No Church Needed

Hebrews 10:19-25

INTRODUCTION

For many people, one hour in church is more than they feel they can handle. Yet, here we are, continuing in our series called Half Truth and Full LIES—where each week, we uncover a popular misconception about God and Christianity. Some of these lies come directly from our culture, while others have, unfortunately, crept into the church itself.

This week, we’re tackling a belief that’s a bit of a crossover, blending cultural misunderstanding with flawed theology: God Doesn’t Care if I Go to Church. Or, as many believe, no church is needed.

Countless people believe they can be just as good of a Christian without ever stepping foot into a church. Many have negative thoughts as soon as the word "church" or "organized religion" is mentioned. While it’s true that churches have struggled with issues, and there are differences in denominations and worship styles, the question remains: Is it accurate to say that God doesn’t care if we go to church? Is church needed?

We need to look back at the church's foundation to answer this. Before Christ, there was one Temple in Jerusalem, but local synagogues functioned much like local churches. When Jesus came, He instituted the church as we know it today, with God’s Word as its foundation. In fact, in the New Testament, there’s no concept of someone believing in Christ and not being a part of a local fellowship.

In the early days of Christianity, a believer who didn’t gather with others in worship was an anomaly. It would’ve been unthinkable to suggest that gathering as a church wasn’t necessary. Yet even in the decades following Jesus’ resurrection, some believers neglected their gatherings. The author of Hebrews noticed this and addressed it with a powerful exhortation in today’s passage.

This morning, we’ll explore Hebrews 10:19-25 and answer the critical question: Does God Care if We Go to Church? This passage comes directly after the writer has laid out the incredible truth that Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all, fulfilling the law and giving us access to God. From that foundation, we’ll uncover what God says about the role of the church in our lives.

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

The author of Hebrews demonstrates the important connection between the truths concerning Christ and the implications of those truths for the Christian life. Theologizing alone is not sufficient for a holistic vision of the Christian life. We are called to action. Therefore, the author gives us clear statements of what we should do to put our faith into action.

VERSES 19-21

This practical section of Hebrews begins by teaching us that we experience Christ’s power by drawing near to God, maintaining our faith, and loving other believers. The author emphasizes that, based on what Jesus has done, believers can approach God with confidence. Confidence describes the boldness believers have because of their new relationship with God. The Most Holy Place was that part of the sanctuary which symbolized the presence of God. This verse uses the term not for the Tabernacle but for the presence of God. All believers can come to God’s presence. This privilege is no longer limited to the priesthood.

We have the boldness to enter the holiest place because Jesus has opened a new and living way for us. He serves as our great priest to encourage us to enter God’s presence. Through his death on our behalf, believers can boldly enter Heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Believers have access to the heavenly sanctuary; that is, they have free access to God.

VERSES 22-23

We can now approach God and have the mercy and grace of our High Priest standing over us. Because of believers’ relationship with this great High Priest, they can go right into the presence of God. The author encourages readers to come into God’s presence with these characteristics:

True hearts. We come not halfheartedly or with improper motives or pretense but with pure, undivided, and sincere worship.

Fully trusting him. Christians can approach God boldly, free from guilt because of the work of Jesus Christ. We can go to God without doubting, trusting that he will hear and answer us.

Evil consciences, sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean. This is sacrificial language. Under the new covenant, hearts and consciences are cleansed. This differed from the old covenant in that it thoroughly cleansed the conscience, not partially or temporarily.

Our bodies are washed with pure water. The imagery of an external action actually pictures an inward cleansing. Just as baptism is an outward sign that represents Christ's purification inside us, this washing speaks of an internal cleansing from sin. Once cleansed, Christians can approach God.

VERSES 24-25

As Christians, we have a corporate responsibility. We must help others who stumble and falter. We must concentrate on the needs of others and not on our individual salvation only. We can spur people toward either good or bad works. Hebrews calls us to lead others to a practical expression of love and an attractive display of unselfish deeds.

The three essential virtues of faith, hope, and love are mentioned in three consecutive verses. Faith provides assurance. Hope promises an incentive to obedience. Love provides a foundation for prodding believers to godly living.

To spur other believers forward in the Christian life, followers of Christ must meet together. Some of the Hebrew readers neglected to meet for worship, and this limited their ability to give and receive encouragement toward good works. Christians who meet together with the aim of promoting godliness and love for one another can be remarkably successful in their ventures. Regular fellowship with believers is an essential ingredient in Christian growth.

TODAY’S KEY TRUTH

The Church is Needed to Draw Near to God and Love Each Other.

APPLICATION

The author of Hebrews declares that we can now have the confidence to enter the holiest place because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. This is a profound statement, especially when viewed in its historical and theological context.

Before Christ, access to God was restricted. The temple was divided into sections, and how close you could get to the presence of God depended on your race, gender, and status. At the heart of the temple was the Holy of Holies, the most sacred space where the Spirit of God dwelled. Even within that sacred area, a thick curtain—often referred to as the veil—separated people from the direct presence of God.

This veil symbolized the barrier between humanity and God. That’s why, when Jesus breathed His last on the cross, the Gospels tell us that the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. This was a powerful visual illustration of what the author of Hebrews is saying: Jesus’ sacrifice removed the barrier. Through Him, we now have direct access to God.

We no longer have to ask permission or go through intermediaries. There’s no need to consult a priest or rely on another person to approach God on our behalf because Jesus, our great High Priest, has made the way open for us. His once-for-all sacrifice means that salvation, confession, and prayer are no longer tied to the temple or a physical structure. Instead, they are deeply personal and direct.

