"What if the Apostles Didn't Go to the Table?"

Author Unknown

What would it look like if the apostles valued worship and community like many believers do their church gatherings?

Peter - "My mother-in-law came for the weekend."
Andrew - "I was up kinda late last night."
James (the son of Zebedee) - "Really needed some 'me' time."
John - "I was there last week. Besides, I'm not really being fed."
Philip - "Finally had a sunny day to hit the lake."
Bartholomew - "Had brunch scheduled with my Uncle Zed."
Thomas - "I doubt it would have been any good today."
Matthew - "I had to get my taxes done."
James (the son of Alphaeus) - "My dad (Alphaeus) wanted to fish today."
Thaddaeus - "The kids needed a rest day."
Simon - "I didn't hear my alarm. Because I didn't set it. Because I don't have one."
Judas - "Getting tired of hearing the same old message."

Going to church is not about checking a religious box off your "make God happy" list. It's about being invested in the lives of others. Participating in the mission of the gospel. Loving and being loved.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo experience. Pull up a seat at the table. It is a level table and there is room for all of us.

"7 Things that Will Help You Grow Spiritually"

(Grover Stephens, Adapted)

After we become one in Christ, God wants us to develop or grow. Peter exhorted, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). As we do develop, we are effectively going "on to perfection" (Hebrews 6:1) so that our "love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment" (Philippians 1:9).

But knowing that we need to grow and knowing how to grow are very different. We want to encourage growth, and that means not only communicating that you should grow, but also giving you suggestions on how to grow. The following are seven suggestions for you to mature in Christ and expand your work for God:\

1. Live and work to reach others each day as if you knew the world would end next Sunday night (2 Peter 3:1-12).

2. Be as enthusiastic about the church and its assemblies as you would be if there were overflowing crowds each time.

3. Count your blessings. Make a list of the things you are thankful to God for, and thank Him for them one by one as you pray in your closet. This will help you to be grateful and dependent upon Him (Philippians 4:6; John 15:5; Acts 17:24-28).

4. Make and maintain a list of your faults. In addition, pray for forgiveness and help to overcome faults as you strive to overcome them. This will help you see that you're really not as good as you think you are, and how very much you really need Christ. It will also help you to sympathize with the faults of others (Galatians 6:1; James 5:16).

5. Keep a quiet time. Set aside thirty minutes every day to spend with God in prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. If you really love someone, you want to spend some time with them. Likewise, if you truly love God, you will want to spend some time alone with Him (Psalm 1:2; Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). "Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer" (Acts 3:1)

6. Visit someone for Christ each week (a member you don't know very well, a sick person, a visitor, a weak member who needs encouragement, or someone who needs to become a Christian, see Matt. 25:34-46).

7. Reach another person. Conduct a Bible class once a month and invite your relatives, friends, and neighbors to attend. The preacher or elders will assist you if you want them to (Matthew 5:12-15; James 5:20).

Before we think that these suggestions are overwhelming, remember that there are 168 hours in a week. If you were to attend Sunday morning Bible study and worship, Sunday evening worship, and Wednesday evening Bible study, along with 30 minutes of Bible reading, prayers, and meditation six days a week, and then conduct an hour-long Bible study once a month, you'd be giving God less than ten hours a week.

"Take Time to be Holy."