Excerpts taken from web pages of David Riggs

"...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." (Heb. 10:25)

Here are my reasons why I quit attending sports:

1. The people I sat next to didn't seem friendly.

2. The seats were too hard, and the weather was bad.

3. I went to many games but the coach never came to call on me.

4. The referees made decisions that I couldn't agree with.

5. The games often went into overtime, and I was late getting home.

6. The band played numbers I'd never heard before, and it wasn't my style of music.

7. It seems the games were always scheduled when I wanted to do other things.

8. There were hypocrites among those who attended.

9. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.

All similarities to excuses people give for not attending worship are intentional. (Author Unknown)

EX.

I once heard of an excellent example of faithfulness which occurred in a country church in central Kentucky. An older brother who was in very poor health, and unable to walk, insisted on being carried to worship services.For years, his grandchildren literally carried him in and out of the building before and after services.

At times, he was in such bad health that he was unable to sit up, and his grandchildren would carry him in and lay him on the front pew. This they did until the day he died for they knew it was what their grandfather wanted.

In view of this, can we honestly say that our little aches and pains are a legitimate excuse for forsaking the assembling of the saints?

EX.

A preacher was once asked to define "Faithful Attendance at Worship," and this was his reply:

"If your car started one out of three times, would you consider it faithful?

If the paperboy skipped Mondays and Thursdays, would they be missed?

If you didn't show up at work two or three times a month, would your boss call you faithful?

If your refrigerator quit a day now and then, would you excuse it and say, 'Oh, well, it works most of the time.'

If your water heater greets you with cold water one or two mornings a week while you were in the shower, would it be faithful?

If you miss a couple of mortgage payments in a year's time, would your mortgage holder say, 'Oh, well, ten out of twelve isn't bad'?

If you miss worship and attend meetings only often enough to show you're interested, but not often enough to get involved, are you faithful?" (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S. Hewett, p. 87).

EX.

A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped attending.

After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

 

Guessing the reason for the preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace, and waited.The preacher made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember,  placed it to one side of the hearth

alone, and then sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

 

As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then it's fire was no more.

Soon it was cold and lifeless.Not a word had been spoken since the initial gathering. Just before the preacher was ready to leave,  he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.

Immediately, it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon.

I shall be back for worship services next Lord's Day." (Author Unknown)

EX.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)

One day a 6-year-old girl was sitting in the classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children. The teacher asked a little boy, "Tommy, do you see the tree outside?"

"Yes," said Tommy. The teacher asked, "Tommy, do you see the grass outside?" Again, Tommy said, "Yes." The teacher said, "Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky." Tommy returned a few minutes later and said, "Yes, I saw the sky." The teacher asked, "Did you see God?" Tommy said, "No." "That's my point," said the teacher, "We can't see God because He isn't there."

 

A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask Tommy some questions. The teacher agreed, and the little girl asked, "Tommy, do you see the tree outside?" Tommy said, "Yes." She asked, "Tommy, do you see the grass outside?" Tommy, getting tired of the questions by this time, said, "Yes."

She asked, "Tommy, do you see the teacher?" Tommy said, "Yes." She asked, "Do you see her brain?"

Tommy said, "No." She asked, "Does that mean she doesn't have one?"

 

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)

 

What kind of faith do we have ? Is it like the teacher trying to teach Tommy evolution, or is it like the little girl who knows God is there even though she doesn't physically see Him. Hopefully our faith would be like the examples we have just read.