Pathways Lesson 6: Some Assembly Required
The Pathway: Some Assembly Required • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Hebrews 10:19–25 (KJV 1900)
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Introduction… Just about everything you buy these days comes with the warning, “Some Assembly Required”.
Those are words that strike fear in the heart of every man!
The fact is, for most things in life, “Some Assembly Is Always Required!”
When it comes to serving God, and being a part of the body, the Word offers a warning that some assembly is required.
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb.10:23-25)
Think of this verse like this: it is at the church where I am assembled!
I come in a box… Just pieces that don’t make any sense…
It is at church I am put together. Joined to a greater cause.
If there ever was a time when the people of God need to assemble, it’s now!
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Ps.133:1)
Before we can move forward, we need to go back to where unity begins, and that’s with U and I.
Without U and I there is no UNITY!
To dwell together, we must first come together.
For there to be unity, there must first be some assembly.
Assembly – meeting, gathering, congregating, coming together.
David knew that worship required the assembly of God’s people:
“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.” (Ps.107:31-32)
“I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” (Ps.111:1)
Private devotion is essential, but it should never replace corporate worship!
God still requires some assembly.
I. We’re Living in an Hour where Church is no Longer a Priority…
Group survey (4,020 adults) – “In the U.S. 83% of all adults identify themselves as Christian, yet 28% have not attended church or a church related activity in 6 months.”
A USA Today, CNN, Gallup poll (1,000 adults) – “30% of Americans consider themselves spiritual but not church goers.”
“Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the MANNER (habit, practice, custom) of some is” (Heb.10:25).
All of us have habits – some good and some bad.
There’s nothing worse than a bad habit.
Bad habits are easy to develop and hard to break – it’s the good ones you have to work on.
A good habit to get into is coming to church. If you are in the habit, when you miss you will feel guilty.
It is good to get addicted to being drug to church.
If you ever get it in your veins, you will become addicted.
What’s your “manner” when it comes time for church?
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday – sleep in, have breakfast with the family, go to the mall, wash the car, watch TV, or is it coming to church?
“I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept the holy day” (Ps.42:4).
Many people have gotten out of the habit of coming to church and they miss more than they attend – they’ve established a habit but the wrong one.
A pastor stood at the back door greeting people as they left when he spotted a man he hadn’t seen in a long time. He said, “Good morning, it’s great to see you. Wish we could see you more regularly.” The man said, “What do you mean more regularly, I come every Christmas and Easter!”
One pastor grabbed a young man and said, “Son, you need to join the army of the Lord!” He said, “I already have.” The pastor said, “Then how come I don’t see you more often?” “Cause I’m in the Secret Service.”
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in the garage makes you a car, but we still have to go!
If you’re going to establish the habit:
You can’t be lazy – if so, you’re never going to make it.
You’ve got to put God first – if so, you won’t have a problem.
You’ve got to have resolve – the enemy will do what he can to stop you.
II. It’s Unhealthy Not to Come to Church…
Interesting accident facts:
20% of all fatal accidents occur in automobiles.
17% occur in homes.
14% to pedestrians on streets and sidewalks.
16% by air, rail, or water.
Only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services, and most are related to previous physical disorders.
The safest place for you to be is in church – and Bible study is even safer!
USA Today – “Regular worshipers live 10% longer than those who never attend.”
The survey found that the average life-expectancy for non-churchgoers is about 75, while for weekly churchgoers, it’s about 83.
Robert Hummer, a sociologist at Texas University said, “We think there’s some cause and effect going on here beyond health and socioeconomics. It seems that behavior is influenced by going to church and that it affects life expectancy.”
Going to church could save your life. It’s not only healthy physically but spiritually!
People that aren’t faithful are the ones that struggle the most.
“Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as believers as the habit of some people, but admonishing, warning, urging and encouraging one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching” (Amp.).
You say, “I love God, I just don’t go to church” – no, you don’t! You can’t really love God and not come to church.
Saying you love God but won’t go to church is like:
A student who won’t go to school.
A soldier who won’t join the army.
A preacher with no congregation.
A salesman who has no customers.
An explorer with no base camp.
A seaman with no ship or crew.
An author with no readers.
An athlete with no team or stadium.
It’s not a time issue.
We all have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Time flies but we all have the same amount of it – the difference is what we do with it.
If you don’t have time, then something is out of balance
You’re not a good steward of your time
You’re spending too much time in some other area of your life.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecc.3:1)
God is concerned with every area of our life – that’s why He has designated a time to work, sleep, rest, enjoy family, and come to church.
One of the 10 commandments is to “reverence” the Sabbath and keep it holy!
If you don’t have time, you need to change your priorities – rather than asking time where it went you need to start telling it where to go.
A typical Mormon Sunday:
Bishopric Meeting – 6:00 am
Priesthood Executive Meeting – 7:00 am
Ward Correlation Meeting – 8:00 am
Sacrament Meeting – 9:00 am
Sunday School – 10:10 am
Priesthood Meeting – 11:00 am
Bishop’s Youth Council Meeting – 12:00 noon
Home for lunch
Bishopric Visiting Members Meeting – 4:00 pm
Youth Fireside or Adult Leadership Meeting – 7:00 pm
III. You May Feel like you’ve Got your Reasons…
Top 10 Reasons For Not Washing (by the same people who don’t attend church):
People who make soap are only after your money.
I was forced to wash as a child.
There are so many different kinds of soap that it’s hard to know which is the right one.
People who wash are hypocrites because they think they’re cleaner than everyone else.
None of my friends wash.
The bathroom is never warm enough in winter and cold enough in summer.
I can’t spare the time to wash.
I’ll start washing when I get older and dirtier.
The clerk where I buy soap never shakes my hand.
I already wash on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter.
There just really aren’t very many good excuses!
Some good excuses:
Sick – not just a head or toothache.
Car broke down – no other form of transportation.
Having a baby – in or on your way to the hospital.
Lying in a hospital bed – hooked up to blood or an IV.
Vacation – if there’s not a church within 100 miles.
Got married – on Saturday.
Have to work – or you lose your house or job.
Died – even then you’re still coming.
Not feeling like going is common, but it’s not a good one either.
I need to be here!
Fed by the Word – “I esteem thy word more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).
Worship – “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto he Lord a new song, and his praise IN the congregation of the saints” (Ps.149:1).
Feel His presence – “In His presence is fullness of joy” (Ps.16:11).
Receive direction – “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary” (Ps.77:13).
Be delivered – “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn.8:32).
It makes a statement to the devil!
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will STILL be praising thee” (Ps.84:4).
The enemy can’t get you if you just refuse to quit.
What can he do if you just keep coming?
He hits you with stress, financial pressure, etc., but you keep coming!
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be PLANTED in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps.92:12-13).
Coming to church is not a pressure but a privilege!
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Ps.84:10).
Closing…
Some Assembly Is Required.
A few years ago, the world watched as 3 gray whales just off the coast of Alaska floated, battered and bruised, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. The only hope was to transport them 5 miles back past the ice out into the open sea. Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes in the 6-inch-thick ice about 20 yards apart. For eight days they led the whales from hole to hole, mile after mile. Along the way one of them vanished and was never seen again but the other two, with the help of the Russian Icebreakers, made it safely to the open water.
Coming to church is like a string of breathing holes – we may be battered and bruised in a world frozen over but every Wednesday and Sunday we rise for air and breathe.
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple” (Ps.27:4).
This is no time to get careless – Jesus is coming!
Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
Let’s establish the habit and be faithful!