gospel meeting

Gospel MeetingGospel Meeting

November 12-17, 2006November 12-17, 2006

Larry Ray HafleyLarry Ray Hafley

StartsNext Sunday!

Quiet Please

• Prepare yourself for worship.• Let others prepare to worship.• Think about what worship is.

StayingSpiritually

Solid

1. Prayer

2. Bible Study

3. Attendance

3Basic

Essentials

Pray WithoutCeasingI. The Time For Prayer

II. The Place For Prayer

III. The Reasons For Prayer

IV. The Manner Of Prayer

V. The Content Of Prayer

Lesson1

I. Instruction to StudyI. Instruction to Study

II. Need to StudyII. Need to Study

III. Frequency of StudyIII. Frequency of Study

IV. Way to StudyIV. Way to Study

Bible StudyLesson

2

Attendance1. Those who are weak (or become weak)

usually miss a lot of services

a. Problem: do not think they miss so much

b. In fact - think they do quite well!

c. Most say: their absence is justified (sick, work, etc.)



2. Common Problem: think nothing of missing

a. Meetings – own number not there – missing 2- 3 of the nights

b. Reasons for missing:

Varied ReasonsVaried ReasonsVaried ReasonsVaried Reasons

• Working overtime – by choice

• Working – because don’t try avoid / insist…

• Least of sickness (headache, sniffle, etc.)

• Tired

• School related events (ball games, practice…)

• Just not interested!



2. Common Problem: think nothing of missing

3. Point is – that if a Christian:

• Prays - Regularly• Studies - Diligently• Attends - Faithfully

The RestWill Come

Will BeSpiritually Strong

Why Is Attendance At Every Service So

Important?

Attendance

I. Commanded

I. Commanded

A. The Text: Heb. 10:25

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. NAS

I. Commanded


B. Assembling

1. Not assembly (as one or AM service)

2. Act of assembling

I. Commanded


B. Assembling

C. Forsake

1. Not permanent abandonment only

2. Includes occasional – one time

a) Matt. 27:46 – “Why…forsaken me?”

b) 2 Tim. 4:10, 16 – Demas & all forsook

c) Heb. 13:5 – “I will never…forsake..”

I. Commanded


B. Assembling

C. Forsake

D. Context: Persecution

Persecutions

• Heb. 12:4 - resistance• Heb. 12:1-6 - Chastening = Suffering• Heb. 12:12 - discouraged• Heb. 10:33 - made spectacles• Heb. 10:34 - loss of possessions / Prison

Robert Milligan:

“The primary object of our author in writing this Epistle, was manifestly to persuade his Hebrew brethren in Christ to persevere to the end in their begun Christian course; and not fall back to Judaism….The same spirit of envy and malice which moved the unbelieving Jews to put to death the Lord of life and glory, still prompted and excited them to harass and annoy in every conceivable way his innocent and unoffending followers. The Scribes and rulers exercised all their powers of logic, rhetoric, and sophistry, against the disciples of the despised Nazarene, as they were wont to call our Immanuel; and when the force of argument was unavailing, they had recourse to persecution. Some of them they killed; some, they put into prison; and others, they despoiled of their goods: - and all this they did with the view of putting a stop to the progress of Christianity, and inducing all to follow Moses as their leader.”

Commentary on Hebrews, 32

Robert Milligan:

“The Apostle refers here, not to apostasy from the Church, as some allege, but simply to the neglect of public and social worship. The time when this letter was written was manifestly a time of persecution in Jerusalem and, perhaps, throughout Palestine (ch. xii. 4). Many of the Hebrew brethren were no doubt greatly discouraged; and some of them had fallen into the habit of neglecting their regular meetings of the church.”

Commentary on Hebrews, 283

Authur W. Pink:

“Following the persecution spoken of in Acts 8:1, the eminent scholar, Adoph Saphir – himself a converted Jew – tells us: ‘Then arose another persecution of the believers, especially directed against the apostle Paul. Festus died about the year 63, and under the high priest, Ananias, who favoured the Sadducees, the Christian Hebrews were persecuted as transgressors of the law. Some of them were stoned to death; and though this extreme punishment could not be frequently inflicted by the Sanhedrin, they were able to subject their brethren to sufferings and reproaches which they felt keenly. It was a small thing that they confiscated their goods; but they were banished from the holy places.

An Exposition of Hebrews, 12

Continued

Authur W. Pink:

Hitherto they had enjoyed the privileges of devout Israelites: they could take part in the beautiful and God-appointed services of the sanctuary; but now they were treated as unclean and apostates. Unless they gave up faith in Jesus, and forsook the assembling of themselves together, they were not allowed to enter the Temple, they were banished from the alter, the sacrifice, the high priest, the house of Jehovah.’”

An Exposition of Hebrews, 12

“As manner of some is”

• Some had habit / practice of forsaking.

• “Some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled

would be more exposed to danger than others.” (Barnes).

• Something - causing the problem:• Whatever it was - not a legitimate excuse.• Whatever it was - should have assembled.• Either not specifically address - or persecution

implied

ForsakeBecause ofPersecution

ForsakeBecause of

(Your Reason)

How Do These Compare?

