Lesson 11

Why does our congregation have worship services on Sunday and festival days?

What does God want our attitude toward worship services to be? Psalm 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. want to God’s will not

What does God want our attitude toward worship services to be? Galatians 4:9-11 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. want to God’s will not have to

Key Point #1 God wants our attitude toward worship to be “want to,” not “have to.”

What is one major reason why our congregation has worship services? Ephesians 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. God gave us pastors

What is one major reason why our congregation has worship services? 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. who feed us with his Word

What is one major reason why our congregation has worship services? 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation… so we keep growing in faith who feed us with his Word

Key Point #2 Our congregation has worship services so that our pastor can feed us with God’s Word to help us keep growing in faith.

What is the other major reason why our congregation has worship services? Psalm 145:3-5 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. we praise God in song and prayer

What is the other major reason why our congregation has worship services? Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. and also encourage one another we praise God in song and prayer

Key Point #3 Another major reason our congregation has worship services is to praise God for all his goodness and so to encourage one another in faith.

Why do we usually have worship services on Sundays instead of on Saturdays? Mark 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday.

Why do we usually have worship services on Sundays instead of on Saturdays? Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Pentecost, the birthday of the N.T. Church, was also on a Sunday.

Key Point #4 We worship on Sunday as a celebration of the two wonderful events that took place on that day.

Agree or Disagree… Children can’t understand what’s going on in church, so they shouldn’t really be there.

Evaluate… Mark said, “I don’t mind singing four- or five-verse hymns in church, but I just can’t stand it when we sing seven or eight verses.”

Lesson 11 We have worship services so we can grow in faith through God’s Word and thank and praise God for all the wonderful things he does.

The Christian Church Year

The Time of Christmas AdventJesus is coming.December (blue) ChristmasJesus is born.Dec (white) EpiphanyJesus shows himselfJanuary (green)as God.

The Time of Easter LentJesus battles againstFeb-Apr (purple)his enemies. Holy WeekJesus suffers and dies.Mar-Apr (purple/black) EasterJesus rises from theMar-Apr (white)dead. Ascension*Jesus returns toMay-June (white)heaven. * Forty days after Easter

The Time of Pentecost Pentecost*Jesus sends theMay-June (red)Holy Spirit. Sundays afterBelievers live forJune-Oct PentecostJesus. (green) End TimeBelievers in theNovember (red/white)final struggle. * Fifty days after Easter