serve

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

Joy in Serving

Does your ministry bring you joy? Your ministry may be in your local church, community, or your place of work. You may teach a class or sing in the choir. Perhaps you help families in need or serve meals at a homeless shelter. We are all hopefully ministering in one way or another.

Many years ago a Bible teacher shared a lesson with our class that I will always remember. He based his teaching on John 15:8-11. He told us that if we are living for the Lord and serving where He has truly called us, we will bring God glory, bear fruit, and be full of joy.

I taught middle and high school math at the time and decided to pray about this and seek direction from the Lord. Although I believed teaching was the ministry God called me to, it was possibly time to leave and serve Him in a new capacity. Hopefully, I still bore fruit and glorified the Lord, but I no longer had any joy in doing it. After I prayed and sought counsel, I decided it would be my final year to teach.

To serve the Lord in my local church has been a blessing for me. In the past, I’ve taught classes, been a part of the choir and worship team, and written for our church blog. These ministries allowed me to share my love for the Lord.

Currently, I facilitate a Bible study at work and am in training to co-facilitate a class at my church. In writing, I share the hope I’ve found in Christ. I desire to encourage personal growth in others as they seek to strengthen their relationship with the Lord. I also long to glorify God in all I do—to reveal the Lord through my life and ministry.

Where are you currently serving the Lord? If you are not glorifying the Lord by bearing fruit, or if you are not experiencing joy in your serving, maybe it’s time to pray and ask the Lord for a new area of service. Look around. Opportunities abound. Ministry should impact those you serve and be rewarding for you as well.

“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:8-11 NIV).