Too long of a story and not the point of this post but as you know back in my old hometown until late October due to renovations from cowboy builders in the place my wife and I live.
I have to work one weekend a month for my job, this past weekend was the one for October.
So I googled a church evening service Sunday and found one- best of all it's my denomination but one which, you know, actually believes in the Bible.
When I approached the church I was warmly introduced to the vicar and within moments I was giving him my story of how I got saved.
The sermon was by a guest speaker on John 4- a chapter a lifetime of sermons couldn't cover.
The quote that stuck with me was when the guest speaker quoted the hymn 'There were ninety and nine' and quoted the verse "Ere he found his sheep that was lost. Out in the desert he heard its cry— Sick and helpless and ready to die." He then said that was all of us before coming to Christ.
The communion was unique for an Anglican church- it was actually done in the Baptist style with little glasses of grape juice.
During the communion it was done by rows but everyone stood and the vicar gave a series of prayers for each group standing- very moving and in one of the prayers he rightfully said "We are only worthy of your wrath but in Your grace you shed Your precious blood for us so that we can be saved and all that believe can spend an eternity with you ".
The fellowship was amazing- after it was great getting to meet others there and you could really feel the DISTINCT love Christians have for each other.
Overall the service and fellowship left me feeling joyful in Christ even today typing about it.
Hopefully a reminder to others about the necessity of church attendance (not talking about illness or emergencies) as a matter of spiritual growth.
It is the height of pride and foolishness to think you can walk alone in the Christian walk staring at YouTube videos instead of attending an in person service.
It is actually like being a pharisee thinking you can walk the Christian walk alone as you clearly think you are exempt from needing to be encouraged and encouraging others (1Thessalonians 5:11) and gathering in person (Hebrews 10:25).
