I would really like to go to Reunion Sunday, but...

Reunion Sunday – 29 October 2017 – For those who are still holding on to their excuses…

Whatever it was that has kept you away, it is in the past.

Didn’t like the preacher?  It’s not about the preacher.  It’s about worshiping God.

Didn’t like the last sermon you heard?  It’s not about edutainment.  It’s about being with other believers and worshiping God.

Didn’t like the food at the fellowship meal.  Hey!  That just didn’t happen.  Throw out that excuse.

Afraid that people will give you funny looks because you have been away so long?  It could happen, but you should understand that smiles and hugs and handshakes and “Welcome” are our language.

Can’t remember why you stopped coming?  You just stopped and one day you got comfortable not worshiping God with other believers.  Ouch!  The world desires to conform you to its ways.

You like the television preachers better?  Who wouldn’t.  They can polish a message and broadcast it to many.  They are a good supplement to hearing God’s word read live and in the presence of other believers.  The television pastor or listening audience probably won’t visit you when you are sick, pray with you, or do your funeral service.  You belong in a flesh and blood family of faith.  Hint:  DVR for the TV messages.

Didn’t get enough recognition for everything you did for the church?  Maybe it’s time for one of those sermons that you don’t want to hear.

Here’s the thing.  Worship is not a buffet.  You don’t come to worship to be fed or entertained or even educated.  You come to worship God.  You come to give your heart fully to God.  In the process, you are fed and sometimes entertained and educated and feel better than you think you have a right to feel.  Welcome to God’s love.

OK, let’s cover a few buts…

But, the Bible doesn’t say you have to come to church.  Correct!  It says don’t stop coming.

But, I can worship God at home or on the lake or even visiting my grandkids.  That’s exactly what the Bible tells us to do.  Our whole lives are an act of worship; however, those things and more are to be done in addition to gathering and worshiping God.  Most of our worship is done outside the church building.

But I grew up Baptist or Catholic or Pentecostal…    There is one church and Jesus is the head.  We worship the same God, follow the same Jesus, and have received the same Spirit.  While the names on the walls and some of the traditions are different, these bodies of believers as well as every believer since Jesus said, “On this rock I build my church,” and the Holy Spirit kicked it into action are all a part of the same church.

We are the church!  We who have professed Jesus as Lord and Savior are the church.  We who follow Jesus are the church.

And…   

The church is called to gather frequently and worship the Lord together.  Worship gets us a long way to living in one accord.

Worship liberates us from what the world seeks to make us.

Worship helps us enjoy fellowship with one another.

Worship helps us love one another.

Worship helps us put aside our petty excuses (I know they seem huge to you right now) and enjoy the abundant life that God desires.

Worship is something wonderful that God designed us to do. 

If you read this far, why not take the next step and worship with us this Sunday.  The Call to Worship is at 10:55 a.m.  We have a meal after the service.

Come and worship the Lord.

Come and enjoy the fellowship of his people.

Come and be blessed.