The passage also calls us to “draw near to God with a sincere heart.” This highlights the assurance our faith brings—a faith grounded in the reality that our hearts have been cleansed, freeing us from a guilty conscience. This cleansing is not symbolic; it’s the spiritual reality made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection. This text invites us to live confidently in our relationship with God, knowing that through Christ, we have unlimited and direct access to His presence.

Verse 25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together …” That word meeting is a Greek word that means a congregation. A congregation is a community in which all aspects of the members’ lives touch. You don’t just come together to hear a speaker or to have an experience. You eat together. You pray together. You learn together. You love. You confess your sins to each other. The key to understanding a Christian community is this little word: community.

When you come to church, according to the New Testament, it’s a place you go not only to be taught but also to be counseled or shepherded. You go according to the New Testament to teach one another, counsel one another, confess sins to one another, admonish one another, bear burdens, and weep with one another. It’s a community.

We are commanded to hold onto our faith with each other and not be swayed. Believers can be swayed by the world to fit into the culture. This is what the false movement called progressive Christianity does today. They believe that the culture has changed and God has changed his mind on specific moral and ethical issues, so the church should also change, including the importance of being in church. This heresy is nothing new, and there is nothing progressive about it. It just sounds better than regressive Christianity.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a clear and urgent command: “Do not give up meeting together.” This call emphasizes the importance of regularly gathering as a church community. While some had fallen into the habit of neglecting this practice, the author warns against following their example, highlighting them as a cautionary tale. Instead, he urges believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to meeting together.

The message is simple yet profound: Don’t forsake coming together. The church isn’t just a place we go—it’s a community we belong to. We need each other to grow, to be encouraged, and to remain strong in our faith. Regular attendance and active participation are not just personal acts of devotion; they are vital for the health and encouragement of the entire body of Christ.

Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us that gathering together is about more than just showing up—it’s about spurring one another on toward love and good deeds. It’s about encouraging each other, not just in faith but also in faithful participation in the life of the church. As we come together, we strengthen, inspire, and prepare one another to live out our faith in a world that desperately needs the light of Christ.

The Church is Needed to Draw Near to God and Love Each Other.

CONCLUSION

Do You Have to Be a Regular Church Attender to Be a Christian? The simple answer is no—church attendance doesn’t determine salvation. But the real question is: Why wouldn’t you want to be part of a church?

It circles back to a fundamental truth I often emphasize: God’s ways are higher and better than ours. When you truly grasp that and begin to see your life—and the world—through the lens of God’s Word, everything about your faith begins to make more sense. God, in His wisdom, has provided protections and provisions for every area of our lives, and the church is no exception.

God’s instructions aren’t arbitrary; they are always for our good. When it comes to church, there are clear benefits to regular attendance, including protections from some of life’s most challenging pitfalls. Studies consistently show that people who are actively involved in church are:

Less likely to commit crimes

Less likely to abuse their children

Less likely to have their marriages end in divorce

Less likely to commit suicide

Less likely to struggle with chronic depression

Less likely to be in toxic relationships

Less likely to battle addictions to drugs or alcohol

Being involved in church allows God to provide you in ways you may never think about.

The Church is Needed to Draw Near to God and Love Each Other.

Beyond protection, church involvement provides provisions that enrich our lives:

Greater social support and deeper connections

A stronger sense of purpose

Opportunities to serve others

Spiritual guidance and instruction for navigating life

A sense of peace with God

Positive and wholesome family experiences

Joy in seeing God move in the lives of others

A place to use your God-given gifts, abilities, and resources to make a difference for eternity

And, as studies show, church attendance even improves physical health. A New York Times article from April 20, 2013, highlighted that regular church attendance boosts the immune system, decreases blood pressure, and can even add 2-3 years to your life.

Church provides a unique community where people walk alongside you through life—celebrating your victories and shouldering your burdens during hard times.

The Church is Needed to Draw Near to God and Love Each Other.

At the heart of all these benefits of being active in church stands the most important reason: God commands us to gather. It's a simple conclusion that many people don’t want to think about: to say I don’t need to go church to be a Christian and a good person is to say you know better than God how to navigate life. It is a declaration that I know better than even my own creator. To say we know anything better than God is a level of arrogance and pride that becomes willful disobedience and sin against the God we profess to love. God commands our involvement in the local church.

Some might say, “Churches are full of hypocrites.” To that, I respond, “You’re right—so come join us; we’ve got room for plenty more!” A church without hypocrites is a place that is not being honest.

We’ve all had bad experiences—with doctors, on airplanes, or highways—but we don’t stop seeking medical help, flying, or driving. Similarly, while no church is perfect because humans are involved, a healthy church is a place where we obey God’s command to gather and work through disagreements in love and grace. Church is more important than our fleeting feelings and personal preferences.

Scripture encourages believers to confidently draw near to God, knowing that Christ's sacrifice has provided full access to His presence. Through Jesus, we have the assurance of forgiveness and the privilege of entering God’s holy presence. The call to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" reminds us that God is faithful to His promises, even in times of trial. Gathering together for worship, encouragement, and accountability strengthens our faith and helps us remain steadfast. Hebrews 10 reminds us not to neglect meeting together but to encourage one another, especially as we see “the Day” approaching. We are called to live boldly, love deeply, and remain committed to both God and one another.

My prayer for you today is that you will embrace the joy and priority of gathering with other believers.

Let us never forget the words of Psalm 122:1:

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”

The Church is Needed to Draw Near to God and Love Each Other.