More Than A Service

Read Hebrews 10:19-25.

PRAY!

-In a world where convenience often takes priority over commitment, it is vital that we, as a church, pause and realign our hearts with God's vision for His people. Walking through a series on the importance of gathering reminds us that church is not just content to consume, but a community to belong to.

-Since 2020, many have grown comfortable with isolation, but Scripture calls us to a deeper, richer life of encouragement, accountability, worship, and shared mission that can only happen when we come together. The goal of this series is that it challenges us to resist the drift toward spiritual individualism and reawaken our understanding that we are called to be a living, connected body—growing stronger, bolder, and more faithful when we gather in Jesus' name.

Read Hebrews 10:24-25.

There are two key phrases that really stick out to me in this verse that i want to break down. the first is:

“Watch out for one another” 

-When Hebrews 10:24 says, "let us watch out for one another," it is a call to a proactive, not passive, way of living in Christian community. The phrase carries the idea of alertness, attentiveness, and care—like a shepherd carefully watching over his sheep.

-It's not enough simply to exist alongside other believers; we are called to intentionally look after each other's souls.

-In the same way a doctor regularly checks a patient's vital signs, Christians are meant to look after the spiritual “vital signs” of those around them.

~Are they thriving in their faith?

~Are they carrying burdens that are weighing them down?

~Are they drifting into unhealthy patterns or beliefs?

~Are they in need of encouragement, correction, or prayer?

-This spiritual care requires presence, attention, and sacrifice. It's not merely about checking in when someone is visibly struggling; it’s a steady, ongoing relationship where we are committed to another’s spiritual well-being even before crises come.

-God never intended for anyone to walk the journey of faith alone yet so many try to do this alone for a variety of reasons. Maybe we are ashamed of our past, worried about judgment, or just outright don’t care, or we are introverts.

-From the beginning, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). This principle is not just about marriage—it reflects a broader truth about how humans were created: we were made for relationship.

Throughout Scripture, the Christian life is described with communal language:

Family (brothers and sisters in Christ — Romans 8:29)

Body (many members, one body — 1 Corinthians 12:12)

Flock (sheep cared for by the Good Shepherd — John 10:14)

Holy Nation a people belonging to God — 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

-Faith grows best in community, because:

~We learn from each other’s wisdom and experiences.

~We are challenged to grow out of selfishness and into Christlikeness.

~We are reminded of God’s promises when our hearts forget.

~We receive support during suffering and celebrate together in seasons of joy.

-In isolation, the enemy’s lies grow louder, and discouragement takes deeper root. In community, the truth of God is spoken over us again and again.

Charles Spurgeon once said:

"Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation."

We have to be intentional about gathering as a body of believers and caring for those within the body. We do this by:

~Noticing when someone is missing and reaching out.

~Speaking truth in love when a brother or sister is walking in sin.

~Offering prayer and encouragement regularly, not just when crises hit.

~Celebrating victories in others’ lives as if they were our own.

~Creating space for honest conversations about doubt, fear, and temptation without judgment.

-This kind of community doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intentionality, vulnerability, and commitment.

-Imagine a traveler climbing a steep mountain. Alone, the journey would be slow, dangerous, and exhausting. But surrounded by companions—who point out the best paths, share supplies, and offer a hand when someone stumbles—the summit becomes attainable.

-In the same way, the Christian life is meant to be a shared climb, not a solitary struggle. When we truly “watch out for one another,” we embody Christ’s love, strengthen His body, and together reflect the beauty of His Kingdom.

Lets move onto the second phrase that sticks out to me.

“Not neglecting to gather” 

-When Hebrews 10:25 says, "not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing," it strikes a note of seriousness. Gathering with other believers isn’t just a good idea for when it’s convenient—it’s a direct command from God for the health and endurance of our faith.

-Its amazing to see that this is not just a problem for us today but even in the early church Paul had to remind Christ follower to not neglect the gathering.

It’s striking that even in the early days of Christianity, when the memory of Christ’s death and resurrection was still fresh, some believers were already drifting away from regular gathering.

-It wasn’t persecution that kept some away.

-It wasn’t a lack of passion in the apostles’ teaching.

-It was human nature: spiritual drift, misplaced priorities, and busyness.

-The same temptations we face today—to view gathering as optional, to let life crowd out worship—were already present then. Left unchecked, occasional neglect becomes a harmful habit.

Lets go over some reasons Why It’s Harmful to Neglect Gathering

1. Isolation Weakens Our Faith The Christian life is designed to be nourished by community. When we remove ourselves from regular gathering:

Our hearts grow colder to the things of God.

-We become more susceptible to doubt, discouragement, and deception.

-Our sin struggles intensify because they thrive in hiddenness and isolation.

2. We Miss the Mutual Encouragement God Intended Gathering is not just about getting something from church—it's also about giving.

-Every believer carries the responsibility to encourage, strengthen, pray for, and build up others (1 Thess. 5:11). When we stay away, the body suffers because it is missing what we were meant to contribute.

3. Disconnection From Spiritual Authority God has placed spiritual leaders—pastors, elders, shepherds—in our lives to help guide, teach, and protect us (Hebrews 13:17).

-When we separate ourselves from the gathered body, we distance ourselves from the leadership and accountability God designed for our good.

4. Spiritual Habits Shape Eternal Realities Neglecting church may seem small in the moment—a skipped Sunday here, an online service there—but habits always shape our hearts.

