Introduction

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. (Heb 10:25)

In this day in age, many people are making excuses for not being faithful to church. They will miss services because of work. They will miss services because of sports. They will miss church because of sleep. “I just need a day off, it's my day” they say. In order to justify their excuses, they will come up with all sorts of alternates. They will listen to a sermon on the radio, or they will watch some televangelist. Or so they say. Friend, our text clearly states that we must not forsake the assembling. You are not assembled with anyone when you are sitting on the couch watching Benny Hinn. You need to be connected with a local church.

The primary purpose of this age is to build the church (Eph 4:12, Matt 28:19,20)

The church is the Center for Evangelism (Acts 4:2, 8,20)

1. The church is the center for missionary efforts, sending church-planting missionaries to distant lands
   Illustration: Acts 13:1-3. We see here in the church of Antioch, Paul and Barnabas are called and sent forth as missionaries. In Acts 14:26,27 we see them return to the church at Antioch, and share everything the Lord had done through them. This is the Biblical picture of the local church sending missionaries, and the missionaries being accountable to the church that sent them. This also pictures the church sending out local missionaries, going house to house, door to door, then returning to the body of believer and reporting back what God has done through them.