Better Than an Asprin a Day!
As I stood looking out the window of my study last Sunday morning, I suddenly noticed a feeling of discomfort in the region of my heart. Naturally, I was concerned. Someone sick cannot do his best. Then, there was a knock at the door, and I greeted this dear friend. I didn’t want to be alone. He noticed my condition immediately and asked, “What’s wrong? Can I help?” I replied, “Friend, my heart hurts. Stand here and I’ll show you what makes my heart hurt.”
He walked to the window, and I pointed to a couple and their two small children leaving Sunday School and going home before the Worship Service. Then we saw a Sunday School teacher who seldom stays for church also walking toward his automobile. Following this Sunday School teacher were some of his Sunday School class members and they too were leaving before the Worship. Others from various age groups in Sunday School were quickly making their way to the parking lot without so much as looking back at the Sanctuary. To my friend in the study, I asked, “Do you see what I mean? It causes my heart to ache.”
Every pastor can identify with the pathos of what the Lord Jesus meant when He said, “Will you also go and leave me alone?” (John 6:67). Indeed, every clergy person worth his/her salt works diligently week after week to prepare his sermons and to design the Worship experience in the Sanctuary to be engaging, positive, and inspiriting. He/she constantly serves and ministers under the conviction that people need that divine-human encounter of worship and communion for the personal nurture and spiritual well-being of their soul. Therefore, Sunday morning corporate worship is the most important appointment and activity of the entire week. Worship is not optional but absolutely essential in the practice and witness of our faith and our relationship with God Himself.
Sadly, those who habitually leave after Sunday School without participating in the Worship experience rob themselves of the inspiration, the fellowship of fellow believers, and a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit upon their souls. Our souls and spirits need both the in-depth study of Holy Scripture in Sunday School and the spiritual renewal and resolve of public worship with the Body of Christ.
Oh, that every parishioner on the Lord’s Day would cheerfully come to the House of God for both the study of His Word and the Worship of the Living God! God grant that we shall be keenly conscious of our example and our influence on the behaviour of others, and especially on our children and grandchildren. Do you now understand why the pastor’s heart hurts? As you can already perceive, there is a certain remedy for it.
As always, I certainly hope that you will be in your place this Lord’s Day as we gather in the Father’s House for Bible Study and Worship. The Reverend Wayne Helms will be preaching in both Worship Services as Debra and I enjoy this week-end with our daughters and their families in the mountains of North Georgia .
In His Service,
Bob
Posted on 08/30/2011 1:53 PM by Dr. Bob Hoffmann