-Over time, neglect forms a heart that treats God and His people casually, not with the awe, love, and reverence He deserves.

And if we are all honest The year 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, changed a lot about how we "did" church.

-Out of necessity, churches around the world pivoted quickly to online services. It was a gift during a crisis—a way to still preach the Word, worship together virtually, and stay connected while physically separated.

But what was meant to be a temporary solution for an emergency has, for many believers, hardened into a long-term habit of isolation.

Here's the shift that happened:

-Church became "content to consume" rather than "a family to belong to."

-Worship became passive—something watched from a couch, half-distracted, rather than actively engaged in.

-Community became optional, and spiritual accountability faded because online attendance requires no vulnerability, no relationship, and no real investment.

-And now, even though churches have been fully open for years now, many believers have gotten comfortable with a “stream-it-when-I-feel-like-it” version of Christianity, im to tired to go, its been a long week, i have to much to do…Friends these are 1st world, comfort driven, lazy excuses.

-There are Christians all over the world who have been and may be killed to gather in the name of Jesus, yet they dont care they still gather becuase Jesus has told us to.

-Ok…SO im about to step on some toes in here probably and for that… IM NOT SORRY. LOL

Watching a service is not the same as belonging to a church family.

Here's why:

~You can't fully practice the "one another" commands of Scripture (love one another, serve one another, bear one another's burdens) through a screen.

~You aren't using your spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. Online consumption makes believers spectators, not participants. (1 Cor. 12:7)

~There’s no real accountability. When you’re anonymous, you can hide your sin, your struggles, and your pain without anyone stepping in to help. I hvae had people tell me “Pastor so and so is my pastor, even though they are 3000 miles away and online and you have never stepped foot in that church, just watched online. Hate to break to you that aint your pastor..

~Corporate worship isn’t just about hearing music—it's about the shared lifting up of voices and hearts before God. (Colossians 3:16)

~Taking communion, baptisms, prayer over each other, laying hands in prayer—these are physical, embodied practices of the gathered church.

~The Church was never intended to be a livestream experience—it’s a living, breathing body (Romans 12:4-5).  You can watch a sermon online, but you can't be the Church online.

-One of the biggest dangers is that comfort feels harmless, but it slowly erodes devotion.

~It feels easier to stay in pajamas and "attend" church in bed.

~It feels simpler to tune into your favorite celebrity pastor who fits your style.

~It feels convenient to avoid the messiness of real people with real needs. But faith was never meant to be easy, stylish, or convenient.

Faith is formed in commitment, community, and sacrifice.

-And that means showing up—even when it's hard, even when it's uncomfortable, even when it's messy.

-Church is not a show to watch (THAT ALSO APPLIES FOR IN-PERSON: YES IM LOOKING AT YOU OVER THE TOP SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS AND OVER THE TOP LIGHT SHOWS) ; it’s a body to strengthen, a family to serve, and a place where your soul finds real life.

-Don’t settle for spiritual snacking when God has prepared a feast at the table of His gathered people.

-Don’t trade the beauty of belonging for the comfort of convenience.

If you’ve gotten used to staying home, I’m inviting you—God is inviting you—to come back.

To be seen. To serve. To be strengthened.

Because we are better, stronger, and more alive when we gather together in the name of Jesus."

The early church showed us how to do it…We must get back to this..And we are gonna end with this.

Read Acts 2:42–47.

Key Observations:

“They devoted themselves…” – Devotion implies consistency, not convenience. These weren’t casual attendees—they were committed disciples.

“Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer” – These four pillars define the rhythms of the early church. Together, they nourished both faith and relationships.

“Filled with awe… signs and wonders…” – God often moves most powerfully in the context of gathered believers.

“They held all things in common” – This wasn’t just shared belief, but shared life. Community over consumerism.

“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together” – Their church involvement was more than just a Sunday event.

-The early church was marked by togetherness. They weren’t consumers of spiritual content; they were participants in a spiritual family.

The Church is not a product to be consumed—it’s a people to belong to. While modern technology allows us to stream sermons, sing worship songs, and read devotions individually, the fullness of Christian faith is experienced in relationship. Christ didn’t save us into isolation—He grafted us into a body (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

When we gather:

-We remind one another of the hope we have Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

-We bear each other’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

-We sharpen one another Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”

-We reflect the unity of Christ to a divided world. John 17:21–23 “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.”

So lets Commit to prioritizing in-person church attendance.

Not out of guilt or routine, but for the sake of:

-Your own spiritual formation – your faith needs feeding, and isolation stunts growth.

-The encouragement of others – your presence ministers to more people than you know.

- theologian and author Esau Mcaully once stated:

"I walk into church every Sunday... the same women and men... the ushers who greet and hug my daughter every single Sunday... people who volunteer for Sunday School... the deacons and the mothers of the church that I attended every week... they used to come to my football games, they didn’t know me... What does it mean to love a young Black boy so much that you know that his dad is not going to be at the game so you go and you cheer for him?"

This highlights the church's role in providing community support and love

-Obedience to God’s design – God wired us for community. The Church is His gift, not a burden.

The Church is more than a gathering—it’s a grace. When we gather, something sacred happens. Hearts are stirred. Hope is restored. And together, we become a witness to a watching world.

Don’t miss what God does when His people come together. Don’t just go to church—be the Church.

Ask yourself:

Am I devoted to the community of faith or just consuming Christian content?

Who encourages me in my faith? Who am I encouraging?

How can I be more intentional in engaging with my church family?