WHY GO TO CHURCH?

 

WHY GO TO CHURCH?

(CHRISTIAN LIVING)

LESSON #1

LESSON THEME: church

INTRODUCTION:

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THE FAMILY IS FACING?

(Choose from the pictures and share something about you’ve chosen)

From the pictures we’ve shared, we can see that the family has many problems to face. Whether we like it or not, there are situations we face which we feel that these are too hard to handle. Before we proceed, let me ask, who created the family? In Genesis 2:24, God created the family. Before, the relationship of the family and God were intact or close but we know that sin entered in the family and we know the story of Adam and Eve how they were tricked by the enemy. Eve was tricked by Satan in a form of a serpent. Then when they were got out from the Garden of Eden, and built a family, another problem arose. Cain killed his brother Abel. Because of envy, he did this horrible crime. Family is in danger. Let’s take a look in Ephesians 6:12,

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

TAGALOG: Sapagkat hindi tayo nakikipaglaban sa mga tao, kundi sa mga pinuno, sa mga maykapangyarihan, sa mga tagapamahala ng kadilimang umiiral sa sanlibutang ito, sa mga hukbong espirituwal ng kasamaan sa himpapawid.

 

It says, we don’t fight against flesh and blood. We see in God’s creation how Satan wants to destroy the family. He moves in a way we don’t notice. The enemy wants to destroy relationship and he doesn’t want to fix the relationship therefore the family is at war. The enemy doesn’t want the families to be reconciled with God. Can we fight the enemy with our own strength? The battle is not physical; it’s spiritual therefore can we do it by ourselves? Can the family do it by themselves? No, we need a powerful God to fight with us.

 

What community agency where we can go to help us spiritually? (Give examples of community places: hospital, barangay, city hall, malls, and others) These examples can’t answer or help us. Bible says in Matthew 16:18

 

At sinasabi ko sa iyo, ikaw ay Pedro, at sa ibabaw ng batong ito ay itatayo ko ang aking iglesya at ang kapangyarihan ng kamatayan ay hindi magtatagumpay laban sa kanya.

 

Only church has the power to help us in spiritual matters. How important church in our lives? Why Go to Church?

 

BIBLE LESSON POINTS:

 

1.  GO TO CHURCH SO YOU WON’T BE HARDENED BY SIN

Bible says in Hebrew 3:12-13,

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Human hearts ay deceitful and not stable and if you don’t guard your heart, we will be in danger. We always see this saying posted in Facebook, “It’s better not go to church than go to church without life changed.” We must always remember that people are not perfect and church goers are not exempted on this. What we can say about this on Fb? If a bad person goes to church, there’s possibility that the Word of God would strike his heart and be convicted rather than not going to church.

 

How about in families, do we hear members of the family get involve in fighting, killings and other bad situations? If we just watch news, yes they are many families get involved in killing their own families. We should not let hatred grows in our hearts and then suddenly hurt our families.

 

2.  GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE GOD TELLS YOU TO

The bible itself tells us that we should not forget the assembling of ourselves together. Hebrews 10:25 says,

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.

What’s the day of our gathering in the church? Since from the New Testament, God gave the day of assembly of Christians in the first day of the week.

 

ACTS 20:7 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1 CORINTO 16:2 - Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

God Himself commanded us that going to church is a command that we should obey. If we neglect this, we disobey God’s command. God won’t command us if this is least important. Going to church is vital in our lives.

 

3.  BECAUSE YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOU NEED TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS AS WELL

Part of the assembly in the church is to encourage one another. Bible says in Hebrews 10:25,

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.

Whether we accept it or not, we’re not created by God to be alone; we need others. Have you come to the point of your life that you can’t find someone to tell your problems or just listen to you? That’s the hard thing, that’s one of the reasons why some get depressed and become hopeless. This verse was written not just to be read but need to be applied in our lives. This is part of the commandment – exhorting one another.

 

4.  GO TO CHURCH TO HEAR GOD’S POWERFUL WORD PREACHED

 

Only God’s Word has the power to enter in the depth of our hearts. It converses to our souls and most importantly, this is the food of our souls. This is the manual of life; it helps us how to live on this world.

Bible says in Hebrews 4:12,

 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

Other people say “Bible is hard to be read understand.” The first thing we should remember, we should not understand the Bible and penetrate in our hearts unless God the Holy Spirit will guide you and that’s why we need to pray before we proceed reading.

Bible says in James 1:5,

 

Ngunit kung ang sinuman sa inyo ay kulang sa karunungan, humingi siya sa Diyos at siya'y bibigyan, sapagkat ang Diyos ay nagbibigay nang sagana at hindi nanunumbat.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 

5.  BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE USED BY GOD

We cannot be used by God alone; we need support from the church. For example, God gave you the talent of singing. You can’t sing by yourself alone and no one hears you. If you do it, it’s not productive. You need the church. If the members listen to your song, they will be blessed and thank God for that. Let’s remember you sing for the Lord and God wants others to be blessed through you. Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:5,11

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

 

6.  GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

The church is likened to the Body of Christ. Christ is the Head and every member is part of the body. It’s possible that you are the foot, others might be the nails part, others are eyes, others are arms and many more. Though we are different parts, we are in the same BODY and every one of us are important. Therefore, each one needs to fulfill his purpose in the church. If you are expert in cooking, do it for the ministry and if you have the gift of teaching, use it in the ministry to fulfill your purpose in the church. Romans 12:5 says,

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

7.  GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY TO GET INVOLVED TOO

Does everyone know what is right from wrong? Can you discern what is good decision and bad decision? (Give examples from the Bible: David, Solomon, Rehoboam and others)

 

Others have attained highest degree, others have higher positions and others are wealthy but still they failed to recognize and do what is right from wrong.

 

The fact of the matter is no one knows what’s good; only GOD. Even we already adults, still we need GOD. He knows what’s best for us. Therefore, our family needs guidance: our children. Bible says in Proverbs 22:6

 

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 

Bring your family, your children in the Lord. The world is strong to drag our families to love the world. The world is worldly and has the great power to influence our families and we can’t do it alone. We need GOD. We need the CHURCH.

 

8.  GO TO CHURCH TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Whether we like it or not, God wants us to love one another. Bible says in Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR FOR:

a)    TO SHOW GOD’S LOVE – to show God’s love to people and God uses Christians to fulfill this.

-      Galatians 6:10

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

-      John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

b)    TO BEAR ONE’S BURDENS – Whether we like it or not, there’s a command by God that we should help and bear one another’s burden especially in the family of faith. Bible says,

 

-      Galatians 6:2 – Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

We don’t know what our brethren face in their lives that’s why we should learn to show care and pray for the brethren.

 

c)    TO CELEBRATE BAPTISM AND TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION – The great commission is written in Matthew 28:19-20. Let’s read.

 

-      Matthew 28:19-20 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We can see that being a follower of God, BAPTISM and TEACHING are important in able for people to follow GOD. This is the greatest purpose of Christians on earth.

APPLICATION:

Attending Church gathering is a sign of being a genuine Christian (Matthew 7:20). God has given us six (6) days to work and only one day for Him. It would be more than enough if you take one day for God.

God built the church to help us fulfill our needs spiritually. Therefore, we need to bring or involve our families in the church. Doing this, we make them get nearer to God and they’ll be led on how to live life with purpose on this earth. Neglecting this, we just let them live life in danger.