Why Attend Worship

Weekly Update – October 3rd, 2024

It’s Sunday morning and it is raining.  One of the easiest things to say is, “I’ll just watch the service from home today, I won’t be missed this one Sunday.”  Or, it is Sunday morning and you are tired, “I’m going to catch up on some sleep today, I’ll catch up on the service later online, it is almost the same thing as being in person anyway.”  Perhaps you are having a conversation with someone who says, “Worship is a lifestyle, gathering with others is not something I really need.”  Whatever the situation may be, this week, I want to give you 25 reasons why gathering with the church should be the number one priority on any given Sunday:

1. The Word of God teaches it (Heb. 10:24–25). A high and correct view of Scripture demands regular church attendance.
2. Corporate worship is where the preaching and teaching of God’s Word occurs (2 Tim. 4:1–5).
3. It follows the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 4:16).
4. It honors the best and brightest day of the week—Sunday, the Lord’s Day—the day on which the Lord Jesus rose from the dead.
5. It is a wise and proper use of the privilege we have to publicly and corporately worship God. Christians in other lands do not all have this freedom. The only way for us to express our gratitude for this liberty is to use it faithfully and thankfully.
6. Your neglect of corporate worship grieves the Holy Spirit who lives within the individual believer and the church as a whole (Eph. 4:30).
7. It brings joy to the spiritual leaders who watch over your soul and who must give account for you. Absenteeism grieves them and is unprofitable for you (Heb. 13:17).
8. It demonstrates that you share the mission and ministry of the particular church family of which you are a member.
9. Your absence from church services renders it difficult, and in some instances impossible, for you to participate in the church’s mutual ministry to itself, especially the “one another” commands of the New Testament.
10. You need the encouragement that comes from the assembling of the saints (Heb. 10:24–25). The more evil the days become, the more you need this encouragement.
11. God demands first place (Matt. 6:33). This principle should govern our practice.
12. It reminds you that God has a new community of people through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 12:5).
13. It is a way of preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
14. Public and corporate worship is the central place where you exercise your spiritual gifts. It is a strategic place to minister to other believers (1 Cor. 14:12).
15. Your regular attendance serves as a positive example and influence for others.
16. If you participate in some ministry of the church—and you should—your absence can hinder the overall effectiveness of the group and discourage other members.
17. Being involved in public and corporate worship services counteracts our self-centeredness.
18. You should take the time to stop and say “thank you” to God for bringing you through another week.
19. Absenteeism is a poor testimony to unbelievers who see your inconsistency (John 13:34–35). It is also a poor witness to our children, whom we are to raise in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.
20. True and saving faith will foster love for that which Christ loves, the church (Eph. 5:25). Regularly attending church services is a fundamental way to demonstrate your love for the bride of Christ.
21. The practice of good habits like regular church attendance builds spiritual character.
22. The New Testament teaches us to recognize, share all good things with, submit to, and honor spiritual leaders who teach us the Word. Attending worship is a way of doing that. (Remember, not only are we accountable to the Word of God, but we are also accountable to those whom God uses to teach us his Word.)
23. Attending public and corporate worship services renews and strengthens us for the days ahead (Heb. 10:24–25).
24. Corporate worship helps reinforce the truth that worship is not about getting from God. Fundamentally, Christian worship is about giving to God.
25. Public and corporate worship is the officially designated place to carry out the ordinances of the church—baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

This list comes from H.B. Charles in his book titled On Worship.  It does well in highlighting not only the personal benefits that we often consider when attending corporate worship, but also the honor to God that it brings, as well as the need that others have for you and I to be consistent in their lives through worship.  Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in inconsistency among Christians in attending regularly.  The most common trend now is for a member to attend once a month.  Let us be a church that is counter cultural here.  May we see our commitment to First Baptist Church more than what we might get out of it, but how we might serve our brother or sister as we honor Jesus Christ.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson