Let’s Go to Worship!






Introduction

In Psalms 122:1 it reads, I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." This should be a Christian’s attitude every first day of the week. Yet for some it seems like a burden; “Worship again? We just went last week. How often do we have to go? Every week?!”



Stop Going to Church!

Since I became a Christian, I stopped going to church. I still attend worship services but I don’t go to church. I don’t forsake the assembling of the saints (Heb. 10:25) but at the same time I don’t go to church.  Confused?

For most people this statement sounds absurd. It sounds like I’m contradicting myself; saying one thing and then reversing it in the very next breath. So how can a believer in God, who follows the Bible, not go to Church? The answer is simple, we go to worship! The church is not the building but the people in the local congregation.


The term for this is ecclesia; pronounced (ĭ-klē′zhē-ə,) the definition, according to The Free Dictionary online is:


2. a. A church or congregation.

b. The collective body of Christian believers regarded as constituting a universal church.



Regardless of where you are right now, even reading this article; if you are a Christian, you are in the church. We go to the building for worship because that is the focus of coming together; worshipping God.



SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH


      1) Belongs to God – 1 Tim. 3:15

2) The body of Christ – Eph. 1:23; Col. 1:24

3) Christ, the foundation-stone of – Mt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:11

4) Christ, the head and Savior of – Eph. 1:22, 5:23

5) Loved by Christ – Eph. 5:25

6) Purchased by the blood of Christ - Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25

7) Sanctified and cleansed by Christ – Eph. 5:26, 27

8) Subject to Christ – Eph. 5:24

9) The object of the grace of God – 2 Cor. 8:1

10) Displays the wisdom of God – Eph. 3:10

11) God defends – Mt. 16:18; Rom. 8:31-39

12) God provides for it – Eph. 4:11, 12

13) Glory to be ascribed to God by – Eph. 3:21

14) Elect – 1 Pet. 2:9

15) Glorious – Eph. 5:27

16) Unity of – Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 1:10, 12:12; Eph. 4:3-4

17) Baptized into – 1 Cor. 12: 13

18) Added to by the Lord - Acts 2: 47

19) Is edified by the word – 1 Cor. 14:4; Eph. 4:15, 16

20) The wicked persecute - Acts 8:1-3; Mt. 5:10-12; 1 Thess. 2:14, 15

21) Not to be despised – 1 Cor. 11:22

22) Defiling of, will be punished – 1 Cor. 3:17

23) Extent of, predicted – Isa. 2:2; Dan. 2:34, 35, 44



Conclusion

In the coming weeks we will look at the worship service and what is the function of the church. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below.






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