Friday, June 13, 2008

Sleeping in Church

Byron Harvey on Acts 20:7-16.

Great Practical Pointers:
- Remember Whom you’re meeting
I always like to remember this convicting test of things: suppose you had an audience with the president. Would you mosey into a meeting with the president, unprepared and unconcerned? Or would you prepare yourself?

- Let Sunday worship grow out of 24/7 worship
Sunday AM ought not be weird for you, that you should be in the habit of praising God and listening to Him all week long…

- Begin Sunday worship on Saturday evening
Too many folks act like Sunday morning catches them by surprise!

- Get up early enough to get prepared to worship
• Turn your thoughts to God prior to arriving at church
• Eat enough breakfast so that hunger isn’t a distraction
• Take at least a few moments to meditate on the Word

- Take time, prior to coming, to confess sin to God
Why not talk to God before you get to church?

- Breathe a prayer of openness before coming

- Cultivate a grateful heart
Psalm 100:4 – “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise!” How’d you enter?

- Eliminate Sunday morning distractions
• Don’t turn the TV on
• Turn off the radio, unless it’s something that will direct your mind toward God
• Let the newspaper wait

- Leave early enough to be on time (10 minutes prior to the start of the service at minimum)

- Remember that worship isn’t just about you and God—it’s about others too!
• Who needs encouragement?
• Are there guests who need welcoming?
• Is there some way you can help out?

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