How We Grow:Implementing Spiritual Disciplines "Hold Fast, Gathering Together”

 How We Grow:Implementing Spiritual Disciplines

"Hold Fast, Gathering Together”

Opening Illustration:

Good morning brothers and sisters. Welcome to church, welcome to worship. I pray that you have been ministered to this morning and that your heart, your mind, and your spirit are all open to the Spirit’s leading. Let’s be honest, I am very much preaching to the choir this morning. You are here. Your bottoms are in the pews. You have sung the songs. You were here during the grip and grin time. Chances are you have prayed, you have given, maybe you even went to Life Groups. When you leave here this morning you will helpfully be able to say, “I went to church this morning”. It is my prayer that you will be able to say, “I communed with God this morning”. 

Today’s sermon is really simple. Really easy. Really fundamental. It can be wrapped up in a simple, single statement: going to church consistently is a spiritual discipline. Do you believe that this morning? Going to church, participating in church, worshipping in church, is a spiritual discipline. Sadly, it is a discipline that is on decline. For the first time in recorded American history, we have more people not going to church than those who are going to church. It was discovered in 2022 that some 85 million Americans were not going to church as opposed to the 62 million weekly attenders. 

What’s interesting about those numbers is that we have less people going to church than ever before yet, people are more miserable, more unhappy, more unfulfilled than ever before. According to Gallup, people feel more anger, sadness, pain, worry, and stress than ever before. Is there a link? Is there a connection to people going to church and their overall happiness? Is there a connection between people going to church and their overall life satisfaction? I think so. Aaron Earls from Lifeway Research said in a recent article that “around the world, religious people are more happy than irreligious people - but only if they show up to a church on Sunday.” Pew Research discovered that people who are active in religious congregations “tend to be happier and more civically engaged rather than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups”. Again, the same group stated that “regular participation in religious community is clearly linked with higher levels of happiness.”

So, can church really make you happier? Can coming to church make you more joyful, more appreciative, more grateful? Is that the only reason to come to church? I will come back and answer that question in a moment. 

A few weeks ago I head a story about a certain church member, not affiliated with Eastern Shore Baptist Church. This churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I’ve gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the column, much to the delight of the editor. The controversy went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

Never thought about that truth. The truth that I would be spiritually dead without the church. You see friends, while attending church does make you happier, that’s not the main reason to come. Coming to church convicts you of sin, and reminds you of the need for a Savior.  Coming to church allows you the opportunity to corporately pray with fellow believers, amplifying your prayers. Coming to church helps you commune with the Holy Spirit, aids you in the confession of sin, and church serves like fertilizer for our soul. Regular church attendance helps us fellowship with other believers. There is accountability at church, help at church, and stability at church. 

Think about this friends. How many of you love coming to church because you love and appreciate the foundational routine of “church”. You know that week in and week out you will find your friends here. You will come here and know that you will be able to worship. You will be able to pray. You will be confronted with God’s Word each and every week. When the world is as shifting sands, ever changing around us, the church serves as bedrock for our lives. It can be trusted. It can be turned too in our darkest moments. 

Do me a favor this morning, fill in the blanks under Today’s Thought. According to Scripture, the church exists to engage God, encourage the believer and to enlighten a lost world. Enlighten the world of what? The church exists to tell the world to repent of their sin. Why? Because the Kingdom of God is near! 

One of my favorite preachers and pastors is of course DL Moody. Listen to what he says about coming to church. “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

Today’s Thought:

According To Scripture, The Church Exists To Engage God, 

Encourage The Believer, And To Enlighten A Lost World!

Today’s Quote:

“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

–Dwight L. Moody

Background And Context:

I want to take a second and give you the background and context of today’s Scripture. If you will, open your Bibles to Acts 2:42-47. Today, we find ourselves journeying back to a pivotal moment in the early Christian community, as described in Acts 2:42-47. Imagine, if you will, a time filled with wonder, a time just after the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to speak in various languages and to boldly proclaim the message of Jesus Christ.

This passage provides us with a beautiful snapshot of the early church, a vibrant community bound by faith, love, and a shared sense of purpose. They were devoted to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread, and to prayer. This wasn't just a routine; it was the very essence of their communal life, creating an atmosphere of awe as many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.

They had all things in common. Can you imagine that? In today's terms, it's like having an open-door policy with your friends, sharing everything from your personal PIN numbers to your deepest fears and dreams. They sold their possessions and goods and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. This act of sharing wasn't about erasing personal boundaries; it was a testament to their trust and care for one another, ensuring no one was left in want.

Every day, they continued to meet together in the temple courts, breaking bread in their homes with glad and generous hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Their joy was contagious, their community life attractive, so much so that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What a time to be alive am I right? Oh man, there are days where I dream about being there when the church was born. Well friends, that is what we will look at this morning. Why is gathering at church…like the early church, an important spiritual discipline?

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Acts 2:42-47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

“This is the word of the Lord.”

“Praise His Name, Praise His Holy Name.”

Why Is Gathering At Church An Important Spiritual Discipline?

