A husband rolled over in bed on Sunday morning and said to his wife, “Honey, I don’t feel like going to church today”. She asked him why. He said, “the parking lot is too full, the building is too cold, the music is too loud, the people are too unfriendly, and the preacher is too boring”. She said, “Sweetie, you simply must go to church”. He asked her to give him just one good reason why he should go. She calmly but frankly said, “Because you, darling, you are the pastor”.
We don’t need expensive surveys or extensive polls to inform us that church attendance in most churches and denominations are in the decline. We are even discovering that “committed” members of many churches consider attending worship only twice a month as being “highly involved”. There was a time when church members would attend church “every time the doors were open” but now church attendance appears to be… “optional”.
However, my Bible still has Hebrews 10:24-25 in it… These verses seem to clearly state we need more church not less church as we near the time of Christ’s return!
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
1- Church Attendance is Pleasing and Honoring Unto the Lord
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Worship is a human response to divine revelation and divine invitation. We are now able to participate imperfectly here on earth what we will be able to do perfectly there in heaven. If you don’t enjoy worshipping God now…. You are not going to enjoy eternity very much! Of all the sounds that God created, the sound of your voice praising Him is His favorite.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, [a]O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they [b]exist and were created.”
2- Church Attendance is an Act of Love and Service to Others
Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
I call this the ministry of presence. You are a blessing and an encouragement by simply showing up. You need the church, and the church needs you. Don’t rob your brothers and sisters in the faith of spiritual blessings because you are not present and accounted for!
3- Church Attendance Will Make You Holier
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me [a]void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God uses 3 things to develop us spiritually: the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the People of God. All 3 of these instruments of grace will be experienced when you intentionally and consistently participate in corporate worship with your church community. Just showing up doesn’t necessarily mean you are growing up… but it’s a pretty good indicator. As I pastor, I can generally discern somebody’s spiritual condition by observing their church attendance and level of participation. A piece of coal in the fire will burn strong and hot but when that coal gets way from the flame it will quickly burn out… I have seen this analogy prove true far too many times in the life of many professing Christians.
4- Church Attendance Will Make You Happier
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Humankind’s most desperate sorrow arises out of loneliness and hopelessness but those who worship God with family and friends have the greatest source of relational connectivity and spiritual accountability which results in joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Harvard researchers concluded weekly church attendance effectively improved the physical and mental health of missions of Americans and reduced mortality by 20% to 30% over a 15-year period. Other studies assert faithful church attendance helps prevent the despair that leads to early death by suicide and alcohol abuse.
5- Church Attendance Can Improve Your Marriage
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be[a] joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Research shows that countless influences are pulling spouses apart, but faithful church attendance reduces a couple’s risk of divorce by a remarkable 47 percent. God is the creator of marriage therefore He has much to say about it. When a couple is in church together, they are going to hear Biblical principles and precepts that will strengthen their marriage and they will be surrounded by an encouraging faithful and faith-filled support system.
The truth is people get divorced for trivial reasons because they got married for trivial reasons. When a couple starts and sustains their relationship with Jesus at the center, their marriage will be able to withstand the attacks of the Devil.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:
1- Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org
2- Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org
3- Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.
4- Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex
5- Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”
It’s very helpful to know the importance of attending church since it’s an act of love and service to others. Recently, I’ve been reading about religion and how to be part of a community, so I think I’ll start looking for a church to help me. Thanks for the insight on letting the word of Christ dwell in us. https://eternallife.info/christianity
Eli, thank you for your response. I am happy to hear this blog post was helpful. If I can ever do anything to assist you as you are growing in your walk with the Lord, please let me know.
pastor@missionchurchlex.org