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...the Bible tells me so:
Getting More Out Of the Assembly
What is “church” to you? Is it a place to go on Sunday morning? Is it a time to worship God? I hope that you chose the latter.
To begin with, the Greek word for “church” is ekklesia. It means “a people who assemble, congregate and meet together.” Specifically with regard to Christians, they meet together to worship God. Do you meet with other Christians to worship God?
The word, “worship,” as found in our Bibles commonly is misunderstood. Its basic meaning is “service,” not as in event but in activity. To worship God is to serve Him.
Today our worship tends strongly toward songs and sermons that inspire awe for God. There is no question that “Our God Is an Awesome God.” However, where are those songs and sermons that inspire serving and working for God? They are too few and too far removed.
There is a second purpose of our worshiping God together. This is always missed by those who sit at home watching television church. Let the writer of Hebrews explain it best. He said, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV).
Some people refuse to come. They say, “I don’t go there any more. I just don’t get anything out of it.” But they fail to realize that “You get out what you put in.”
For example, what is a comedian? One who tells jokes? No. One who makes people laugh! People respond to the jokes, to the slapstick and to the comedic routines.
What is a Christian? One who goes to church? No, one who pleases God! They please Him by their worship, their service, their obedience and their faith.
How does one get less out of the assembly? Start out by “trash the ‘class.’ ” (Actually, please clean up any mess you make.) Talk. Pass notes. Don’t sing. Don’t pray. Don’t listen. Don’t give. Don’t even try.
How to get more out of the assembly? There is a very simple three step approach. Participate! Participate! Participate!
Before you ever come to the Bible class or sermon, to pray, to sing, to remember the cross in the Lord’s Supper, or to give of your means, prepare yourself for the task at hand.
In the Bible
study, study, do not just attend class! Be like those Jews from the Grecian
town of
During the singing, sing! That was an obvious one. We are to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19), and to let “the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
And, follow the song director. That is easy enough.
During the prayers, pray! That was obvious, too. We must “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
Listen to the one who is leading the prayer. And if you have trouble following, continue with your own private prayer.
During the
Lord’s Supper, “Remember the cross!” just like we “Remember the
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me’
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
During the Scripture reading, listen and read along closely. Listening is a skill that must be worked on and developed. For the reader, pronounce God’s word clearly and accurately. Again, Paul said, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).
During the sermon, listen closely. Taking notes helps. Follow the Scripture references in your Bible. If passages are referred to too quickly, ask for an outline or for the specific passages. Comment afterward. Discuss; please do not decree.
My greatest compliment is not the one who says, “Great sermon, Rocky,” but the one who says, “I disagree.” Are you surprised? The person who says, “I disagree,” is usually willing to discuss the matter.
However, from time to time I have been told, “That’s your opinion.” Those who resort to that line, at the very least, do not have what it takes to reasonably discuss any issue, or unfortunately, are too lazy or too disinterested in a vital conversation of the meaning of God’s word.
Worship is not a matter of sitting back and getting comfortable while others worship for you. Worship is a matter of service to self, to others and to God.
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