"I Attend Bible Class Because..."

One of the most common questions that you might hear in the church today is, “Do I really have to go to Bible class?” It is a question that, although is asked quite often, should not be asked at all, at least not by someone who has been a Christian for more than a month. Despite this, one can look at the attendance board and see that not everyone sees the importance of Bible classes, both Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. A preacher by the name of Eldred Stevens listed fifteen reasons why he decided that he should attend Bible classes. I have expounded upon what he has listed to show why it is not only a good idea to attend but an essential idea.

1. It is a delightful way to obey a scriptural command. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). We must study God’s word to know what he would have us to do. What better way to do this than with others of like mind? “ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Tim. 4:15).

2. I have a great desire to emulate first century Christianity. If the people, who in the first century, became Christians by following what was taught to them by the Apostles and Scriptures, and I follow their example, and do the same things that they did, then would I not become a Christian myself (Acts 2:41-47)?

3. I have three children. Most parents say that they want better for their children than what they had. What better gift could you give than that of an eternal home in Heaven? “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Pro. 22:6).

4. I like to be with my brethren. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10). Who we like to be with says a tremendous amount about us and who we really are. Do we use the excuse that, “I just don’t get along with anyone there,” as a reason for not attending?

5. I want to do good and to abound in good works. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Not only should we want to do good works, we must realize that when we know to do good works and do not do them, it is sin (Js. 4:17).

6. I want to be consistent. What I say and what I do should be consistent. “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn. 4:20). I can say that I am a faithful Christian, but if I disregard assembling with my brethren, then that shows that I am truly not.

7. I must protect and maintain a good influence. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mat. 5:13-16).

8. It helps to keep my spiritual temperature high. Like the church at Laodicea, if I am “lukewarm” in my faith, then I am of no use to God. “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Rev 3:16).

9. I love our home congregation. “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God”(1 Thess 1:2-4). Have we developed a strong love for our congregation?

10. I respect the eldership. “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb 13:17). Do we ever let our pride or own wills come in between us and following the leadership of our elders?

11. I want to keep my scale of values properly adjusted. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”(Matt. 6:33).The Lord will take care of me in all that I do if I am faithful to Him. Am I putting His will and His priorities before my own?

12. I love the truth. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Let us not be willfully ignorant, that we are not like a child that says, “But I didn’t know.”

13. I love the Lord, and I have a reverence for God. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15).Do I love God enough to learn His will and to follow His commands?

14. I want to be a good example. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Not that others should not look down on us despite our age, but that we should not give anyone a reason to despise us because of our actions.

15. I shall be judged by the Bible. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Rev. 20:12).

There is nothing that I can do to force someone to attend a church function every time that the doors are opened, nor would I want to. My goal is not to hurt feelings or make anyone angry. I want us all to think about the reasons why we come together as Christians at all. It is not simply to fulfill some man-made desire to gather together, but to worship God, to study together, and to encourage one another (Heb. 10:24-25). How can we do this if we only see each other an hour or two each week?