Posts Tagged ‘attendance’
What do we do about a sister who left after being a Christian for a year?
Question: I have another question that has been bothering me for a while. A sister in Christ left the church for a reason that I am still confused about. She became a Christian about a year ago and seemed really happy about her decision. She was faithful, committed, and opened her home to members of…
Read MoreDoes “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” mean reading the Bible and learning about God and His Kingdom?
Question: Hebrews 10:23-27 said to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Does this mean going to church, or does it mean not forsaking reading the Bible and learning about God and His Kingdom? Answer: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us…
Read MoreWhy should we go to church every Sunday?
Question: Recently a friend asked me why we should go to church every Sunday. I told him to learn the Word of God, but he said we can learn that any time. So why should we go to church? Answer: Ask your friend what he learned from the Bible last week on his own. Most…
Read MoreIs membership in a local congregation necessary for salvation?
Question: First of all, I want to say that I do like your site and the good information it provides. However, while reading “Christians Without Churches?” I came across the following statement: “Is it possible for a Christian to be part of the “universal” church without being identified with a local church? The Scriptures give…
Read MoreI’m going to be going on a tour. What do I do about missing services?
Question: First, I want to thank you for this web site. I’ve visited it quite frequently over the past several years, and it has helped me to understand more about what the Word says. I found myself amazed that questions I had been asking myself had already been asked by previous viewers. It’s helped me…
Read MoreWhy don’t you meet daily?
Question: I have another question, at the end of chapter 2 in the book of Acts, it is written that the church met daily. Where you worship does the body meet daily? If not, can you explain why not? Answer: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to…
Read MoreDevaluing the Local Church
by Glen Young via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 25, June 22, 2008. The local church occupies an important position in God’s scheme of things. It is through the local church that Christians execute certain works. These are works that God commands that can only be accomplished as a group in the context of a local…
Read MoreIs poor attendance actually a sin?
Question: Brother, I was edified by what I read in this article: Telling Members They are Sinning in Deliberately Missing Church. Bob does a good job listing some of the excuses some brethren use to justify missing church assemblies. He shows that those who rely on these excuses reveal carnality and not spirituality. However, as the…
Read MoreGiven the state of the church today, of course, Christians are not required to attend services
Question: What you are saying about Christians who are not going to church are not saved is utter rubbish. It’s all one-sided. I Kings 18:21 tells us not to limp between two opinions. Amos 3:3 says how can two walk together except they be agreed. II Corinthians 6:14-17 says come out from unbelievers — those…
Read MoreChristians Without Churches?
by Ethan R. Longhenry Over the past few years, a trend has increased among people, especially Americans: the idea that people can be good Christians without being part of a church. Many people will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord, but yet want nothing to do with any church. This attitude fits with…
Read MoreMy family won’t go to church because they think people will judge them for not attending. How can I get them to go with me?
Question: I have a question to ask you that I do not know how to fully answer. My family members are not convinced that going to church as a family is the best thing for the family. I believe that going to church is important especially as a family, but they believe that everything taught…
Read MoreDo you think it’s a sin not to go to church?
Question: Hi! I am 15 years old. I want to thank you for saving my soul! I accepted Jesus into my heart about two years ago and have been talking to him as a friend, a brother, a Savior and my Lord ever since. However, I have found myself struggling with lust, greed and other things.…
Read MoreYou don’t know the true reasons why I don’t attend!
Question: Well, I got the opportunity to read your article online about missing church. Seemed so self-righteous. God knows one’s heart and no man can judge another without true facts. You don’t walk in any one’s shoes to know in ordhttps://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/DeliberatelyMissingChurch.htmer to judge one correctly, that’s first and foremost. Secondly, I miss church once in a…
Read MoreDoes the Bible teach that you don’t have to congregate to go to heaven?
Question: A good friend and fellow sister in Christ called last night to tell me about a conversation she’d had with a few co-workers. One guy said that, although he didn’t know where, he knew the Bible said you ‘don’t have to congregate to go to heaven.’ A woman said someone had once told her…
Read MoreDo you have to join a church?
Question: I would like to know do you believe in having to join to be a member of the “Church of Christ”? Answer: This question only becomes difficult to answer in that I don’t know if you understand the way the New Testament uses the concept of “church.” “Church” is used in two senses. One…
Read MoreIsn’t it alright to go to a denomination if a faithful church isn’t close?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ and my children have started going to an Alliance Missionary church. There is not a church of Christ close to them, and the one that is 20 miles away does not have young people. I don’t want to discourage them, so I told them the…
Read MoreMy non-Christian wife led me to stop attending worship, but I’m trying to come back. Do you have any advice?
Question: Hi! I am a strong Christian husband married to a non-Christian wife. I realize I can’t change her or make her do anything. Only God can change her. I do have to admit that it really hurts me because before we got married she went to church with me. After we got married, she…
Read MoreHow can I get the heart and desire to go out of my way to worship God?
Question: Why do the churches of Christ have two worship services on Sundays? Is it required and is it scriptural? If so, how can I get the heart and desire to go out of my own way to worship God whenever the church meets, as Hebrews talks about not giving up meeting together? I find…
Read MoreTelling Members They Are Sinning in Deliberately Missing Church
By Bob W. Lovelace Question: If you gathered together a list of excuses as to why members of a local church will “neglect” their collective duty to attend and participate in both the worship and works of the local church what would it include? From all over members who strive to fulfill their duty are…
Read MoreShould I worship with a group that I think is teaching error in order to teach them the truth?
