" Are You a Thriving Christian "

WHY I BELIEVE IT TAKES THREE TO THRIVE

             PASTOR  TOM  SEXTON

Hebrews  10:23-25, v.25,  " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. "

Introduction:  To thrive means more than to survive; it means to flourish, to grow vigorously.

The  LORD  JESUS said, " Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. "  Matthew 6:33

We have certainly turned that around.  We put ourselves and our things first and if we have time we give GOD a few minutes.

I have heard people say, " I'm too busy to give GOD what HE wants. " Well to be honest, that is not how they say it.  They say, " I'm too busy to come to church Sunday morning and Sunday night.  It's my only day that I have for me. "  A true faith in CHRIST changes our life to meet GOD (2nd.Corinth. 5:17 ).  It does not change GOD and HIS WORD to meet our busy lives.

The question that all must answer is, " Who is going to be on the throne of our life, self or the LORD ?" There is no god more difficult to dethrone than self.

Why should GOD's people come to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and the midweek service ? Why do we say that it takes, " Three  to  Thrive ?"

I have never met a strong Christian who did not faithfully attend all the services of their church. I have never met a man who had a family that wanted to follow him that missed church.  " Be a Three to Thrive Christian."

1.) Why Do We Worship on Sunday ?

Acts 20:7, " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. "

A. Sunday is the First Day of the Week

Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week..."

Sunday is not the Sabbath (the seventh); it is the first. Christians always give the LORD the first fruits (Proverbs 3:9) - the first part of every day, the first of our income, etc.

B. CHRIST Rose from the Dead on Sunday

Mark 16:9, "Now when JESUS was risen early the first day of the week..."

Every Sunday we celebrate the resurrecting of our LORD. The LORD JESUS never told the disciples to keep the Sabbath.  HE said that HE was LORD of the Sabbath in Mark 2:24-28.

C. The 1st.Century Believers Worshiped on Sun.

Acts 20:7,  " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. "

1st.Corinthians 16:2,  " Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as GOD hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. "

When they went to the synagogue on Saturday, it was for witnessing and preaching CHRIST.  It was to win the Jews.  Believers gave their offering on Sunday. (1st.Corinth.16:2)

D.) The Day of Pentecost was Sunday

Acts 2:1-4, v.1, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."  and v.4a, " And they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST..."

Pentecost was fifty days after the resurrection of CHRIST.  It was the seventh Sunday after the Resurrection. The church was empowered and the believers were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT that day.

The Gospel was preached (1st.Corinth.15:1-4). That HE died for our sins and that HE was buried, and on the third day HE rose from the grave.

That Sunday, 3000 souls were saved.  It was the practice of the 1st.Century Christians to worship on Sunday and to preach the Gospel and rejoice in the Resurrection of CHRIST.

" Be a Three to Thrive Christian " and don't miss the Sunday morning service ! We are to give the next generation the "same" (2nd.Tim.2:2).  If we change one thing, it is not the "same."

2.) Why Do We Have Church on Sun.Night ?

John 20:19, "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE be unto you. "

A.) The Resurrected CHRIST Met with the Disciples on Sunday Night

"Then...came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, PEACE be unto you."  John 19:19b

Thomas missed that first Sunday evening service. He missed all that the LORD had for the disciples.

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when JESUS came." John 20:24

B.) What did Thomas Miss by Missing Sunday Night Service ?

" Thomas ...was not with them..." v.24

     1.) He missed seeing JESUS

          " JESUS...stood in the midst..." v.19

     2.) He missed having the peace of GOD

       "...and said unto them, PEACE be unto you..."

          v.19

     3.) He missed a fellowship with the disciples

          " Then were the disciples glad, when they

          saw the LORD." v.20

     4.) He missed seeing the wounds CHRIST had 

          for us

          "...HE showed unto them HIS hands and HIS 

          side." v.20 (Isaiah 53:4-5)

     5.) He missed the anointing of GOD

          "...HE breathed on them, and said unto them,

          Receive ye the HOLY GHOST." v.22

     6.) He missed getting direction from GOD

          " Then said JESUS unto them again, PEACE 

          be unto you: as MY FATHER hath sent ME, 

          even so send I you." v.21

How much do we miss when we miss church ? Can you imagine exchanging any one of these six things for a TV program or a ball game ?   " Be a Three to Thrive Christian "

3.) Why do we have a Mid-Week(Wed.)Serv.?

Acts. 2:41-47, v.46, " And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

The 1st.Century believers had services daily. They continued in fellowship. We have a midweek service for several reasons.  Here are two.

A.) To be Encouraged and to Encourage Others

Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Believers who miss church are going to lack encouragement. The closer we get to the coming of the LORD, the more we need to be encouraged, "and so much the more..."

B.) To be Refreshed

Romans 15:32, " That I may come unto you with joy by the will of GOD, and may with you be refreshed."

1st.Corinth.7:13, "Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all."

It is refreshing to be around people who love the LORD and who love you. People who have the same purpose and goals in life know how to encourage one another and refresh one another.   " Be a Three to Thrive Christian "

          QUESTIONS  TO  CONSIDER

1.) What do you miss when you miss church ?

     * We miss the opportunity to prove our faithfulness.

     *  We miss what the LORD has for us.

    *  We cannot take out of life what we don't put in it.

ILL. - The bank has lots of money, but you can only take out what you put in.

2.)  What are we teaching our children and other family members when we miss church ?

     *  That the LORD's work is not as important as ours.

     *  Sports are more important than worship.

     *  That our life does not have to be all about CHRIST.

3.) How does our unfaithfulness affect others ?

     *  Other church members may excuse their absence.

     *  New believers are disappointed and may develop the same habit.

     *  Pastor and church leaders cannot make plans with you.

     *  The one accord spirit is broken.

4.)     Will we miss out at the Judgement Seat of Christ because of unfaithfulness ? I want you to have a good day at the Judgement Seat of CHRIST.

     *  We will not hear, " Well done thou good and faithful servant."

     *  On many occasions we hear the need that we can meet in an evening service.

Someone said, " Why don't we do things like they did in the Bible ? "

O.K.

1.  They came to church every day.

2.  All believers were telling the message of CHRIST.

3.  They sold houses, land, etc. and gave to the work of the LORD. They gave everything they had, not just a tithe and offering.

     A Word About the Differences in the 3 Services

All three services are different.

Sunday  Morning  Service

The Sunday Morning Service has a spirit of evangelism. The special music and congregational hymns are geared to the Gospel.  Christians are encouraged to be faithful and to make a difference in the world. Most visitors come to our morning service, and there is an excitement about what the LORD is going to do in their life.

Sunday  Evening  Service

The Sunday Evening Service is geared more to the family and the children have a part in the service. There is always a sweet spirit in the evening service, and the fellowship of believers is strengthened.

The  Midweek  Service

The Midweek Service is geared more to the individual;  there is a refreshing and encouraging spirit in this service.  It is the Midweek Service that we offer the programs for children, teens, etc. to make a difference in the individual.

Pastor Tom Sexton

Gulf Coast Baptist Church

312  SE 24th.Ave.

Cape Coral, FL  33990

1-239-574-1000

Presented to you by:

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie