You are missed when you are not at Church on Sunday.

Good Shepherd was the location for a funeral on Saturday. We had several members in attendance and one who was the reason for our gathering. Last Sunday she was at church and this Sunday her husband and a few of their kids showed up for the worship service. She was missed by all this Sunday.

Why do we go to church every Sunday? I am sometimes asked this question. When I hear the question, my mind always goes back to an old joke about eating that a Pastor would tell when asked a similar question. The story goes that we cannot remember the dinner we had last Thursday or the topic of last week’s sermon (okay some of you may know, you are the exception). Both were beneficial even though we may not recall the specifics about either one.

Here are three thoughts on why we should develop the regular habit of attending worship:

God’s commandment.
1. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”
2. This Sunday’s gospel lesson had this reminder: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:17
God’s blessing.
1. Today in the adult Sunday school class we studied Psalm 128. Verse 1 says: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!” All who attended this class were blessed by the lesson. This blessing is also for you.
2. Our Old Testament reading today pointed out that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2. If we can see the light we are blessed by God.
God calls us to come together for worship.
1. Our sermon hymn today was “Come Follow Me” LSB 688. The message that went with the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4 was that Christ is calling each of us to Him to worship Him.
2. Our master is calling us to worship. We say these words in our liturgy: “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” Joel 2:13. Our God is a loving God and wants us together to worship.

Faith grows when we are in fellowship with other believers. Yes, we are reminded that we are poor, sinful beings. We are also reminded that our God loves us and wants us to be saved. This is where we find the answers to the questions in our hearts.

Now is the time to begin the regular habit of Sunday morning worship. It is time to remove the barriers and distractions that cause us to stay at home on Sunday mornings. We are all missed when we are not in church.

See you at church on Sunday.

-Glen Leavens, Head Elder