Why go to church?

For many believer’s it is a non-issue to make a decision about going to church on Sunday morning, or at least that is how it appears to me. Of course I am talking about those who are truly saved and not the nominal Christian, of whom we are glad to come to church and pray for their conversion, but without the Holy Spirit lack the indwelling presence that motivates that heart to join with other believers.

However, it is nice every now and again to remind yourself why you gather on Sunday morning when you could sleep in and spend all day unshaven in front of the TV watching football.

Consider the following quote from Elias Keach in England, 1697.

“Brethern (as a worthy Divine observes) the Church in her publick Worship is the nearest Resemblance of Heaven, especially in Singing God’s Praises. What Esteem also had God’s Worthies of old, for God’s publick Worship? My Soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. How amiable are they Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! Psal. 84.1,2.”

Elias Keach. The Glory and Ornament of a True Gospel-constituted Church…

The Gospel

Early this year I began a conversation with some of my friends over the issue of preaching and the gospel. Through that conversation I think it is appropriate to ask the question: what is the gospel? When we use the word gospel what do we mean? As Christians? As Evangelicals or Baptists?

The use of the word seems to be all around us without any definitions. We know it comes from euangelion and means good news, but have we really spent time contemplating what we mean by "gospel? When we say we are doing something for the gospel?

Help me think through this issue and let us come to a more definitive usage of the word gospel.