Only on Sunday

Yesterday in my message I mentioned that coming to church only on Sunday wasn’t enough to successfully live the Christian life. I want to further explore this area.

Because of the thanksgiving weekend we didn’t have services last Wednesday and last night (Sunday). Around 6:00 pm I was watching TV and realized that if this had been a normal Sunday Evening we would just be starting Church. As I though about that I realized that I actually missed being at church. Not because I had a great lesson to teach but because I missed seeing and being with the people of our church. And I was reminded of what I had said earlier in the day about coming to church only on Sunday morning. By the way, I didn’t say that to challenge people into coming to more of the weekly services, but because I have been thinking about all the tools we are provided with to be strong in our Christian walk, but don’t take advantage of them. One of those is being with other believers.

…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. --Hebrews 10:25

Notice that the Bible says that we should spend more time together as we see the return of the Lord getting closer. Now here is the point I want to get across to you…I really am praying for our people to have curiosity about the things of God. Because this will motivation for you to seek out all the God stuff. Here is a list in case you don’t know them. Praying, reading the Bible and other Christian books, spending time with believers.

As good as we make the Sunday morning service; it will never be enough to teach you everything you need to know about God and how to live successfully as a follower of Jesus. Let me make this offer to you. I will do everything I can to make sure that every time we come together as a church it will be worth the effort it takes to get there. But beyond that God has already promised that if we seek Him, He will be found. Here are a few suggestions for growing in the faith.

• Spend some time in prayer each day – don’t worry about how much time; just pray everyday.
• Read the Bible – start will something easy like the book of Luke.
• Find a time to regularly be with other believers – Adult Sunday School, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Men’s breakfast, Women’s Petal group, Tuesday morning prayer group, Thursday’s Holy Spirit teaching, or the Saturday Bible study. Call us and we can give you information on all of these groups and classes.

BE CURIOUS!

Five Chances to Avoid Sin

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. --James 1:14-5

There are several passages from the Scripture that every believer should know. One of these is from James. This passage shows us how we can avoid sinning. The key is that we need to always be aware of where we are in the events of each day and where they are leading us. In James the scripture shows us the five steps towards committing sin. If we know these and become aware that they are working on our life we them have a really good chance at avoiding sinful behavior.

1. Tempted – the opportunity presents itself.
2. Drawn by desire – it becomes attractive.
3. Enticed – it develops a continual place in your thoughts.
4. Desire conceived – a plan to achieve it is developed.
5. Birth of sin – you follow through and commit the action.

Every sin can be avoided by stopping on any of the first four steps towards the birth of sin. And you can know that the Holy Spirit is doing all He can to warn you at each one!