Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 19, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999, 2000, and 2001 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

WHAT YOU MISS BY MISSING CHURCH

By Michael D. O'Neal                      Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                      Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:41-47

Text: Acts 2:42

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Introduction: This morning I looked at faithful church attendance from a rather unusual angle, that of the bad things that you do miss by not missing church. Tonight I want us to look at GOOD things you DO miss when you miss church.

When Mrs. O'Neal and I married in 1971, one of our first decisions was to not miss church. I remember one night in Maryland how that we contemplated whether to go to church for Prayer Meeting or to drive to nearby Baltimore to go sightseeing and shopping. We were young, we were thrilled with being married and being out on our own, with being far from where we had ever lived. I don't remember what happened in church that night. What I do remember is that we DID go to church, we DID get a SPECIAL blessing, and we realized that EVERY service is important. From that time on, we never even considered missing a church service.

Here are a few things you miss anytime that you miss church.

WHEN YOU MISS CHURCH YOU MISS:

I. A MEETING WITH YOUR FAMILY

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Matthew 8:21-22 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

The above passage in Matthew is one of the hardest sayings of Jesus. Still, I have grown to despise the choice that many Christians make to devote themselves to the activities of their family members rather than to the service of God and following Him. I literally obeyed the principle of that verse when family members chose to bury my grandmother on Sunday. To attend the funeral I would have had to miss our own church services here. I chose to go to church.

A. You are a place in the family gathering

B. You have a privilege in the family gathering

C. You have a purpose in the family gathering

WHEN YOU MISS CHURCH YOU MISS:

II. A MESSAGE FROM YOUR FATHER

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

A. God has a definite message for you

B. God has a delegated message for you

C. God has a demanding message for you

WHEN YOU MISS CHURCH YOU MISS:

III. A MINISTRY TO YOUR FRIENDS

1 Corinthians 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

A. At church we bless one another

B. At church we build one another

C. At church we beautify one another

It also never ceases to get my attention that someone's visitor finally shows up at church the very service that our member chose to MISS!

WHEN YOU MISS CHURCH YOU MISS:

IV. A MOVING IN YOUR FELLOWSHIP

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

It could be that in the church service that you miss, there will be

A. A conviction of the Spirit of God

B. A conversion of sinners

C. A calling to service

D. The coming of the Savior


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