NEGLECTING THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER
                                          Heb. 10:25

       
  INTRODUCTION:
             Note how definite this exhortation "our own assembling" is.  The as-
         sembling of Christians for worship, exhortation and mutual helpfulness.           i
        
          
 I.      DISCUSSION:
         
  1. Man is a social animal.
            
  A.    Will naturally assemble, congregate. Certain hotels where foot-
                    ball lovers and baseball lovers etc. assemble.  Some basis, some
                    common interest is the motivating force which brings them
                    together.
            
  B.    This social instinct, like other things, is alright in themselves,
                    provided they assemble for right purpose and do the right thing.
         
 H.  Religious and Social Gatherings Under the Old Covenant - three
              annual feasts:
           
   A.    Passover feast - feast of unleavened bread.
           
   B.    Feast of firstfruits, feast of weeks, Pentecost.
             
  C.   Feast of Tabernacles, of inpthering, at the end of the year. The
                    last of these came at a time of leisure when they could enjoy so-
                    cial intercourse.
          
III.  Under New Covenant:
             
  A. The local congregation is the only religious organization known to
                    N.T.
             
  B. The saints, with bishops and deacons make up this organization.
                    The bishops or overseers are to feed the flock.  How can he feed
                    them unless they assemble?
        
  IV. What Neglect Means:
              
  A.  Spiritual death to the negligent.
              
  B.  In all orders, associations, societies, lodges, etc., attendance is
                    necessary to its life.  Do not go, and you lose interest.  The going
                    and interest act and react upon one another.
              
  C.  The basis of assembling or reason for assembling has all to do
                    with results.
                  
  1. Because some will be there whom I like. (e.g. Sweetheart,
                       friend, etc.)
                   
 2. To satisfy earthly appetite, to eat, to play games.  Cannot, and
                       does not the world thus assemble?
                  
  3. For the glory of God, all else will come out alright.
               
  D. If I neglect the public service of worship, I live up with the ene-
                    mies of Jesus.  'He that..." - Matt. 12:30. - If the devil wants to
                    injure the church, he dol-s it through non-attendance.  The out and
                    in member is the trouble-maker.  You cannot depend on him.
                
 E. Neglect looses to you the power to contend for God's own way. A
                    great argument is to present a solid front, and the "front," cannot
                    be solid unless one backs it all the way - attendance included.