SERMON NOTES: Sunday Funday 01

Prophetic Roadmap for 2019

2019 is a year…

1. That will rise and fall on our prayer lives.
2. To step out into new things that God is doing in your life.
3. For a new level of maturity.
4. To grow in and develop our faith and to exercise our faith
5. To stand with our church family members who are believing for spouses
6. For us to focus our prayer/action on the upcoming National Elections
7. For us to contend for revival

01: WHY DO WE GATHER?

“Sunday Funday” is about having fun, and building community – but I also wanted to take some time to talk about the importance of why we do this. Why do we gather together on Sundays? What’s the big deal?

When I was young, in my family, and the churches I attended there was a high priority put on “attending church”. I have noticed (and many others have noticed as well) that there is a drop in the priority people are placing on gathering together with other believers and this concerns me.

Hebrews 10:25 (TPT) – 25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

From my study of the scripture and my pastoral experience over the past 20 years I have come to the conclusion that faithful and committed ‘church attendance’ is absolutely vital for any follower of Jesus. We need to prioritize coming together regularly and if you are not doing this it will hurt your walk in God and the walking out of your destiny and purpose.

Several foundational thoughts:

• I’m not saying that ‘going to church’ by itself is enough. There is much more to being a Christian but it’s still an important part of a walk with Jesus.
• I’m not trying to come from a legalistic edge that says you can never miss church. We all miss for legitimate reasons but if we become inconsistent the damage is still done.
• I’m not only referring to a traditional model of church that meets on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. I’m open to many expressions of church from mega-churches to house churches. The point is are you gathering consistently with believers with a pastor/leader?
• I’m not trying to make Sunday itself a ‘holy day’ – there are some cultural and practical reasons why most churches meet on Sunday but it’s not the day or the time that ‘makes it count’. 

All that being said – if you are a follower of Jesus then consistent and faithful attendance as part of a local church family is absolutely vital and important. Our commitment to Jesus needs to be reflected in our commitment to gathering together as believers. Here are some reasons why:

1. It’s commanded in the Scriptures

• There are some who might say “the Bible doesn’t say I have to go to church, I am the church… or I have a personal relationship” but this is simply not true
• The scriptures are clear that believers need to get together. To be honest you could actually make an argument that we need to get together more than once per week!
• There are obviously many different factors but this is clear: if I’m a follower of Jesus and I’m not ‘doing church’ I’m in disobedience in that area of my life. If I’m a follower of Jesus and I’m not faithful and consistent in ‘attending church’ I’m hurting myself and others. 

• We need each other

• “Christianity is a team sport” we need each other.
• God has not designed me to walk this out on my own but in community
• You and I are part of the body of Christ… (1 Cor. 12:12-27)
• We all need pastors and spiritual leadership
• We need other believers in our lives and there are other people who need us

• When we are isolated it’s easier for the enemy to take us out

• 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) – Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• The ‘gazelle that runs away from the herd’ is the one that get’s eaten
• One of the hallmarks I have seen of someone who walks away from the Lord is a pulling way from church community.
• Bottom line: when you are on your own you are an easier target

• It has a profound effect on our children

• Our involvement in church will have a profound effect on our children – and could be “make or break” in their faith journeys.
• There is much that is caught more than taught
• Some of the most profound experiences with God that shaped my life came not through them but through ‘church’ that we were a part of.
• If we are inconsistent in our involvement in church it sends a loud and clear message that this (and God) is not a priority and our kids do not. Sadly, often by the time parents realize this, it’s too late. 

Bottom Line: I want to encourage everyone of us to engage in the “spiritual discipline (and delight)” of gathering together with believers consistently and faithfully. If you are already doing this then keep going! If you are not I would ask you to prayerfully consider a change in your life where you prioritize gathering together with your spiritual family.

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