## Why Go To Church?

## Hebrews 10:22-25

A large majority of Americans will say that they believe in God, yet our churches do not show it. If everyone who professed to believe in God were to go to church this Sunday, there would not be enough room to hold them in all the churches in America!

Why are we here this afternoon? Why go to the trouble to have a 'Round-Up' Sunday and encourage folks to come to church? In our text this afternoon, we find at least three reasons why we should come to church:

I. To Worship God. (v.22)

A. Spiritual "jet lag"

1. When flying to England a few years ago, and then this summer flying to Hawaii.

2. We experienced a phenomenon known as 'jet lag".

3. We became a bit disoriented as to what time it was.

4. It took some time for our bodies to catch up with our minds and adjust to the rapid time change.

B. The same is true in this busy world we live in.

1. It seems that in the whirlwind of activity that makes up any given week.

2. It is easy to get out of balance with our thinking.

3. We need some time to reorient ourselves to what is important and what really has meaning.

C. Going to church and worshipping God can cure our "spiritual jet lag."

1. v22 says "let us draw near..."

2. That means approach God; to come very near, much like a child does with a parent.

3. And just as the parent hugs and loves the child, God does the same with us: He ministers to us.

4. We come close to Him in worship and we again can see what is most important.

II. To Become Encouraged. (v.23)

A. The need for encouragement.

1. Did you ever have a bicycle tire when you were a child that kept going flat on you?

2. It had to be pumped up about once a week? It's called a slow leak.

3. Many Christians have a slow leak: they go flat in about 7 days! (Seven days without prayer makes one 'weak')

4. Some, like me, need it more often than that…so come to church to get pumped up!

B. How are we encouraged?

1. v 23 says for us to hold fast to our profession...or our faith.

2. We already possess spiritual blessings and truths, but we can strengthen our faith.

3. We do that by hearing about them and studying about them in church.

4. The church service should encourage us, strengthen us, help us, and challenge us to live for God.

III. To Enjoy Fellowship (v.24)

A. Fellowship means sharing.

1. When we fellowship, we are sharing our experiences of the Christian life.

2. We also share our burdens with one another.

3. Solomon reminded us of how much we need one another.

(Eccl 4:9) Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

B. Fellowship also means cooperation in a task.

1. When we fellowship, we receive strength and encouragement to do our Christian duty.

2. We can do so much more when we work together. "…good reward for their labour…"

3. It is important that we maintain a world view of ministry, but that can be overwhelming if we are all alone.

4. But through the local church, we work together to accomplish the work of God around the world, not just here in Bloomington.

To Worship God.

To Become Encouraged.

To Enjoy Fellowship.

We don't go to church to score points with God; we go to worship, to be encouraged, and to have fellowship.