The ways of man today would have Romans 16:16 to say: “Salute one another with a cup of coffee, donuts, and a casual
conversation.  The churches of Convenience salute you” (check your copy of the Scriptures and you’ll see this is far from what’
s truly written.  Close friends of ours in Arkansas (the Nannie’s) sent me a card they received in the mail.  Here is what the
front looks like:






















On the back of the card you see this:


















  People may look for a casual worship service, but God desires that we serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear
(Hebrews 12:28).  While people may want a cup of coffee to go with their mockery of a worship service, God says that the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink (Romans 14:17).  Some may not want to miss their morning donut, but the Lord says
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).  Some really will
follow to have their bellies full (John 6:26), but Jesus instructs: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat
which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed”
(John 6:27).  It is hard to believe that some would look for a babysitting service (staffed nursery) in choosing their fellowship of
people to worship God with.  God forbid, kids might learn something if they stay with mom and dad (Ezra 10:1 and Matthew
14:13-21)?  Some want contemporary worship and others traditional, the Bible only speaks of one acceptable way to worship
God (John 4:23-24).  Faithful Christians see these errors.  However, could it be that within the body of Christ modern
conveniences have influenced brethren?



  Maybe its tea you like instead of coffee.  The social Gospel may not be your “cup of tea”, however, what about those days
where you may look for more convenient times to worship, study, pray, obey, etc. (Acts 24:24-25)?  What about those times
where God is second place in your life (Colossians 3:1)?  What about those who will compromise the truth to worship with a
conveniently located “church” (I John 1:3-7 and II John 9)?  What about Christians who “shop” around for programs offered,
rather than look for a sound congregation to serve God with (II Timothy 1:13 and Titus 2:1)?   

  There are those who start a “temporary” church of convenience.  That is, why they are traveling they establish a work in a
hotel room, on a shore, or elsewhere that is intended to only exist for a week or two until they get back home.  This is done so
they can partake of the then perverted Lord’s Supper.  This is not the pattern we see in the New Testament (Acts 20:7).  
There are also those who decide to just worship at home instead of attending with faithful brethren (I Corinthians 11:18; 20; 14:
23)?  They like pajama party worship styles.  Now, there is nothing at all wrong with a congregation meeting in a home (I
Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, and Philemon v.2).  Nor is there anything wrong about starting a congregation where there
is no sound work located (Acts 19:5ff.).  However, it is not right to start a congregation out of convenience for yourself, as this
would just be serving your own desires (Colossians 2:23).  Starting a congregation should not be something we resort to as a
last ditch effort for a place to worship.  A task such as this should be something we have purposed and planned to do as a long
lasting work for the Lord (Luke 14:28-32).  I know of some who have had to do this and they are faced with many struggles
such as not being able to travel because they’d have to dissolve the congregation while out of town.  They also have challenges
such as to making sure their services do not get out of order (I Corinthians 14:40).  There are many struggles that are faced in
the difficult task of a single family starting a work, most would not and could not handle those challenges because conveniences
win out in their lives.

  Think about those who erringly think a long worship service is inconvenient (Nehemiah 9:1-3).  If you’re worshipping God
(Psalms 95:6), studying His word (Psalms 1:1-2), and spending time with brethren (Acts 2:42-46); what in life can be even
nearly as important?  We must make sure that we are not Christians or congregations that serve God out of mere convenience.  
When what is convenient for us decides where we worship, how we worship, where we serve, and how we serve; we have left
behind what it means to worship and serve God (Philippians 3:3, Deuteronomy 10:12, Matthew 22:37, and Romans 12:1).



  The ad says “choose your style” and many do.  Choosing what we think is right is ignorant (Proverbs 16:25 and Jeremiah 10:
23).  Shouldn’t we be more worried about pleasing God than ourselves (Colossians 1:10 and Hebrews 13:21)?  How many
people would say they’d die for the Lord?  I would assume most would.  However, they won’t sit and listen to His word very
long.  They won’t drive somewhere that is possible, but far to worship Him.  They won’t move from an area destitute of the
truth (Luke 14:33), but they will die for Him.  Truly and honestly, there is a lot more worship and service done out of
convenience than most want to admit.  Are we seeing the Lord’s church turn into the church of convenience?
Volume VII   ~   Issue XXXVI   ~   June 3rd, 2007
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
Churches of Convenience
By: Brian A. Yeager
Folks, Coffee Won’t Do It!
How About Our Cup of Tea?
Conclusion