I don't think evening services are a biblical mandated.
There is no clear biblical command
Not every church can have one (due to a bi-vocational pastor or buildings that can't be rented on an evening)
Not every Christian can be there (ill health, long distances, young children)
But I do want to encourage it where it is possible. Perhaps you might make attending an evening service your new year's resolution.
Why?
1. Double the time with the people you love
You want to spend time with people you love.
Just like with a physical family, nothing replaces time with your church family. Evening services are great for that.
At different stages in my life I’ve appreciated the extra time.
As a teen, Sunday evening was a chance to be with Christian friends twice.
As a student, two services helped me meet people in the church.
As a pastor, two services give me chance to touch base with more people
Double the services, means double the chance to be with God's people!
2. Double the blessing of Sunday
Sunday is a blessing
We're blessed through word and sacraments in corporate worship. I'm convinced that the Bible sees gathered worship as more important than personal worship.
Going twice doubles:
The sermons you listen to
The songs you sing
The prayers you pray.
Quantity isn't everything but these things do help.
3. The example set us
The past has much to teach us.
There is some suggestion of evening worship in the Bible. For example, the temple sacrifices were morning and evening. Eutychus died dropping off in an evening service listening to Paul.
There are clearer examples in church history:
Mentioned by Eusebius in the 300s as the practice of the church
In the middles ages, there was the practice of matins and vespers
This continued in Reformation (e.g. Book of Common Prayer)
In Puritan era, evening services were often used to rotate Old and New Testament.
In more recent times, men like Spurgeon and Lloyd-Jones used the evening service for evangelism
Only one service is a historically rare position.
4. The Lord's Day
I see the principle of one day in 7 for rest and worship as continuing.
If you agree, two services allow the day to be more wholly devoted to God. As many have said: “It's the Lord's day not the Lord's morning”
If not, there's other reasons...
5. Breadth of teaching
As a pastor, with two sermons I can give more breadth, such as
Old and New Testament
Simple and deep sermons (e.g. one service aimed at younger Christians)
Exegetical and topical sermons
This can broaden the congregation's diet.
6. Everyone gets a service
Not everyone hears Sunday morning’s sermon.
In our church, there are some who legitimately have to work Sunday morning. Also some will lead children’s ministry in the morning and miss a sermon. Between two services most people can be sat under God's word once a Sunday.
This gives everyone a chance to hear God's Word.
7. Opportunities for young preachers
You learn to preach by preaching.
Young men going into pastoral ministry need preaching opportunities. For some churches, giving the morning service to an inexperienced man is a risk. The smaller evening service is an easier place to give them that chance.
I’m grateful for my first sermon on an evening.
8. Biblical definitions of rest
One of the arguments against is “I need a rest”.
I sympathise with that. I often take a coffee before I go to preach an evening service! However, I don't think the Bible's idea of rest is watching TV (nor do I think science backs that up)
Biblical Rest involves:
Sensible work patterns during the week (not maxing yourself out and collapsing at the weekend)
Being with people
Being spiritually renewed by God's Word
An evening service gives all of those.
9. Fight against practical atheism
A huge problem for the church is "practical atheism".
Raised in a secular society, our default position is living without reference to God. We forget to:
Search the scriptures for wisdom
Discuss with Christians our needs
A day for God helps that. The whole day is devoted to God. It is jarring to our practice, because we live like atheists.
But we need this challenge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the 9 Reasons for pm service
Double the people you love
Double the God you love
The example set to us
The Lord's day
Breadth of teaching
Everyone gets a service
Opportunities for young preachers
Biblical definitions of rest
Fight against practical atheism
Isaiah 58:13 talks of the Sabbath being "a delight". I find worshipping with God's people a delight and I expect you do too.
Therefore, it's no burden to do that twice a week.
Next Week: How to do a family devotion with under 5s
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