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities

II. Priorities

A. Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters

1. Matt. 6:33 – seek first kingdom of God

2. 1 Pet. 3:15 – Sanctify God (set apart)

3. Matt. 10:37 – Above dearest relationships

4. Matt. 19:26 – Above dearest relationships

II. Priorities


B. Conflicts Cause Reshuffling

1. Luke 9:59-62 – “but first I need to…”

2. Luke 10:38-42 – Troubled about many things

3. 2 Tim. 4:10 – loved present world

II. Priorities


B. Conflicts Cause Reshuffling

C. What is your priority?

1. With some – its never a question of whether they will miss or not.

2. With others – missing time & again is not uncommon.

3. When a conflict arises – which of the two takes priority?

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities

III. Purpose – To Praise


A. We Assemble to Worship

1. John 4:24 – Worship in spirit & truth

2. Rev. 22:6 – Worship God

3. Heb. 13:15 – sacrifice of praise



B. The God We Worship:

1. Gen. 1:1 – creator of all things

2. Rev. 4:8, 11 – Almighty

3. Neh. 1:5, 4:14 – great & awesome



B. The God We Worship:

C. How Could You Over Do That?

D. Not What You Get – But What You Put In…

1. Eph. 5:19 – singing…to the Lord

2. Heb. 2:12 – in midst of assembly I will praise you

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities


IV. Value System – Instill In Others


A. All Instill “Value Systems” – Good or Bad

1. “Value System” = What Is Important

2. Particularly in our children

3. Not always done with word / instruction

4. What you emphasize & what you allow & tolerate – sets the value systems

5. Illustrations: Education / Healthy eating



B. Any Passage on “Example” – Warns Us to Watch Our Value Systems

1. 1 Tim. 4:12 – be example of the believers

2. Ezek. 16:44 – like mother, like daughter



B. Any Passage on “Example” – Warns Us to Watch Our Value Systems

C. What “Value System” Are you instilling?

1. Attend – even though had a headache?

2. Miss ¼ of services because tired, felt bad?

3. Willing to lose money to be present?

4. Miss for school activities, overtime?

5. Whole family miss if one is sick?

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities



V. What Miss When Not Present


A. Thomas Was Not There (John 20:24-25)

1. Missed: blessing of peace (v. 21)

2. Missed: faith built up (v. 25)

3. Missed: seeing the Lord (v. 20)

4. Missed: proof given of resurrection (v. 20)

5. Missed: instructions Lord gave (v. 22)



B. What You Miss Each Absence:

1. Edification (Eph. 4:12, 16; 5:19)

2. Giving Encouragement (Eph. 5:19; Heb. 10:24)

3. Praising God (Acts 2:42, 47)

4. Gaining knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18)



B. What You Miss Each Absence:

C. Made Weaker & Weaker

1. If attendance – makes me stronger… then missing makes me weaker

2. The more I miss – weaker I get.

3. True – whether absence is justified or not!

Weaker & WeakerWeaker & Weaker

If One Does Not Eat

Can’t Help ItCan’t Eat

By ChoiceDoes Not Eat

Physically Weak

If One Does Not Attend

Can’t Help ItSick, etc.

By ChoiceDon’t Come

Spiritually Weak

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities




VI. How We Compare

VI. How We Compare

A. Often Comparisons Condemn (Luke 11:31-32)

B. How Do We Compare to:

Reasons YouMiss:

Sick (feel bad)Overtime (choice)School Activities

Cold OutsideRaining

TiredEtc…

1. Hebrews – not let persecution cause them to miss (Heb. 10:25)?2. Paul & companions – waited a

week to attend (Acts 20:6-7)?3. Archery Champions (MN) –

would not miss wed. night to tryout for Olympics?

4. Preacher whose wife died Sundayafternoon – yet he was at churchthat night?

5. Employee in AL converted his bossbecause refused to work on Sun?

6. Elders – go in 3 am to be off for worship – go back to work?

VI. How We Compare

A. Often Comparisons Condemn (Luke 11:31-32)

B. How Do We Compare to:

C. Is My Absence Justified?

Justified or Not?Justified or Not?

What reasons are given in the text?What reasons are given in the text? Sickness? Sickness?

– How sick are you?How sick are you?– Miss work or school?Miss work or school?– Can’t go to church – go all over town?Can’t go to church – go all over town?– Difference in sick (can’t attend) & Difference in sick (can’t attend) &

feeling badfeeling bad


What reasons are given in the text?What reasons are given in the text? Sickness? Sickness? Work?Work?

– Try to arrange schedule better?Try to arrange schedule better?– Tell your boss – you wouldn’t work on Tell your boss – you wouldn’t work on

Sunday?Sunday?– Did you have a choiceDid you have a choice– Numbers 29 “besides”Numbers 29 “besides”


What reasons are given in the text?What reasons are given in the text? Sickness? Sickness? Work?Work? Difference in Ox Difference in Ox falling intofalling into the ditch the ditch

– and in – and in pushing himpushing him into it! into it!

Attendance

I. Commanded

II. Priorities




VI. How We Compare

StayingSpiritually

Solid

1. Prayer

2. Bible Study

3. Attendance

3Basic

Essentials

gospel meeting

Documents

lot of services2

common problem

varied reasons

lot of servicesa

conceivable way

manner of prayerv

begun christian course

primary object