First, the New King James:
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ok, now the New Living Translation:
Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Lastly, The Message:
Hebrews 10:22-25So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Hang on, let me throw one more in there....the Amplified version:
Hebrews10:24And let us consider and give [d]attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,25Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
ASSEMBLING....GATHERING.....GOIN' TO CHURCH......
Assembling today has taken on SO MANY forms and meanings. To some, it is as sacred as the blood of Jesus, while with others, there is no value at all in goin' to meetin'!The above passages would seem so simple that a child wouldn't mess em up yet I believe many miss its intended mark by a country mile and I also believe it has become something we can hit or miss on....like a lost art almost.
I think people are really forgetting just what can happen when God's people join together in some sort of assembly, gathering, whatever. A good example of being assembled is the 120 in the upper room at Pentecost! They were certainly assembled; Acts 2:1 On the day of Pentecost[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Ok, they were gathered together...but they had this amazing experience because they were ALL IN ONE ACCORD! They were united! So maybe that is part of our problem. People don;t feel united with their churches. Ok, so does this problem lie with leadership, the congregation, or both? Let's look at it this way:
Let's compare the many members of Christ’s body to a car that has many members, or parts. We can have all the parts of a beautiful, new Mercedes Benz gathered in a pile — but I challenge anyone to hop on top of that pile of new parts and drive them to the Piggly Wiggly for a gallon of milk. Those parts would be more akin to a junk-pile than an automobile, and the supposed driver would get nowhere! However, when all those parts are properly assembled by a team of assemblers who are in one accord — you can zip across the country at breakneck speed if that's what ya need to do!
So, part of what I'm thinkin' is that our churches are not filled and Christians are not attending is because the body is a conglomerated mess of parts instead of being unified for one purpose. DID WE FORGET OUR PURPOSE? DO WE EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS????
OUR PURPOSE IS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED, RISEN, AND COMING AGAIN! OUR PURPOSE IS THAT SALVATION, FREE AND CLEAR, IS OFFERED TO EVERYONE!! I think God's people need to get a fresh grip on purpose!
So, maybe the unity thing is our problem...maybe that's why good Christian people care nothing about being in church. I don't know. Maybe they are BORED with "church".
OK, so we (leadership) are pressed from every side to have the coolest, hippest church with all the new fangled lights and music and be all on the cutting edge of technology. Well, that's not so easy in small town Georgia. But we (leadership) worry that this is why we cannot seem to hold on to a younger generation....the 20/30 somethings. We are just not as appealing as Free Chapel (which I love-don't get me wrong) or some other churches who have all the hippest stuff!
So, how do small town churches get er done?
I looked around for some answers and what I found just brought back what I have known and believed for years and I quote this from a 20-something blogger:
“I’m not looking for a slicker sermon series or a faux-hawked worship leader or designer coffee in the back lobby.I also believe you make a commitment to one local church and invest in community with those believers long-term, I’m not going to start shopping for a new church. Besides, all those churches would also have long sermons and rambling prayers and worship leaders in skinny jeans. That’s the problem. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don’t want cool as much as we want real…. If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it’s easy or trendy or popular. It’s because Jesus himself is appealing and what he says rings true.”
WOW! Did I ever love reading THAT! Because believe you me...when you are in leadership and your church is not full and no matter how many people you call and visit, you still can;t get it full you really start wondering! But, truthfully that is all Jeff and I have EVER had to offer.....JESUS.
So, I hear people say and I read where they have written it...that they are bored with church because it isn't REAL! There's nothing wrong with all that other stuff I reckon but when it comes down to the Word and altar time and cultivating a real relationship with God.....THEY DON'T WANT THE FLUFF! They want something that will stick to their proverbial ribs! They want REAL!
But then, that's all we have to offer anyway is a VERY REAL JESUS.
I could keep rambling...I could keep questioning. I could keep on trying to figure it out but I really believe it all comes down to DO YOU LOVE JESUS??
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
IF we love Him we will keep His commands. IF IF IF.
Hebrews10:24And let us consider and give [d]attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,25Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
HIS WORD IS HIS BOND. HIS WORD IS HIS COMMANDS. HIS WORD IS HIM.
BTW.....I think that if we will look deep down and really examine ourselves...the reason we are bored does not fall on the shoulders of our leaders or those we attend worship with but that the reason is ourselves. Like Jesus said of the church at Ephesus when He was giving John the Revelation.....we have left our first love. I have learned that I can worship Him and NOT be bored whether I am singing out of an old hymnal or have the most up to date technology happening during worship. I can worship Him and NOT be bored whether the preaching and teaching is challenging or dull. I can worship Him in whatever setting I find myself in and NOT be bored because I fell head over heels in love with Jesus---my first love---all over again! I am not saying you don't love Jesus...I am just saying your love for Him could be so much deeper and then maybe you wouldn't be so bored with worship. And here is your preacher's wife confession.....my family has (in the past) been so consumed with making sure everybody in our worship services was happy...from air to music to nursery to comfy seats....etc etc...that we found ourselves caring more about that than being in His presence. That's all changed in the past couple of years and now...no matter how "service" goes....we have just had the time of our lives in HIS presence because we fell back in love with Jesus!!!!!!!
BTW.....I think that if we will look deep down and really examine ourselves...the reason we are bored does not fall on the shoulders of our leaders or those we attend worship with but that the reason is ourselves. Like Jesus said of the church at Ephesus when He was giving John the Revelation.....we have left our first love. I have learned that I can worship Him and NOT be bored whether I am singing out of an old hymnal or have the most up to date technology happening during worship. I can worship Him and NOT be bored whether the preaching and teaching is challenging or dull. I can worship Him in whatever setting I find myself in and NOT be bored because I fell head over heels in love with Jesus---my first love---all over again! I am not saying you don't love Jesus...I am just saying your love for Him could be so much deeper and then maybe you wouldn't be so bored with worship. And here is your preacher's wife confession.....my family has (in the past) been so consumed with making sure everybody in our worship services was happy...from air to music to nursery to comfy seats....etc etc...that we found ourselves caring more about that than being in His presence. That's all changed in the past couple of years and now...no matter how "service" goes....we have just had the time of our lives in HIS presence because we fell back in love with Jesus!!!!!!!
