7 Reasons to Attend Church

A believer friend of mine doesn’t attend church. She told me she feels uncomfortable when she goes. She believes others in attendance look down on her. Our conversation caused me to ponder this question: why attend church? I’ve listed seven reasons that are important to me.

God Asks Us To

People in Old and New Testament times gathered together in temples to worship God. God’s Word calls us to do the same.

Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see
the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:25)

Worship God

We could stream our favorite preachers and worship services, but as we read above, the Lord wants us to come together to worship Him.

So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his
praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
(Psalm 102:21-22)

Hear God’s Word and Grow Our Faith

Paul gave instructions to Timothy. If Timothy was told to publicly preach, Paul expected people to hear. Through hearing the Word, our faith grows.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,
to preaching and to teaching.
(1 Timothy 4:13)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the
message is heard through the word about Christ.
(Romans 10:17)

Grow in Our Walk with the Lord

As we hear and apply God’s Word, we grow in righteousness. The more we grow, the better we prepare ourselves to serve others.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
(2 Timothy 3:16) 

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up.
(Ephesians 4:11-12)

Use Our Gifts to Serve Others

Each of us is an important part of the body of Christ. God planned for us to come together to use our gifts to help one another. There is a satisfaction and fulfillment that comes when we serve others and use our spiritual gifts.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
(1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT)

Fellowship with Other Believers

Church offers us a community of fellow believers. We gather to not only worship together and serve one another but to encourage, pray, and love others. Even though we may not always agree with one another, we learn to work through our differences and bring glory to God.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
(Acts 2:42)

Teach Our Children to Love the Church

Growing up, my family did not attend church often. This is something my parents regretted when they grew older and accepted Christ into their lives. I am the only one of four children who attends church regularly.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when
they are old they will not turn from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)

What are your reasons to attend church? Please share below in the comment section.

Scripture is from the NIV unless noted.

---

Photo by Leah S. Terrell

Beauty in Brokenness

“God takes . . . the broken or blemished and restores them to new life and beauty.”

This line is spoken by my main character, Keedryn Reynolds, in my novel, Let Him Go. She asks Blake Conner, her cranky boss, “Have you heard about the Japanese art using gold to repair broken pottery? They restore the broken pieces to an even more beautiful vessel than the original and bring it new life. God does that for us too.”

Keedryn described the Japanese art of Kintsugi which takes broken pieces of pottery and restores them with gold.

God, too, finds beauty in the broken. He turns our flaws and imperfections into a work of art. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Evidence of His love overflows as we go from brokenness to restoration. We can then pour into the lives of other broken people and comfort them. It’s not about us—it’s about Jesus and serving others. Doing the good things God planned for us long ago.

Near the end of my novel, Blake gives Keedryn a gift. A Kintsugi bowl. He holds it in his hands and says, “After all the pain and heartache, you’re more beautiful to me than before. Your Christ-like love, which I don’t deserve, makes you more valuable and precious than I ever imagined.”

That’s my desire. To become more valuable for God’s work through sharing Christ-like love. To show grace and mercy and to encourage hope.

We grow in faith and learn to trust God more through our brokenness as He heals, restores, and refines us. But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold (Job 23:10).

I am becoming gold. Pure gold. I believe that He who began a good work within me will continue His work until it is finally finished (Philippians 1:6).