The Gathering – Part 5

Introduction 

Why Missing Church Habitually Is Dangerous 

One: The more isolated you are, the more vulnerable you are to Satan’s attack. 

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

Two: “Good” reasons for missing church gatherings are seductive, deceptive and lead to harm. 

• James 1:5–6 (ESV):5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  
• Matthew 13:22 (ESV):22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 
• “Cares of the world”:
• “Deceitfulness of Riches”
• “Choke the Word” 

• John 6:63 (ESV):63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 
• Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV):24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 
• “Proves Unfruitful”

Three: Making a practice of missing church gatherings is disobedience to God. 

Four: Making a practice of missing church gatherings is an act of insubordination. 

• Hebrews 13:17 (ESV):17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 
• 1 Peter 5:2–5 (ESV):2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
• 2 Timothy 2:2–4 (ESV):2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

Five: Making a practice of missing church gatherings is a bad example to young people 

• Titus 2:1–8 (ESV):1But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 

Six: Making a practice of missing church gatherings is a bad example to your own children 

• Genesis 18:17–19 (ESV):17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 

Seven: Making a practice of missing church gatherings is a bad example to new believers 

• Psalm 51:12–13 (ESV): 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,  

and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,  

and sinners will return to you. 

• Psalm 122:1 (ESV):1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”