Why do we attend church?

To begin, I want to explore why we attend church on Sunday. My personal view ~ every Sunday ought to be treated like Easter. We ought to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our redemption every week. It should never get old. It should always be exciting to us.

Here are a few verses.

Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”

1 Corinthians 16:2 says, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

It appears there was a point in the early church, the apostles and other Christians began to gather and worship on Sunday.

Revelation 1:10–11 says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.””

The Lord’s day is not to be confused with the Day of the Lord, which is part of the coming judgment of the world. The book of Revelation was written by John, through the Holy Spirit, in 96 AD. Historians believe the phrase “the Lord’s Day” was common language in the 2nd century referring to Sunday.

Reason #1 - Attending church embraces God’s bigger picture for my life.

Ephesians 4:1–7 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Reason #2 - Attending church is the primary channel for Christian mutual edification.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

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.

I think it’s important to point out the opposite of “neglecting to meet together” is “encouraging one another.” It’s more than just attending. It’s a presence that is consistent and prepared. It’s a presence that is humble and forgiving. It’s a presence that is honest and discerning. It’s a presence that is imperfect but unified. It’s a presence that is active and Christ-exalting to the best of our ability.

A church building should be the place where a person is loved more than any other place on the planet.

People are so quick to throw their church friends under the bus. I’m not going to that Bible study because I don’t get anything from it. Friends, consider Acts 20:35 which says, remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ I wonder how that Bible study would be different if you walked in the room expecting to give instead of expecting to receive. It’s a presence that is consistent, prepared, imperfect, unified and where a person is loved more than any other place on the planet.

Chris, I have middle school and high school students in my family. I would love for them to have a Bible study. Great, bring them! I’ll hang out with your teenagers and we’ll talk about the Bible.

There are other people who claim they don’t need to attend church to be a Christian. I always wonder why a person would seek out eternal corporate worship in heaven, but never pursue corporate worship on earth. I wonder if they realize they’re planning on spending eternity with something they claim is unnecessary.

Acts 2:42-47 is a great example of Christian mutual edification.

When I was a youth pastor, I talked about spiritual snacking ~ Serve. Nurture. Adoration. Community. That sounds like Worship. Grow. Serve. Go. After all these years of ministry, the core has never changed. Except I have learned that community is foundational for everything to work like it should.

Reason #3 - Attending church should make me contagious with gospel advancement.

In our last church, we started a small group in our home on Thursday nights. When Bridget and I lead a small group in our home, the evening begins with being friends and catching up with each other. Then we go into our study. After that, the guys go to another room. The ladies pray with each other and the men pray with other. Somebody would always bring dessert and we would end the night being friends. It was about a 2-hour evening. Once a quarter, we would have dinner together.

I remember one night, we were beginning to take our seats in our living room and one of the ladies said, “I never knew I needed this, but now that I know ~ everybody should have this in their life.”

1 Peter 3:14–16 ESV

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Present the path to salvation concisely and clearly!!! Today can be your day to know Jesus personally.