Pastor John Granchie.

After the hustle and bustle of another summer of vacations, picnics and day trips to all kinds of fun spots, it is time to get back to work. For the students it’s time to get the books out and begin to study for another year of academic achievement. For those who found themselves caught up in the whirlwind of summer activities and may have gotten out of the habit of attending worship, it’s time to get back and begin to enjoy the fellowship of your church family and worship our Lord corporately.

The Bible tells us we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth. In the book of Acts 2:42 it says the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” We should follow that example of devotion – and do the same things. Back then, they had no designated church building, but “every day they met together in the temple courts.”

Attending Church is not just a “good thought or suggestion;” it is God’s will for believers. Hebrews 10:25 says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” It seems even in the early church some were falling into the bad habit of not meeting with other believers. The author of Hebrews says that is not the way to go or to live. We need the encouragement of other Christians to stay focused on our mission and to make disciples for His Kingdom. The approach of the end times should prompt us to be even more devoted to going to church and strengthening our faith.

Many churches are attempting to discredit the Bible and redefine the meaning of God’s infallible Word. Galatians 1:9 reminds us that anyone who teaches an incomplete or unbiblical gospel is to be eternally condemned. Any gospel apart from what the entire Bible tells us is not the true good news. We must be careful not to drift away or settle in a church where the Bible is not taught completely. The need to attend a church that is teaching the entire word of God is more important than ever.

I hope and pray as the cool fall season sets in, and the harvest is being brought in, you pause for some corporate worship time and make time to serve the Lord.

“He said to his disciples, The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37