Going to church can be hard. It’s a commitment on a weekend morning that will likely require you to get up early, you might have to drive to get there, and it’s fairly likely that you won’t feel like going when your alarm goes off on Sunday morning. It can be hard to find a church that feels right, especially if you’re a new Christian or have recently moved. And…church is full of people and their idiosyncrasies, problems and faults.
Plus, these days you can watch a sermon online—recorded or live—from the comfort of your own home, in your PJs, while eating a bagel. Isn’t that good enough?
Nope, and here’s why:
God intended us to gather together to worship Him. He’s aware that you can do this alone with your bagels, and He still created the concept of “church” and then made sure that the Bible tells us how important it is. He did this for our sake…and there are some really good reasons behind it. So why should you go to church?
- You need to be under some kind of spiritual authority.
I know…nobody really loves to hear that. What we’re not talking about here is being under the authority of a spiritual leader who wants to control every aspect of your life, or who demands unreasonable or unbiblical things of you. What’s important is that you’ve got someone who is looking out for you, who you can go to with questions, and who you will listen to if you’ve gotten off course in your walk with the Lord or in your life choices.
The Bible clearly lays out requirements for those who are in a position of authority in a church (Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7), and although we can all bring to mind situations where church authority has sinned or abused power, the vast majority of the time church leaders are helpful, trustworthy, and willing to work with you when you hit hard times.
- You need to be in community.
The church is a gift—a community, a new family, and a place where you can connect with other believers in a meaningful, life-changing way. The Biblical concept of “church” is not that it’s a building or the place where people meet…it’s the people who meet there that make up the church. Going to church and attending small groups, prayer meetings, and social gatherings will give you the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. These people can quickly become a second family, being there for you during a crisis, bringing meals when you’re sick, praying with you, and celebrating with you.
Jesus assumed that we would be meeting together, and the early church gives us examples of the importance of gathering together in worship. Apparently, there were issues with “Lone-Ranger” Christians back then, as well—which is why Paul wrote this to the Hebrews:
“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 25:10
- You are needed in the community.
God has given all of us unique spiritual gifts…and these gifts are designed to be used in community. Your expertise, experience, and abilities are needed in some area of the church community—whether it’s teaching in children’s ministry or helping build a pulpit. Your life experience has given you knowledge and understanding that can help other Christians on their spiritual walk, and God can use even the difficult things you’ve been through to help others.
When you don’t go to church, the gifts and knowledge that are uniquely yours go to waste…others are missing out on what you have to offer, and you are missing out on a chance to see how God can use you in ways you never thought possible!
There are so many more reasons why it’s important to find a good church community and participate in it. The video below sums it up well:
So this Sunday, get off your couch and head to church! Then…take a risk and sign up to serve, join a small group, attend a Bible study, or help in the community with other church members. You can watch those online sermons another day. Your couch won’t miss you, you’ll be blessed by being involved in what God is doing through the congregation, and your church community needs you!
My church family is where I truly feel encouraged, challenged and inspired to pursue and celebrate my faith journey. It leads to true friendships, greater love for the church and encouragement to live a meaningful and productive life. Thank you Jesus for your friendship and my friends at church. Lori
“It leads to true friendships, greater love for the church and encouragement to live a meaningful and productive life.” Yes! Exactly this. Thank you, Lori!
I am a county employee who is a “Nutrition Project Coordinator” at our county’s Senior Center. Our operation not onlt feeds the seniors coming to participate at our two locations we also have a Home Delivered Meals Program operating delivering complete lunches to over 170 seniors on 14 delivery routes. But currently we have 50 seniors on a waiting list who qualify for these meals but we are not able to serve due to where they are located in the area. At the same time we are not providing any extra food for these clients to eat other than these hot lunches on our week days These are senior citizens who are limited in their ability to drive and prepare meals for themselves. Our local churches do have Food Banks giving out food to those in need but there are people in need that don’t have transportation like these clients on our delivered meals program. We need to be focused on some of these in our communities that are the hardest hit and some of these in our communities are going hungry. It would be a great project to have some of our church groups to reach out and help. I have two friends that are not seniors, but can’t drive because they are mentally handicapped. Needless to say in second part of the month their food stamps & money are short and they call for help so I have to drive them to a store or a local church’s food drive. This is only two of our communities needy what about the others that are going without. They are out there, please think about them when you are praying and thanking God for your blessings and be mindfull of them when we have time try to help someone of these neighbors, they are out there.
That’s true, Timothy…so many people are in need right in our own communities. Churches have an opportunity to become the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need, through both prayer and outreach. It’s a great idea to reach out and contact other churches in your area and work together to fulfill that need, we can make such a difference working together!