Westside Church of Christ

Sundays are special in the eyes of God and should be to Christians as well. It is a specially designed time to come together and worship. The Lord’s Supper takes our minds back to the cross, the covenant and to focus on Jesus. It is the way in which He said to remember Him. He purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28), and that unites us in a way that nothing else could. It opened the avenue by which we are reconciled to our Creator through our redeemer. Yes, the first day of every week is very special.

It is also our responsibility during those gatherings to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). The context of those verses is significant as they explain the extraordinary way in which the assembly at the Lord’s throne was made possible, and the consequences if we fail to do so. It is not optional. Our God expects us to come together and encourage each other. We cannot do that when we are absent.

The pandemic did great damage to that thought. Christians could turn on their computer and watch a service in their pajamas. No preparations were needed. We didn’t have to comb our hair or brush our teeth, and people liked it. It became a habit for some to be comfy on the couch with a cup of coffee and listen to a worship service. No driving to do, and they remembered Jesus at home. They could even take the Lord’s Supper. The practice continued long after the pandemic ended.

One thing we cannot do at a distance is encourage one another. That demands facetime on the first day of the week to do it biblically. The world is a self-centered place, and we are called to be different. Love, not indifferent apathy characterizes Christians. It can get to be a grind. It’s a tough, sometimes discouraging endeavor to love our hard-hearted neighbors. The good and kind ones are not so much of a challenge, but that fistful who are bad and unkind present a challenge. We are to love them, too. That is not easy. An encouraging word on a Sunday morning is just what we need.

Those words should lead us to good works, as well. Schedules are busy, and we appreciate the opportunity to retreat in order to take care of business at home. That’s important (Good deeds are needed at home, too!), but we are sometimes needed elsewhere. Balance is hard to find, but we remember that we are the light of the world shining so that our good works may be seen, and God is glorified (Matthew 5:14-16). Love and good deeds will make a difference, and that is what we are here to do.

Call to Praise: Acts 8:1-3

His word on it: Psalm 46:10

Sermon “Be Still and Know”