1. Acts 10:17–21
17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.
18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

2. Acts 10:17–21
17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.
18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

3. Why Are You Here? “For what reason have you come?” (NKJV)
“Why did you come here?” (NCV)
“What is the reason you’re here?” (HCSB)
“Why have you come?” (NLT)
Why Are You Here?

4. Why Are You Here Why did you come to services?
What are you doing here?
Have you ever gone somewhere & not accomplish the intended purpose?
School – study & learn – but didn’t
Store – shop for…. but didn’t
Office – talk boss about raise – but didn’t
Friend’s house – talk about soul – but didn’t
Same could happen when come to services!

5. Why
Are
You
Here

6. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Are
You
Here

7. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Wrong Purposes & Motives
Other People Expect / Demand It
Parents
Mate
Larger family
Elders

8. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Wrong Purposes & Motives
Other People Expect / Demand It
Business & Community Contacts
Some choose a church based on who goes there
Some use church members as sales targets

9. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Wrong Purposes & Motives
Other People Expect / Demand It
Business & Community Contacts
Socialize
Focus on “going to church” is visiting, talking & enjoying relationships
“Worship” is very important, but becomes secondary
“Church” is place to meet friends, develop social circle

10. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Wrong Purposes & Motives
Other People Expect / Demand It
Business & Community Contacts
Socialize
Always Done
Always went to church – so probably always will
Become a “habit” or “tradition”
Don’t feel right not coming

11. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Wrong Purposes & Motives
Other People Expect / Demand It
Business & Community Contacts
Socialize
Always Done
Cover for Sin
Soothes conscience that is aware of sin
Going to church – “balance out” what done

12. Wrong Purposes & Motives
Why
Are
You
Here
Right Purposes & Motives

13. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Purpose of assembling is to Worship
John 4:24 – Worship in spirit and truth
Rev. 22:6 – Worship God
Heb. 13:15 – sacrifice of praise

14. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Purpose of assembling is to Worship
The God we worship
Gen. 1:1 - Creator of all things
Rev. 4:8, 11 – Almighty
Neh. 1:5; 4:14 – Great & Awesome

15. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Purpose of assembling is to Worship
The God we worship
How could that be overdone?
Could God be praised or honored too much?
Need to repent of overemphasis on praise?

16. It is impossible, in my opinion, to exalt Christ too highly, so long as we do not place him above the Father, or to set too high an estimate on the excellence of that glorious life which was appointed to be the ransom of the human family, and which was actually paid for this end. That we may err while speculating on a subject confessedly so difficult is readily granted; but if we must err at all, for the sake of the Master, I plead that it be done in efforts to place him high in the world's esteem, and to do justice to that "precious blood" by which we have been redeemed. Let the scale over which Christ passes into our affections be an ascending, not a descending one. There is no danger that we shall ever do him or his achievements justice "over much.”
(Moses E. Lard, Romans 161)

17. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Purpose of assembling is to Worship
The God we worship
How could that be overdone?
Praise involves – not what you get – but what you give!
Eph. 5:19 – singing to the Lord
Heb. 2:12 – in midst of assembly I will praise you

18. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Purpose of assembling is to Worship
The God we worship
How could that be overdone?
Praise involves – not what you get – but what you give!
Attitude is true worship – is joy

19. Psalm 95
1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:

20. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Be Strengthen Spiritually
Are edified when we study and worship together
Eph. 4:12, 16; 5:19
1 Cor. 14:1-5
Faith is built and strengthened by word of God
Acts 20:32
Rom. 10:17
Why Bible Classes are important

21. Right Purposes & Motives
Why
Right Purposes & Motives
Worship God
Be Strengthen Spiritually
Encourage & Strengthen Others
We provoke & encourage one another (Heb. 10:24-25)
We sing to each other (Eph. 5:19)

22. Why Are You Here Worship God Be Strengthen Spiritually
Encourage & Strengthen Others

23. Why Are You Here Wrong Purposes & Motives Right Purposes & Motives
Why Bother?

24. Go to doctor – don’t ever do what he says
Are Occasions When People Go Places
Have to Wonder “Why Even Bother?”
Go to doctor – don’t ever do what he says
Go to family reunion – don’t talk with anyone
Go to a restaurant – don’t eat anything
Go hunting – don’t take a weapon
Go to school – but refuse to study

25. Why Why Bother? If don’t half come?
One whose purpose is to worship – attend all they can (Heb. 10:25)
One who willfully misses a lot – not really interested in worship, praise & honor of God
So, why bother coming at all?

26. Why Why Bother? If don’t half come? If don’t participate?
Worship is not a spectator sport
Worship requires participation:
You must sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
You must pray (1 Cor. 14:16)
You must partake of Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:27-28)
You must give (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
If don’t take part – why bother?

27. Why Why Bother? If don’t half come? If don’t participate?
If don’t live right at other times?
Christian cannot continue in sin (Rom. 6)
Sin hinders our worship
1 Pet. 3:7
Prov. 28:9
If going to continue doing wrong – why bother?

28. Why Why Bother? If don’t half come? If don’t participate?
If don’t live right at other times?
If heart and mind are not in it?
True worship is from the heart
John 4:24 – in spirit as well as in truth
Eph. 5:19 – making melody in heart
Thinking – concentration are required
Possible – service to become formalism (cf. Isa. 29:13)
If it is mere outward form, why bother?

29. Why Are You Here Wrong Purposes & Motives Right Purposes & Motives
Why Bother?
Getting Priorities Straight

30. Getting Priorities Straight
Why
Getting Priorities Straight
Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters
Matt. 6:33 – seek first kingdom of God
1 Pet. 3:15 – Sanctify God (set apart)
Matt. 10:37 – Above dearest relationships
Matt. 19:26 – Above dearest relationships

31. Getting Priorities Straight
Why
Getting Priorities Straight
Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters
Conflicts Cause Reshuffling
Luke 9:59-62 – “but first I need to…”
Luke 10:38-42 – troubled about many things
2 Tim. 4:10 – loved present world

32. Getting Priorities Straight
Why
Getting Priorities Straight
Top Priority – God / Spiritual Matters
Conflicts Cause Reshuffling
What is Your Priority?
With some – it is never a question of where they will be
With others – missing time & again is not uncommon
When a conflict arises – which of the two takes priority?

33. Why Are You Here Wrong Purposes & Motives Wrong Purposes & Motives
Right Purposes & Motives
Right Purposes & Motives
Why Bother?
Why Bother?
Getting Priorities Straight
Getting Priorities Straight