Question: It is only proper to first introduce myself. I am a 19-year-old guy and I live in the Philippines. I have been surfing your web site for almost half a year now (although not very often) and have in fact asked you probably less than five questions. Dear sir, I quite appreciate your labor…
Read MoreWhen did evening worship services start?
Question: In the history of the church (the Lord’s church) when did evening services start? I ask this question because I grew up without evening services due to preacher circumstances in a small community. I understand we should desire to meet with our brothers and sisters when the opportunity presents itself, but I witness condemnation…
Read MoreHow do I handle attending services when there are family outings planned?
Question: I am wondering how to handle getting to church in various situations. One is when my husband, who is not a Christian, has family functions that we are all expected to attend, i.e.: Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. My husband usually says I can’t go to church because it’s too much driving…
Read MoreIf there are no sound churches in my area, should I worship with a liberal one?
Question: I am disabled and would like to attend an anti-church but there are none nearby and I was wondering if it would be okay to take communion at a liberal church instead of missing communion with the Lord? Answer: All Christians are required to partake of the communion and to attend services. Most of…
Read MoreI don’t feel like attending Wednesday night Bible class. Do you think it is a sin?
Question: I am 64 years old and still working a full-time job. I also have some health issues that make it very hard for me to walk, so by the time I get home, I stay home. I don’t feel like attending Wednesday night Bible class. My daughter says that it’s a sin that I…
Read MoreIs it a sin not to attend Wednesday night Bible study?
Question: I’m a member of the church have been all my life. I was wondering how important you think Wednesday night services are? Some people don’t think you have to go on Wednesday night, some say when the Bible says not to forsake the assembly it means Sunday morning. I believe it’s a direct command…
Read MoreIf I am just not able to get out, can I worship at home?
Question: I have a very serious question. In some of your answers to others, you have pointed out that to have a worship service alone on Sunday at home is not really what is acceptable, except for when we choose to worship God by ourselves at other times during the week. This is according to…
Read MoreDoes a Congregation have Authority for a Midweek Service?
by Wayne S. Walker While I do not think that I have ever actually known anyone who has taught this, I have heard that there have been brethren who argued that a local congregation is authorized to assemble only on the first day of the week and therefore it is unscriptural to have a midweek…
Read MoreWhy Go to Class?
by Bryan Matthew Dockens Besides assembling for worship on the first day of the week, this church meets regularly to study the scriptures in class settings. Some may ignore these opportunities and others may simply take them for granted, so it is worth inquiring: Why go to class? We go to class because “He gave…
Read MoreDoes a person have to attend church?
Question: Does a person have to attend church in order to be accepted into the kingdom of God? This question isn’t sarcastically phrased; I really want to know the answer. And please note that I do attend church. But seeing that I can pray, talk to God, read His word and also worship him in…
Read MoreLeaving a Vacancy
by Irvin Himmel via Guardian of Truth XL: 7 p. 4, April 4, 1996 Eddie was a clerk in a hardware store. He made a name for himself as the most inefficient and contentious salesman ever. The atmosphere when he was absent one day was like the tranquil beauty of summer weather after a bad thunderstorm. One…
Read MoreDoes the command to “forsake not the assembling of ourselves together” apply only to Sunday worship?
Question: In our Bible study at church, the statement was made that if elders schedule a meeting, then it would be a sin for one to ‘forsake the assembly” if one could have attended. I feel that a person should attend, for it is a benefit to study and learn of one’s duty to God…
Read MoreNotes on Attendance
Acts 2:42 Acts 9:26 I Corinthians 5:4 I Corinthians 11:17-18 Hebrews 10:25-26
Read MoreShould failure to attend in the past be publically confessed?
Question: We have a woman who has returned to attending services after not attending for several years. I’m at a loss as to how to encourage her to repent — specifically whether it needs to be done publically or privately. Even though she assembles with the saints once again, she is only coming on Sunday…
Read MoreHow do you handle problems with attending services?
Question: I’d like to know what your thoughts are regarding a problem we are having here that seems to be increasing. We have some brethren that have an attendance problem. One of our lady members has been attending less and less. It troubles me that the brethren here don’t seem to want to take action. I’ve talked to her several…
Read MoreResolved!
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:7-14 I. The old year is behind us and a whole new year lies before us A. What does this year hold for you? 1. What would you like to do? 2. What will you actually do? B. Each day is unique 1. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” 2. Today…
Read MoreWhat Are You Looking For?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’…
Read MoreWhat Thomas Missed
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 20:19-29 I. We aren’t told why, but when the disciples gathered after Jesus’ death, Thomas wasn’t there at a very notable time. A. What was it that Thomas missed by not being there? II. What did Thomas miss? A. He missed the joy of seeing the Lord – John 20:20 1. Jesus knew…
Read MoreReasons for Missing Services
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 18:22-39 I. People come up with some fairly bizarre reasons for being anywhere else but at services. A. They need to be at work, attend school events, sporting practices, sporting events. B. Some are just plain tired or don’t feel well – nothing specific mind you – just a vague…
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