Church attendance

A Positive Article on Church Attendance

“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

Dwight L. Moody

 

For many years I have clipped and filed various articles from church bulletins, magazines, and printed off e-mails on a wide variety of topics.  I have accumulated numerous file cabinets packed with files on just about any topic you can imagine. These have been invaluable to me over the years in my ministry in counseling and personal study as well as sermon and class preparation. 

One thing I have noticed over the years is that my file on “church attendance” has countless articles spanning 30 years, but there are very few positive ones in the file. 

Most begin with guilt or a sarcastic comparison to our attendance at work or sporting events and then a threat of eternal damnation and then a pointed exposition of the first half of Hebrews 10:25.

I’d like to offer another approach: 

While it is true that some folks attend worship out of: guilt, pressure, habit, tradition, or for the social aspects there is a growing group of folks that see the gathering of the saints for what God intended it to be. 

If you broaden your scope past the “not forsaking the assembly” part of Hebrews 10:24-25 you glean a better understanding of why we need to be together.  In verse 24 we are challenged to “stir up one another to love and good works” and in verse 25 we are called to “encourage one another.”  If you aren’t present, you miss out on that part. 

When the church meets it is a chance to share our lives together as we worship an omniscient God.  We get to pray, sing, commune, and give as a family.  We get to hear the Word of God taught, explained and applied to our present context.  We are made aware of the needs of our forever family members and we get the opportunity to meet needs as they arise.

The early church Luke described in Acts chapter 2:  devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship to breaking of bread and the prayers (v. 42),  sold their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need (v. 45),  attended the temple together and broke bread in their homes (v. 46), received their food with glad and generous hearts (V. 46), and praised God and had favor with all the people (v. 47).  With that mindset and outlook it is no wonder the early church grew.  They loved being together and their attitude and lifestyle was attractive and contagious. 

When you read through Acts and get a sense of the spirit working through the early church you pick up on the fact that they didn’t HAVE TO go to church; they GOT TO go to church. 

That’s my approach.  I come to worship to be with my forever family and to get and give hugs from folks who I have grown to love as we share a common mission and vision.  I am encouraged through the prayers and the singing of my brothers and sisters in Christ and I am humbled to have the honor of standing on the stage week after week presenting a message from God’s Word that always encourages and challenges me as well as the hearers.

No, I don’t HAVE TO worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ  I GET TO ...and I hate to miss it. 

So rather than “brow beat” or resort to guilt or preach attendance sermons to those who are actually in attendance my prayer is that folks will participate in worship with a sense of eager anticipation and grateful wonder. 

—Kent Jobe