Books

Focus On The Fundamentals Of The Faith

By W. Douglass Harris

The Blessings of Public Worship

Do you suppose that the reason some members of the church are not more faithful in their attendance and dedicated in their lives is because they do not understand and appreciate the blessings or the assets of being a steadfast member of the church? If some should ask, “What does the church do for me?”, may I suggest a number of valuable services that a local congregation of saints renders.

1. Fellowship: First, the church provides a bond of fellowship not found anywhere else on earth (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:7). This fellowship is a great blessing in times of great sorrow and calamity. A faithful member of the church knows that there are others in fellowship with him who will come to his aid when he needs it.

2. Edification: To those who love the church it offers strength for edification (Acts 9:31). As we march toward the land of fadeless day we need encouragement and edification to keep keeping on in the narrow way that leads to the life that is life indeed. Much of this comes from mutual edification in the assembly. We are exhorted to follow after things wherewith we may edify each other (Romans 14:19). By being with other saints as they assemble, we do most of this. By regular attendance we acknowledge the need for encouragement from others. Come and edify me, dear reader, in the assembly of the saints, as I need your help to overcome and make heaven my eternal home.

3. Joy of Worship: Another blessing enjoyed by those who assemble with the saints regularly is the joy of public worship (Acts 20:7). If we are to be prepared for the joy of worshiping God in heaven, this is a must. From my study of the book of Revelation, I get a picture that this is a constant activity around the throne of God in heaven. There are benefits we receive from worship in the assembly that we do not get anywhere else. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).

4. Encouragement: We are admonished to do this for each other (Hebrews 10:24). By being regularly absent from the assembly we are discouraging others. We have a direct command to encourage the fainthearted (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ASV). Much of this is done in the assembly. One of the devil’s most effective weapons is discouragement — to get Christians to think they can’t live the Christian life. “And when at last, the benediction is said, may we go, strengthened for the days ahead.”