1. Understand
the purpose of coming to church. When we meet together, whether it
is in an RMG, small group, or a Sunday service, it is not for our benefit. Hebrews 10:24 teaches a primary goal
for the time together. Literally, it says, “Let us think carefully about one another towards the stimulating to
love and good works.” It’s about the other people who are part of our group.
Verse 25 goes on to say that we are deserting them (“not forsaking”) when we
fail to come. That word is translated “deserted” twice in 2 Timothy 4. People
need us to be there! The opposite of desertion according to this verse is
encouragement, which means you come alongside them to offer them help. Think
about physical presence when you
think of being an encourager. These verses teach that we are obligated to take
our eyes off of self and focus on how we can help others.
2. Meditate on
God’s Word daily. Meditation is more than just reading the
Bible. It is spending time with the Bible, probably just a few verses. It is a
time when you think about what God is teaching you for how you ought to live.
It is about finding a way to change your life. Psalm 1:2 says that the “blessed man” is doing it “day and night”. The result of such practice is
fruitfulness. I loved reading the story of William Wilberforce who memorized
Psalm 119 and then recited it every day as he walked to his office, where he
fought against the slave trade in England. Bible memorization is one of the
best ways to practice meditation, since you can do it anywhere, even when you
don’t have a Bible with you. Spending extended time with the passage of
scripture that will be taught in the Sunday message will be especially helpful
as you come to church and listen to the message from the pulpit.
3. Get rid of
sin that will prevent you from being hungry for God’s Word. Listening to
God’s Word requires a heart this prepared, and that means it is clean. 1 Peter 2:2 commands us to have a
longing for God’s Word, just like a baby has a longing for milk. But that
longing is preceded by getting rid of sins that have been a part of your life. You’re
not hungry for the good food if your filled up with junk. Make sure that you go
to God in confession before ever going to His Word for instruction.
4. Pray daily
for God’s Word being taught. The apostle Paul asked for churches
to pray for him as he continued his ministry of the Word (Colossians 4:2-4 and
Ephesians 6:19-20). Pray for the one who is teaching, that he will be “clear”
(Colossians 4:4), and that the Holy Spirit will speak truth into the lives of
the people (John 16:13).
Also, Paul was in constant
prayer for the people of the different churches where he had preached. It was
often a prayer of thanks to God for how He had been at work in them, but it was
also a prayer for God’s continued work in their lives. Consider the value of praying
for others that you know with the words of Colossians
1:9-12. Pray that you and others who will be hearing the message will have
these results in their lives as they hear God’s Word.