Reason One: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Learn vs. 42

So, this morning we are going to answer the question, “why is gathering at church an important spiritual discipline”? We have four reasons this morning. So, let’s provide the first reason. Reason one. Gathering together provides opportunities to learn. Go back and read verse 42. 

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching…”

A couple of words to really pay attention to here. The first being “devoted” and the second being “teaching”. The Greek word for devoted, if taken back to its original meaning, means to “steadfastly be attentive, to persevere and not to faint, to wait continuously or to wait constantly. Folks, do we do that anymore? I suppose I should clarify the question. Are we steadfastly attentive, persevering as to not waiting, waiting continuously or constantly when it comes to really anything at church? Church for us, for a great many of us, is not a place to be at peace but it is a place of great restlessness. We are hear bodily but mentally we are often very distracted. We are thinking about filling our appetites, worried about work, daydreaming, making shopping lists, surfing social media during the boring parts of the message, bumping around Amazon during prayer times. The early church was devoted to church. It was the main focus of their week and nothing undercut attending. Over the years Ive heard just about every critique of church. 

“I just don’t get anything out of the sermon.”

“Stuart is to shallow.”

“Stuart is to deep.” 

“The worship doesn’t fit my preference.”

“Our church is too traditional.”

“Our church is too contemporary.”

By the way, those last two came in the same Sunday from two different people. Those critiques came literally about 10 minutes apart from the other. Funny.  

The early church members were deeply committed to attending church. It was not about their preferences. It was not about scratching their itches. It was not about making them feel better. It was not about self help. The people were dedicated to the apostles teaching. 

But what does that mean? “Teaching”? Again, go back to the original Greek. What Luke is saying is that the disciples were teaching doctrine. They were instructing matters of deep, meaningful, applicable truth to everyone in attendance. 

Friends, that is what the church was and should be today. A place of instruction. A place of doctrinal teaching. It is a place where people should come and expect to learn. Learning good and sound doctrine prevents us from being lied to by the world. Listen to Paul in Ephesians 4. 

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Years ago, I was in Yantai, China. I was in a church there on a Sunday morning. It was slammed. Young and old gathered together. I was in the balcony of the church. We sang familiar hymns and listened to Scripture reading. We prayed. We gave. During the service a young man was sitting just a few feet from me. His cell phone went off. There were about 5 or six people sitting around him. 3 of them were little elderly ladies. Those folks who were surrounding the young man, probably 18 years old, stood up and began to pelt him with their handbags. They smacked him over the head. 

Friends, that is taking your worship serious. That is respecting the sanctuary. That is what it looks like to be devoted to teaching. Not saying that we should institute beatings for phones going off in the church. 

Why Is Gathering At Church An Important Spiritual Discipline?

Reason One: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Learn vs. 42

Reason Two: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities To Live vs. 46

Let’s look at our second point this morning. Gathering together provides opportunities to live. 

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…

Fellowship is a big part of church. After all Jesus Himself wanted us, His Body, the church, to be one. John 17:23 captures Jesus speaking, “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” One of the main reasons that we come to church is for friendship. Here we find like-minded, like-spirited, people who love and support us in the bad times and rejoice with us in the good times. 

I think about the new mother right after she had her second baby. Her Sunday School class brought her family food for weeks. I think about the church staff member who is battling infection, spending time in the hospital, who receives text after text, cards, and phone calls of encouragement. Dozens of people praying for him. I think of my own family. My parents. My Mom has had a difficult start to 2024. She is home today but she spent 30 days in the hospital. I had people come to me and ask me what they could do to help my parents. They put together a meal train to help my parents. It was incredibly sweet. 

I have had lots of people over the years ask me, “Stuart, how do people make it through this life without the church”? Frankly I don’t know and nor would I want to try. 

I recently received a letter from my pal Randy Stembridge. Listen to what he wrote me. 

Pam and I feel so blessed to  be a  very small part of the ministry of ESBC. Over the past few years, we have been the recipient of so many  blessings from the staff and congregation of the church. 

Most recently, the church has provided meals for us twice a week. This has given great relief to us from a planning and preparation perspective, to say the least. My current health situation requires so much of Pam’s time and energy. We greatly appreciate all the efforts that result in huge blessings for us. We are usually participating in worship via YouTube on Sunday’s, but it doesn’t take too long for one to realize that while you can get the content and intention of the services, you are missing a key major ingredient also spoken of when speaking of the “church” – FELLOWSHIP. Being able to fellowship for just a few minutes with the people who come into our home is an added blessing as well.

ESBC is such a great example of the church God speaks of in His Word.

Pam and I are fortunate to belong to a church whose membership are not afraid to get out of their comfort zone and truly  share the love of Christ. I love to tell people that I attend a church “with shoes on.” We love you and pray daily for you all. Looking forward to the time when we can worship together in the same building, Thanks to all who continue to pray for our family.

You see friends, when you are a part of a church, you don’t just receive good teaching you also receive a family. People that love you. People that will be there for you. It also gives you an opportunity to be a friend, to be a servant to someone else. 

