Sunday’s Sermon Sketches

January 12, 2003 (a.m.)

Attendance

Introduction

1.  There are as many ideas about the need to attend church

     services as there are church members.

2.  Someone has said, “A lack of attendance is simply a symptom

     of a deeper heart problem.”

I.  What about not being able to attend?

     A.  Most preachers who speak about attendance make clear that

           it is a sin to miss the services unless one is unable to attend.

     B.  Being unable to attend needs some explaining.

     C.  God does not see things the way that man sees things

           (1 Samuel 16:7).

     D.  Everything is clear before the all-seeing eye of God

           (Hebrews 4:12, 13).

     E.  God knows the secret things of us all (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

     F.  Every deed will be revealed at the Judgment

           (2 Corinthians 5:10).

     G.  If we are physically able to be at worship and choose to

           forsake, then God knows.

     H.  If we can make arrangements with our employer to be at 

           worship and we do not, God knows that as well.

      I.  Being behind the wheel of a car does not automatically

          exempt one from assembling.

          1.  One must ask why he is driving.

          2.  Would it be permissible to skip worship in order to drive  

     to or from some recreational activity? 

II.  What about quitting the church?

     A.  Most of those whose views about attendance are loose are

           opposed to quitting the church all together.

B.     Why is it wrong to quit the church?  It is wrong to quit the

      church entirely because it is wrong to forsake one single

      service which leads one to quit the church.