Sunday Night and Wednesday Night Services
Our local church offers not only Sunday morning services,
but also Sunday night and Wednesday night services. But it is evident that attendance at these
other gatherings is not as great as at the Sunday morning service. How are we to think about Sunday night and Wednesday
night services?
We do not do well to think of these legalistically, so that
we just go through the ritual of coming but our hearts are not in it and we are
not living right otherwise. Surely we
understand this is not about legalistic attendance when the heart and life are
not right, and where we trust our church attendance to get us to heaven. Also, it would not be right to stand in the
place of God and judge people’s faith or salvation solely on the basis of their
attendance at these particular assemblies.
Also, we do not offer these meetings just because “we’ve always done it
that way.” This is not about binding
human rules and traditions. I suggest that
there are more Biblical ways to think of these gatherings.
I encourage us to think of these services in terms of their purposes
and benefits. We gain spiritual strength
and experience spiritual healing when we gather and worship, study God’s word,
and have fellowship with others who share our faith. These activities help us to grow to be more
like Christ, and they help us to watch ourselves so that we might not fall into
sin. When one loves God and hungers and
thirsts for righteousness, he incorporates edification activities into his
lifestyle. One who seeks first the
kingdom of God will encourage others toward love and good deeds (Hebrews
10:24).
Many passages highlight the importance of believers coming
together (Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42,46, etc.). But we need to think not just about what
we do, but why we do it.
Christians are motivated by their love for God and others. These meetings have to do with helping to
meet spiritual needs. A minimal, one
hour a week assembly alone is likely not going to bring forth all that God
wants to do in our lives. Yes, we can
pray and study in private, and we should, but that alone will not provide the
benefits that come from being with other believers. God works through people, and we need that
fellowship, accountability, encouragement, and influence. Having a structured schedule of meetings for
these purposes is a Biblical, time-proven means for spiritual growth and
steadfastness.
Church gatherings rouse us to open our hearts to God, that
he might work in us. Group worship,
study, and fellowship build up our faith and help us to grow in knowledge of
God’s word. It helps us reorient on God
and experience God’s love and be stimulated to carry out our mission. We need this.
What are you doing on a Sunday night or a Wednesday night that is more
important than what you would be doing in church?
Someone says, “Where is the verse that says I must go to church on Sunday night and Wednesday
night?” But is that really the spirit
that God is looking for? God does not
want devotion that is grudgingly given (see 2 Cor. 9:7, Luke 15:29, Philemon
1:8-9a,14). Better questions would be, “What
is the wise thing to do with these
opportunities?” and “Will I seek the blessing that my attendance brings to me
and my family and others?” When one wants
to please the Lord, he seeks the good that church services bring to him and to
others.
Let us make good use of the time we have in this world, and let
us not neglect our salvation. No one expects
anyone to do what they are not capable of doing, but there are good reasons for
having these services, and there are blessings and benefits that come from
them.
Stan Clanton (Eastpointe. Michigan)
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