There is a tendency to spread out and leave vacant pews in the front of the building. I have come to the conclusion that you will never be motivated to sit towards the front until you convince yourself of the value. Here are some reasons for sitting up front that you might want to consider:

1. BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS. People who come in late, especially visitors, want to be seated as quickly as possible. If they have to walk to the front of the auditorium to find a seat, it is quite embarrassing.

2. THERE ARE FEWER DISTRACTIONS DURING WORSHIP. By sitting towards the front, I avoid a lot of the distractions that disrupt my concentration during worship. I don’t see the latecomers filling in, nor the darling baby perched on mother’s shoulder. My mind is clear to marvel at the cross of Christ during the Lord’s Supper and to sing with understanding.

3. THE SINGING IS MORE ENJOYABLE. Sitting up front means all of the voices are pointed in your direction. You are surrounded by the sound of harmonious voices singing praises to God. I am stirred to sing more enthusiastically myself.

4. THE PREACHING IS BETTER. I’m serious. You miss a lot in the back of the auditorium. The expression of the face of the speaker (and the song leader) adds depth to the message being communicated. I feel more a part of the message, as if the speaker was talking directly to me.

5. IT MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT MY INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT IS HAPPENING. Question: When you buy a ticket to a concert, the theater, or a sporting event, do you ask for the seat farthest away? When visitors see rows of empty pews at the front, what impression does that make on them about our involvement in worship and our excitement about the Lord? Okay, you’re still not convinced right? Hard to break old habits? Then let me challenge you with this one thought. Move to the front just one time and see if you can tell a difference in the meaning of worship. I believe some of you might be surprised at how much more you get out of (and put into) worship. The best seats in the house are at the front. There are still dome good seats available! Will you lead the way?

Many religious groups use a variety of carnal appeals to draw people to their assemblies. For instance, there are suppers and ice cream socials, ball games and entertainment events, etc. When asked to justify these activities they will commonly refer to the episodes where Jesus fed the multitudes. Some have said, "If you first feed a man's body, then you'll have a chance to feed his soul." Let's see if their reference to Jesus' activities will really support their practices.

There were two separate instances in which Jesus miraculously fed huge crowds of people with small quantities of food. One time there were 5000 men, plus women and children (Mt. 14:15-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17; Jn. 6:1-14). On another occasion there were 4000 men, plus women and children (Mt. 15:32-38; Mk. 8:1-9).

In both instances, the people had followed Jesus to hear His marvelous teaching and to see His amazing miracles. There had never been a promise of food to draw them. In fact, both episodes show the people following long distances and for a long time before they were offered food. For example, in Matthew 15:32 we read: "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." Do you see it? The people were not lured to follow by an offer of food. The food came AFTERWARDS, as an act of compassion. The people had NOT> come in anticipation of being fed.

We have one reference where Jesus suspected that the people did, indeed, come with a desire of receiving food (Jn. 6:22ff). On that occasion He DID NOT feed them!

Those who would use the example of Jesus feeding the multitudes to justify their carnal practices today are simply wrong!

Working to Rule Sewell Hall

The term Work to Rule is familiar to most people living in England. It means to work according to predefined minimum requirements for a given job. Thus, the worker will work no weekends, no overtime, and no relief. He will make no effort to make up the time following a breakdown or delay. He may refuse to use equipment provided to increase efficiency. Realizing the paralyzing effect of such minimum effort, labor leaders use such action as an alternative to a strike.

Working to Rule is common in the church. Many establish what appears to them to be a reasonable set of minimum requirements for staying out of hell and then live accordingly. Usually it involves attending Sunday for "breaking of bread" (unless on holidays), giving a certain percentage of their income, perhaps "saying a little prayer" before retiring, and avoiding the grosser forms of immorality. They do not advertise or attend gospel meetings. They seldom attend Bible classes or Sunday evening services. "These are not required," they explain. If all the members of a given congregation were Work to Rule people the church would be no more effective than an industry by such action.

The Lord has never stated any minimum requirements. He speaks only in terms of total commitment, of seeking first the kingdom, of giving our bodies a living sacrifice.

The church in Ephesus, once a very zealous church fired by love for God, left their first love and settled down to Work to Rule. They maintained a minimum program of work and remained sound in teaching. But the Lord said, "Remember

therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the first works, or else I come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent" (Rev. 2:5).

We wonder how many churches may have had their candlesticks removed, and how many Christians have had their names blotted out of the book of life, not because they were on strike, but because they were working to some rule of their own devising.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).