Why do I have to go to church?

Introduction

Unfortunately, some Christians believe "going to church" is the right thing to do as a Christian as if going saves them. Others do not go to church because they feel it is about money and politics. Then there are some who feel there is no need to go because "church" is not about a building but God's people and whenever we come together with people, it should be considered fellowship. Today, I want to glorify God by answering the question why we have to go to church from a biblical perspective so that you and I understand why church is important, and why you need it.

What does church attendance look like today?

Here are the attendance numbers from the latest survey, as of November 2022:

16% of U.S. adults said they were regularly attending religious services only in person (and not online).

10% were regularly watching services only on screens (but not regularly going in person).

17% were regularly doing both.

(Pew Research Center; “Online Religious Services Appeal to Many Americans, but Going in Person Remains More Popular; June 2, 2023)

What does “Church” mean?

Church: assembly (Greek: ekklesia/Hebrew: kahal)

Israel: chosen people of God because of His love (Deut 7:7-9)

One God/one law

different tribes

kingdom of priest (Ex 19:5-6); priest mediated

Corporate gatherings (Lev 23)

believe synagogue developed during Hellenistic period

Church: chosen people of God because of His love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10)

One God/one law

all peoples

royal priesthood, a holy nations (1 Pet 2:9)//Jesus is the High Priest who mediates but appoints overseers/pastors/elders to govern God’s household

corporate gatherings (1st day of the week “Lord’s Day)

households or public places

Do I need church?

Yes! But why?

Matthew 16:18–19 NIV

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The enemy will not overcome us

Acts 20:28 NIV

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Guidance, protection, and provision

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Body of Christ (fulness of Him)

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Dwelling place of God’s Spirit

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

To be equipped, unity, grow in maturity, and to speak truth in love

Ephesians 5:23 NIV

23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

Bride of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:21–26 NIV

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

To encourage and lift one another up

Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.

encouraging one another to persevere in faith

What do I need to do?

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Devotion