(While Pastor Jake and his family are enjoying a trip across the country to visit family this Thanksgiving, we are republishing this article from the April 25, 2023 newsletter.)

It’s amazing how quickly the tide of popular opinion can change. And that’s true even among Christians. For example, there was a time—not long ago—when almost all Christians were committed to attending weekly worship every single Sunday unless providentially hindered or engaged in necessary work.

I think you’d agree that this is no longer typical. Sports, travel, recreation, “family time,” and a whole host of other activities keep us from gathering with the church. The list of things that take priority over regular church attendance grows longer by the year, to the point where most Christians are absent from gathered worship at least 1-2 times per month.

I don’t think this shift has been healthy for us. Yes, I know I’m a pastor who preaches every Sunday morning and so of course I would say that. But hear me out. There are at least nine reasons to gather with God’s church every single week without exception.

1. First, regular gathering is commanded. Yes, in Hebrews 10:24-25, we’re told not to neglect the assembly of believers. The original recipients of this command were most likely tempted to avoid the gathering because of persecution. And yet, they were still admonished to attend. But are our reasons for missing stronger than that? I don’t think so.
2. Second, regular attendance is necessary because if you’re not there, you might miss a surprising work of God. God doesn’t work on our timetable. He moves when and where he wants. Don’t you want to be there when He does?
3. Third, if you miss a Sunday, you might be missing an important word you need to hear. Preaching is “foolishness” to the world, but believers recognize that it is in the moments when the Bible is expounded that God often cuts right to the heart of an issue we’re facing in life. A sermon isn’t a text you read or even a recording you listen to, but a Spirit-empowered event in which we all participate. You don’t want to miss what God has for you.
4. Fourth, you might miss an opportunity to minister. God has given you spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ. But if you’re not there, how can you do that? All the parts of the body are needed all the time. God’s given you a role to fill but you must “show up” in order to serve.
5. Fifth, you should show up every week because you never know when you won’t be able to show up. Matters of health (both for yourself and your family), work requirements, and other realities may keep you from the gathering when you least expect it. But if you aren’t consistent when you can be, these times can do great spiritual damage. Remember when we had to stop gathering in person for 10 weeks in the spring of 2020? Who fared better during this season, those who were consistently participating beforehand, or the uncommitted?
6. Sixth, you should make regular, consistent attendance a priority because of who is watching your life. Your neighbors and friends hear what you say, but they also see what you do. Do your habits demonstrate that the body of Christ is important to you?
   This is especially the case if you have children. They aren’t dumb! They can see what you love. If a concert or a long weekend or a game or a tee time is keeping you from your church, they learn the lesson: Church is great if you have nothing “better” to do. The same goes for when your children are grown. Adult children need to see you “walk the walk” now more than ever: “Kids, we’re glad you’re visiting us this weekend. We’d love for you to join us at church, but if not, there’s food in the pantry and we’ll be back at lunchtime.”
7. Seventh, the benefits of gathered worship are cumulative. It’s like eating healthy or going to the gym. Consistency over time will bring about the change you want to see. Look back on your life: weren’t you more likely to grow in the times when you were consistent in gathering with God’s people?
8. Eighth, you need to gather with God’s people because of the reality of “blind spots.” A blind spot is an area of our life that is visible to others but not to us. By definition, you don’t know what they are. Gathering with God’s people keeps us free from self-deception.
9. Finally, gathering with God’s people points us to the goal of life: To one day gather around the throne in perfect fellowship with God and with His people in the New Creation. Biblical, gathered worship is designed to model this for us, to remind us that this is where our lives ought to be directed, that this is what we ought to value, that all other life priorities will wear out and disappoint. So be there!