Randy’s letter remind me of two verses, both written by Paul and both found in Romans. Romans 12:10 and Romans 15:14, 

Romans 12:10 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 15:14 ESV

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Why Is Gathering At Church An Important Spiritual Discipline?

Reason One: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Learn vs. 42

Reason Two: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities To Live vs. 46

Reason Three: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Lift vs. 47

So, gathering together provides opportunities to learn, to live, and next to lift. That’s right, to lift. Let’s reread verse 47. 

praising God and having favor with all the people.

The people came to church to lift high their praise to God. Praising God together requires fellowship. You cannot corporately praise God without fellowshipping with one another. We can read our Bible by ourselves, we can even sing in our car alone, but we cannot enjoy fellowship on our own. We have to be with others. 

Next, cooperate worship is commanded by God and practiced in Scripture. One of my favorite books is Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a classic study in leadership and overcoming adversity. After Nehemiah finishes the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall, what does he do? He calls all the people together for a worship service. They stood in the city center for hours listening to the Word of the Lord. Talk about being devoted. Imagine that today. People going to the city center for hours under the blazing sun, to hear the Word of the Lord being read aloud. They read Scripture together, listened to Ezra preach, they made sacrifices, and yes, they worshipped through song. It is one of the coolest things that you will ever read in the Old Testament. We see worship in the New Testament as well. What about when Mary worships at Jesus’ feet? What a beautiful picture of worship. Paul again, even tells us what cooperate worship is a command, an expectation of God in Philippians 4:4-7. 

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Now, can you worship on the golf course? Can you worship while you are running? Can you worship in the deer stand? Can you worship at the travel ball field? I suppose so. I have had people tell me from time to time that they can worship anywhere, that they don’t need the church to worship. I suppose that is true but I want to ask you a question, are you giving God your best, your undivided attention in those areas? You see friends, when we worship together here at church, it communicates the importance of the church to an unbelieving world. When we gather together we put on display a light in a dark world and we become salt to a tasteless environment. Gathering together also amplifies our worship, it amplifies our prayers. It is like plugging a guitar into an amplifier for more sound, more power, more volume. If you want to amplify your prayers, give strength to your giving, and provide power to your soul, then come to church to give praise with other believers. 

A couple of other points. I John 3:1 reminds us that the church is our spiritual family. The verses calls believers “children of God”. Next, we come here week afte week to give praise to the Lord because this is the once place where we can find truth. The world is full of lies, but not here. Not this place. Not this book. Not God’s Word. If you are looking for truth, this is the place. 

Corporate worship is a vital part of our spiritual growth. When we regularly gather with other believers, we can encourage others, be encouraged, and grow together in our common faith in Jesus Christ.

Why Is Gathering At Church An Important Spiritual Discipline?

Reason One: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Learn vs. 42

Reason Two: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities To Live vs. 46

Reason Three: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities to Lift vs. 47

Reason Four: Gathering Together Provides Opportunities To Love vs. 47

Lastly, reason four, gathering together provides opportunities to learn, to live, to lift and to love. That’s right, love. 

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Did you know that simply coming church grows the church? Just showing up. Coming to church gave favor to the people from the outside world and people were added daily to their number. How cool is that?

Do you know what I love about Eastern Shore Church? I love that you can bring all your problems, all your failures, all your struggles to this place and never worry about being thrown out. This is a place where you can rest assured that you will never be given up on. This is a place where I have seen alcoholics released from their addiction. I have seen members overcome addictions to pain killers. I have seen marriages on the brink of divorce restored. I have seen prodigal children return home. I have seen broken people be put back together. I have seen sick people healed. I have seen diseases overcome. 

Miracle after miracle. 

Over the last 14 years, I have seen thousands of people fed, literally fed, but Eastern Shore Baptist Church. I have seen staff members give the youth of Daphne a safe place to gather on Friday and Saturday nights. I had a police officer call me about a year ago and thank us for hosting basketball on the weekends. He told me that he saw a dip in crime when we started hosting weekend basketball. Over that period of time, we have put up dozens of homeless, transient people in hotel rooms. We have paid power bills, water bills, made rent payments. We have partnered with AME Zion Fountain Church, an African American Church in Stapleton. Together, we have given out thousands of boxes of food to hungry people. Our church loves children. From the Eastern Shore Preschool to the Tutoring Ministry, to Upward Basketball, countless children have been loved here at ESBC. This place loves Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and specifically Lake Forest. 

We love Lake Forest. That is our neighborhood and we will see it won for Christ. I believe in my heart that we will see every single lost person in that neighborhood won for Jesus Christ. 

Did you know that over the last two years, we have knocked on just about every single door in Lake Forest? Did you know that we have been prayer walking Lake Forest recently? This summer, we are planting an in home Bible Study to reach our neighbors. We are going to have three block parties this summers, just to let them know that we love them. 

Our church loves Lake Forest, the Eastern Shore, and the world. We are living out the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Let me tell you this one last thing, if you want to change your life, the first step is coming to church.

Just ask Cal!

Coming To Church Is The First Step To Changing Your Life!