Foundations of the faith, church attendance

Foundations of the faith, church attendance
Zechariah 7:8-14

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Intro… ”I don’t need church”, “The ocean is my church.” “I love Jesus but not the church.”
• If someone were to ask you why you go to church, what would be your answer…?
• Yes, all churches have problems…yet for the Christian who is truly committed to God, staying away from them is a form of self-righteousness.
• Some people are too full of pride to find a local body of Christ and learn to get along with everyone in that church.
• There is no way you can grow deeper in your faith unless you are involved in a community of faith.
• It’s like a family, sometimes gets along, sometimes doesn’t….
• We need each other for support, accountability etc.
• If we really want to get to know Jesus better, you must be deeply involved in the church.
• And remember, “the church” is the people, large or small group.
• Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, love and serve Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.

• Big Pic: Being actively involved in the “church” is a sign of your commitment to God and shows a desire to grow deeper in your faith.

Text: Zechariah 7:8-14

Brief background to Zechariah:
• Zechariah is a OT prophet encouraged the people to finish the Temple.
• They had laid the foundation for the Temple in 536, but the work had stalled for about 15 years.
• Zechariah predicted more about the Messiah than any other prophet except Isaiah.
• This book is one of consolation and hope, beginning with a call to repentance and ending with prophecies concerning the return of Christ.

In chapter 7, he tells the people to move from ritual to reality in their worship of God.
• He does what all prophets do best, tell people things they don’t want to hear!

Let’s take a look at chapter 7…
• The people are asking, (v. 3) “Should we weep and fast as we have done for so many years?”
• Zechariah’s response…(v.4-6) ”Are you fasting and mourning for yourselves or for God?” IOW, do you have the right motives?
• Religion without obedience and justice is empty.
• These people’s ancestors had brought God’s wrath by hardening their hearts.
• And now the Israelites had lost their sincere desire for a loving relationship with God.
• That’s usually what messes up church life…when it becomes more about the programs and performance than a loving relationship with God and others.
• Now that the temple was being rebuilt, the people were questioning whether there was a need to observe these rituals.
• So, when we go to church, small groups, pray or fellowship with other Christians, are we doing it out of habit or routine?
• Or maybe for only what you can get out of it.
• An attitude of worship without a sincere desire to know and love God will lead to his anger and our ruin.
• Then Zechariah gives examples of healthy “church” life…what a gathered group of believers should be acting like…

V. 8-10 “And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah” (remember what I said last week about God’s revelation in the OT)
• Render true judgments (be careful how we judge others, always recognizing our own failures…)
• Show kindness and mercy to each other (that never gets old)
• Don’t oppress those in need (widows, fatherless, poor, etc.)
• Quit backstabbing each other (why is that so easy?)
• This is healthy church life!

Look at the contrast in those who are not acting godly to each other; v. 11-14
• Refusing to pay attention (to God)
• Turned a stubborn shoulder
• Stopped their ears that they might not hear
• Made their hearts diamond-hard (Chilean miners) lest they should hear the law and words of the Lord

And here is the consequence: (v. 12b-14)
• Great anger from the Lord (or what we tend to think of as the “OT God”….when actually that’s the eternal, timeless God.)
• God turning a deaf ear toward us! v. 13
• A scattered people…(just the opposite of what we need)
• A land left desolate
• Video clip of “The book of Eli”
• A land (or heart of group of people) left desolate


We come to church, we are the church, we gather with the church:
• Out of respect for God
• To worship him, be humbled before him and to hear what he has to say.
• To stay accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• To show what a healthy family should look like…showing kindness and mercy to each other, taking care of the poor.
• To stay nurtured, cared for, loved on.
• To keep us from being scattered and desolate.

Being around God’s people will also help us to:
• …listen to God, keep from being stubborn, open our ears and soften our hearts.
• … better hear the words of the Lord.

Conclusion:
• So whether it’s the surfer/ministry guy I read about at the beginning of the sermon or “Patrick” not wanting to go to church because they were talking about God’s judgment…
• It’s not up to me or any other pastor to tell you how many Sunday’s a year to be in church.
• What I can tell you is to be in church more often than not this year.
• I’d also like you to broaden your definition of church this year and realize the importance of gathering with other Christians under many different circumstances.

Q & A?

Communion intro