Attend the weekly anniversary

“On the first day of the week, very early in this morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb… Suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them… The angels said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” (Luke 24:1, 4, 5, 6)

Depending on how you read statistics, public worship attendance peaked in our country sometime during the days of the Great Depression. It has been on a downward spiral ever since. In most Christian churches, on any given Sunday, the average Sunday worship attendance is less than 50 percent of the membership. It’s also interesting to note that the statistics show that the more people separate themselves from God’s Word, the more they suffer from anxiety, worry, fear, anger, sadness, and general feelings of hopelessness.

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter Sunday were feeling hopeless. They had heard Jesus say that he would rise from the dead. But in the busyness of everyday life, they had forgotten Jesus’ promises. As they went to Jesus’ tomb they wondered who would roll away the stone so they could anoint his dead body with perfume.

That Easter Sunday morning the Lord’s messengers surprised them. They announced that Jesus had risen. The messengers reminded them of the Lord’s own words. Through the Word of God their faith was strengthened. Their hope was renewed, and their lives were changed.

The early Christians chose Sunday as their day of worship in commemoration of that first Easter. They called Sunday the “Lord’s Day.” Every Sunday is an anniversary celebration of the Lord’s resurrection and what it means for us as Christians. Every Sunday Christian pastors announce the comfort of God’s forgiveness. Our faith and hope are renewed as we are reminded of Jesus’ resurrection and what it means for us. We leave worship with the peace that passes understanding. We miss worship when we are not there, and we find peace and rest for our souls every time we return. No one, no place, and no thing can offer us anything better than what the Lord gives us every Sunday in public Christian worship.

The Bible says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) Celebrate the anniversary of Christ’s resurrection by attending Christian worship on Sundays. Plan your schedule to make it happen. Bring your family. Join in the hymns and spiritual songs. Find comfort and hope in the Bible readings. Listen to God’s word speak to your heart about his grace, forgiveness of sins, and his promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a new life with meaning and purpose.

See you Sunday.