“Not Just About Church Attendance”
By Zach Wood
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Out of all the years I have used this Scripture through devotionals or sermons, I have always emphasized how important it is that people attend church on Sundays as it teaches that we should not give up meeting together.
I have always heard this verse shared with others and preached as a way to tell people that they need to attend church, but people don’t like being told what they should do. People have many reasons why they don’t want to attend church regularly. As I’ve pondered this Scripture more, I’m seeing it in a different light now. Not only should this verse teach and instruct that we should not give up meeting together, but it also sheds another light as well.
One of the great things we can do when we come together as believers in worship is to encourage each other. When we come together and share what is going on in our lives and get a little deeper with each other, we can help one another and hold each other accountable. Attending church provides opportunities to encourage each other as a family of believers. This is what we should really focus on and not just telling people they should attend.
When people give their reasons for not attending, I try to encourage them and share that it provides an atmosphere where we can encourage one another as brothers and sisters. I think it would be wise if we focused on this aspect more as it focuses on the fact that we need each other for encouragement and to be lifted up, especially in times of struggle and discouragement.
We should find ways, through fellowship of worship on Sunday, to seek other brothers and sisters out and encourage them. We desperately need encouragement these days in the midst of so much discouragement. I want to encourage all of us that it isn’t just about the fact that we should attend church, but also the importance of how attending gives us the opportunity to lift one another up and encourage each other as brothers and sisters.
Maybe you are reading this and it has been a while since you’ve darkened the doors of a church. Perhaps you could give it a try again and look at church in a different way? Go with the attitude that it isn’t about going just because God wants us to, but because it also provides an atmosphere to get to know others and find encouragement and accountability.
By Zach Wood
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Out of all the years I have used this Scripture through devotionals or sermons, I have always emphasized how important it is that people attend church on Sundays as it teaches that we should not give up meeting together.
I have always heard this verse shared with others and preached as a way to tell people that they need to attend church, but people don’t like being told what they should do. People have many reasons why they don’t want to attend church regularly. As I’ve pondered this Scripture more, I’m seeing it in a different light now. Not only should this verse teach and instruct that we should not give up meeting together, but it also sheds another light as well.
One of the great things we can do when we come together as believers in worship is to encourage each other. When we come together and share what is going on in our lives and get a little deeper with each other, we can help one another and hold each other accountable. Attending church provides opportunities to encourage each other as a family of believers. This is what we should really focus on and not just telling people they should attend.
When people give their reasons for not attending, I try to encourage them and share that it provides an atmosphere where we can encourage one another as brothers and sisters. I think it would be wise if we focused on this aspect more as it focuses on the fact that we need each other for encouragement and to be lifted up, especially in times of struggle and discouragement.
We should find ways, through fellowship of worship on Sunday, to seek other brothers and sisters out and encourage them. We desperately need encouragement these days in the midst of so much discouragement. I want to encourage all of us that it isn’t just about the fact that we should attend church, but also the importance of how attending gives us the opportunity to lift one another up and encourage each other as brothers and sisters.
Maybe you are reading this and it has been a while since you’ve darkened the doors of a church. Perhaps you could give it a try again and look at church in a different way? Go with the attitude that it isn’t about going just because God wants us to, but because it also provides an atmosphere to get to know others and find encouragement and accountability.
