INTRODUCTION:

A.      A PERSON'S INTEREST MEASURED BY HIS PRESENCE.

          1.       The Ice Bowl - Dallas vs. Green Bay.

          2.       Time spent at a hobby or job.

          3.       Time spent in worship.

B.      WE NEED TO STUDY THE ASSEMBLY.

I.      THE FACT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH.

A.      Acts 2:46;  4:31;  6:2;  11:26; 20:7;  1 Cor. 5:4;  11:17-18, 20.

B.      Heb. 10:25;  Jas. 2:2.  "SYNAGOGUE" - PLACE OF ASSEMBLY.

C,      THESE PASSAGES QUOTED TO SHOW REALITY OF FORMAL ASSEMBLY.

          BUT THEY ALSO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

II.     WHERE SHOULD THE CHURCH ASSEMBLE?

A.      IN ONE SENSE THE PLACE IS UNIMPORTANT( John 4:20-24 ).

B.      WHEREVER THE SAINTS MEET JESUS IS THERE( Matt. 18:20 ).

C.      IN ANOTHER SENSE, THE PLACE IS IMPORTANT.  WE NEED TO KNOW     WHERE TO MEET.  A PLACE MUST BE PROVIDED.

D.      CHURCHES ASSEMBLED AT VARIOUS PLACES.

          1.       Private homes( Acts 12:12;  Philemon 2;  Col. 4:15 ).

          2.       The Jewish temple( Acts 2:46 ).

          3.       Upper room( Acts 20:7-9 ).

          4.       School building( Acts 19:9-10 ).

III.    WHEN SHOULD THE CHURCH ASSEMBLE?

A.      UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK( Acts 20:7;  1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

B.      DAILY( Acts 2:46;  19:9-10 ).

C.      SPECIAL OCCASIONS( Acts 6:1-6;  14:27;  1 Cor. 5:4 ).

D.      ONLY ONE PRESCRIBED ASSEMBLY.

          1.       First day of the week.

          2.       Lord's Supper and contribution.

          3.       All other assemblies are expedients and under the authority of the elders

                   ( Heb. 13:17;  10:25 )

IV.   WHY SHOULD THE CHURCH ASSEMBLE?

A.      WORSHIP( John 4:20-24 ).

          1.       Lord's supper( Acts 20:7 ).

          2.       Laying by in store( 1 Cor. 16:1-2 ).

          3.       Teaching( Acts 11:26 ).

          4.       Prayer( Acts 12:12 ).

          5.       Scripture study( Col. 4:16;  1 Thess. 5:27 ).

B.      TO EXHORT AND PROVOKE TO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS

          ( Heb. 10:24-25 ),

C.      TO TRANSACT CHURCH BUSINESS( Acts 6:1-6;  1 Cor. 5:4;  Acts 14:27 ).

V.    THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY TO BE PRESENT.

A.      IT IS A COMMAND( Heb. 10:25 ).

B.      IF ONE FAILS TO ATTEND BECAUSE OF NEGLECT, HE MISSES OUT ON THE

          BENEFITS AFFORDED BY THE ASSEMBLY, AND HE DOES NOT PERFORM HIS

          DUTY TOWARD HIS BRETHREN.

C.      HOW MANY MUST I "FORSAKE" BEFORE I SIN?

CONCLUSION:  JUST BECAUSE ONE "GOES TO CHURCH"

        DOES NOT MEAN HE IS SAVED.