We Have Winners

Congratulations to Lori and Sherman. Both submitted essays on why church attendance is important. I was so pleased with each entry that I wanted to give them both "A Major Award". Your custom made pens will be arriving shortly.

Here are their entries....

Attending church regularly has value if it is truly a Christian, Bible believing, preaching, practicing, worshipping congregation. Consistent regular attendance will produce positive results because we cannot escape the Spirit’s influence even if we have come with the wrong motives. The truths of God’s word will penetrate the heart and mind over time even subliminally. We are molded and shaped by our environment. Through regular involvement in the body of Christ, the acceptance, encouragement and accountability of a loving church family will hold us fast in difficult times. Continual exposure to God’s truths and Christian love, will produce results.

WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH?



Let’s start out with why we don’t go to church. We don’t go to church because it is a Routine, Ritual, or our “Religion.” The first and most important reason why we go to church is out of our Real Relationship” with God. It is because we believe Who God is, What He has done for us, and His Word. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by faith that you have been saved; it is a gift of God.” Next, if we believe God’s Word is Truth, then we should “Obey” it, for God’s Word is not suggestions, but commands. For John 14:15 says, “If you love Me, you will keep my commands.” Another reason we attend church is for “Encouragement”. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We also go to church because we “Yearn to Learn” more about our Heavenly Father. Hebrews 5:12-14 says, “you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s Word, for anyone who lives on milk is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Next, we go to church because we are to “Serve” God and others. Deuteronomy 13:4 says, “It is God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keeping His commands and obeying Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.” 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” Lastly, we go to church to “Worship” God because of Who He is and what He has done for us. 1 Samuel 12:24 says, “But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.” God gives us the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37, which is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” So, we go to church because we “Respect” and “Reverence” God and are “Required” to. But prayerfully, we go because we love God and we want to!