scattered’; a curse. Church is the ultimate rest, relaxation and recreation all rolled into one. If you’re not aware of this, then you’re probably not doing it right. So …
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb 10:25)
Brendan McLaughlin
