Then why is it that we have people who find other things to do instead of coming to Bible class and the worship service? And, when they do show up, they look like they’ve just been through a root canal. Do you think God is pleased when we view the assembling of the saints as something burdensome and inconvenient and boring?

Part of the trouble comes from seeing churches on television who have thousands of people in the audience jumping around in the aisles and waving their arms in the air. We watch that for a few minutes and wonder, “are we missing something at Southside?” Remember, God has commanded that worship be “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). It does no good to have one without the other.

How can we make sure our worship is worthy, that we are giving God both spirit and truth?

Look up. Many people are looking for a church that satisfies their needs and does the things that excite them. Who are we worshiping? Since we are assembling around the throne of God, it seems right to do the things that are pleasing to Him.

“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psa. 95:6-7). Anything else is self-worship.

Look in. Stop viewing the church as an organization that owes you something. Some people feel it is socially unacceptable to show up as a guest at someone’s house and not bring something—food, flowers, a card. But we will show up for services week after week and bring no gift to God.

Worship is not about getting; it’s about giving. And God wants you to give the greatest thing you have the power to give: your all. It’s the only way you can take something home with you when you leave.

Look around. You are not the only person here. This is a body made up of many members. When one member is not performing their intended function, the whole body suffers.

Your absence or indifference does not just affect you. It causes the rest of the members to hurt. It detracts from what we’re trying to do. It is a source of discouragement to those who are truly trying to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

I wonder what kind of reaction we would get if we announced that the President of the United States was going to be at our services next week? What if I told you that the Creator of the universe was watching what you did last Sunday?