1. Why Are We Here This Morning? God said to assemble Hebrews 10:25 Why did He say to assemble? Heb. 10:22-24 1.Draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith Matt. 18:20 2.Hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering (because God is faithful) 3.Consider one another Stir up each other to love & good works Encourage each other With a view to accountability

2. WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE TO GET US TO BE HERE TONIGHT? Churches average 1/3 fewer people for Sunday evening assemblies

3. What More Do We Need To Be Here Tonight? Do we need a better God to worship? Jeremiah 10:6-13 God needs better children to worship Him John 4:23-24; Rom. 8:28-30; 1 John 3:1-3; 2 Cor. 3:18 Do we need more love from God? Rom. 5:6-11 James 1:17-18; Matt. 5:45-48; 1 John 4:7-19 We need more love for God 1 John 5:1-3 Do we need more sacrifice from Jesus? 1 Peter 2:21-25; Heb. 9:22-28

4. What More Do We Need To Be Here Tonight? We need to sacrifice more for Jesus 1 Peter 2:5 Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:12-16 Do we need a better book to study? Psalm 19:7-11; 119:97-105; Rom. 1:16 We need to be better students of the Word 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-14 Do we need a better group to fellowship? 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2:5,9-12 If so, who is better than this group? What are you doing to make this group better?

5. Forsaking vs. Absence Absence is the inability to assemble but having the will to assemble Forsaking the assembling is willfully not assembling, especially when able to do so Mutually agreed absence isn’t forsaking 1 Cor. 7:3-5 Unaccounted absence is forsaking Heb. 13:17 How would a parent react to a child who is absent from home for 24 hours then returns without explanation? Heb. 10:25 applies to morning assemblies only? Frequency irrelevant for any sin James 4:17