LOVE GOD THROUGH CHURCH ATTENDANCE (1 OF 3)
by Steve Jones
Love God through Church Attendance (1 of 3)
Series: Love God
Steve Jones
Acts 20:7
SERIES SUMMARY: Our mission statement is to love God, love people and serve others. In this series we're focused on the first part: ''love God.'' Today we'll talk about three benefits of loving God through weekly corporate worship: 1) It is obedience to God. 2) It is attending to Christ's body. 3) What are the ''excused absences?''
INTRODUCTION: When Jamestown, VA, was first established 350 years ago, most of the people built humble huts for their families. But right in the middle of town they erected an imposing church building as a testimony to all who came, that the people of Jamestown put God first. They had 2-hour worship services every day of the week, and attendance was mandatory. If you didn't show up for the daily service, your day's ration of food would not be given you. Their reasoning was if you were too sick to go to church, you were too sick to eat. They had a 5-hour service on Sunday, and you were expected to be there all 5 hours. If you missed church for 3 weeks, they would put you in stocks for 6 weeks out on the church lawn. The stocks are still there for all to see.
Maybe they went a bit too far...maybe. We'd probably all agree that seems just a LITTLE bit harsh but one lesson which comes through loud and clear is that in this original settlement, the people wanted to communicate clearly that God came first.
Today I'm going to talk about loving God through church attendance. I haven't noticed any STOCKS in the blueprints for phase II of our building plan, but we do want to get a handle on the importance of this aspect of our spiritual lives.
My current sermon series is entitled LOVE GOD and we're exploring what it means to love God, specifically in connection to the local church. Last week we established that our focus must first of all be ''UP'' because the church is GOD'S church. 'Upon this rock I will build MY church'' Jesus said. What ar ...
Series: Love God
Steve Jones
Acts 20:7
SERIES SUMMARY: Our mission statement is to love God, love people and serve others. In this series we're focused on the first part: ''love God.'' Today we'll talk about three benefits of loving God through weekly corporate worship: 1) It is obedience to God. 2) It is attending to Christ's body. 3) What are the ''excused absences?''
INTRODUCTION: When Jamestown, VA, was first established 350 years ago, most of the people built humble huts for their families. But right in the middle of town they erected an imposing church building as a testimony to all who came, that the people of Jamestown put God first. They had 2-hour worship services every day of the week, and attendance was mandatory. If you didn't show up for the daily service, your day's ration of food would not be given you. Their reasoning was if you were too sick to go to church, you were too sick to eat. They had a 5-hour service on Sunday, and you were expected to be there all 5 hours. If you missed church for 3 weeks, they would put you in stocks for 6 weeks out on the church lawn. The stocks are still there for all to see.
Maybe they went a bit too far...maybe. We'd probably all agree that seems just a LITTLE bit harsh but one lesson which comes through loud and clear is that in this original settlement, the people wanted to communicate clearly that God came first.
Today I'm going to talk about loving God through church attendance. I haven't noticed any STOCKS in the blueprints for phase II of our building plan, but we do want to get a handle on the importance of this aspect of our spiritual lives.
My current sermon series is entitled LOVE GOD and we're exploring what it means to love God, specifically in connection to the local church. Last week we established that our focus must first of all be ''UP'' because the church is GOD'S church. 'Upon this rock I will build MY church'' Jesus said. What ar ...
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