March 22. Church Attendance
J.R. Miller emphasizes the importance of consistent church attendance as a vital spiritual discipline modeled by Jesus, regardless of imperfections in the church or personal entertainment.
In this devotional sermon, J.R. Miller highlights Jesus' consistent habit of attending synagogue as a powerful example for Christians today. He addresses common excuses for neglecting church attendance and reminds believers of the true purpose of gathering—to worship God and grow spiritually. Miller encourages steadfastness in church participation despite imperfections in the community.
Text
"As his custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day." Luke 4:16
There are many evidences that Jesus had fixed religious habits. Here we have a hint of His attending the synagogue worship on the Sabbath. This had been His custom from childhood, and although He was the Son of God, Lord of earth and Heaven, and had been manifested as the Messiah — He still continued to observe the custom. Some people are careless about church attendance. They find fault perhaps with the minister — he does not feed them, they say. They mean that he does not entertain them. Now no doubt Jesus heard a great may dull talks and sermons — but He did not on that account, stay away from the synagogue. He went there to worship God — not to enjoy an intellectual entertainment.
Others stay away from church, as they say, because there are so many inconsistent Christians who attend, or because the church is so imperfect. We know that it was just the same when Jesus was on the earth. There were a great many church members in Nazareth and elsewhere who were very imperfect. Our Lord knew all about men\
Sermon Outline
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I. Jesus' Example of Church Attendance
- Jesus regularly attended synagogue on the Sabbath
- Attendance was a fixed religious habit from childhood
- He worshiped God despite being the Messiah
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II. Common Excuses for Missing Church
- Complaints about ministers not entertaining
- Criticism of imperfect church members
- Using church flaws as reasons to stay away
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III. The True Purpose of Church Attendance
- To worship God, not for intellectual entertainment
- To participate in spiritual discipline
- To grow despite imperfections in the church community
Key Quotes
“As his custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.” — J.R. Miller
“He went there to worship God — not to enjoy an intellectual entertainment.” — J.R. Miller
“Some people are careless about church attendance because they find fault with the minister or the church.” — J.R. Miller
Application Points
- Commit to regular church attendance as a spiritual discipline regardless of personal preferences.
- Focus on worshiping God rather than seeking entertainment during services.
- Embrace the church community despite its imperfections for spiritual growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jesus attend synagogue regularly?
Jesus attended synagogue as a fixed religious habit to worship God, setting an example for believers.
Is it acceptable to skip church because the service is dull?
No, attendance is about worshiping God, not seeking entertainment or intellectual stimulation.
What if the church community is imperfect?
Imperfections in the church are common, but they should not be a reason to avoid worship and fellowship.
How does church attendance benefit a believer?
Regular attendance fosters spiritual growth, discipline, and connection with God and fellow believers.