What does the Bible say about going to church?
Have you been told that you are required to attend church at least once a week? That it’s an obligation? Like, somehow, attending a meeting inside a building ensures you go to heaven. That is hardly the case. In fact, the Bible does not mandate that Christians are required to attend church. So, what does the Bible say about going to church and what do we need to do?
The Bible encourages church attendance
While you won’t find Scriptures espousing obligatory days that you need to attend church, you will find some key reasons why you should go to church. Here’s what the Bible does say:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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 10:24-25 NIV).
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20 NIV).
“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5 NASB1995).
Church builds community
You’ve probably heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise kids.” The truth is that it takes a village to just live life. We were not meant to live alone, and it is sometimes hard to meet and form relationships of any kind. Attending a church offers you the opportunity to forge friendships — for celebrating, caring, nurturing, helping and encouraging you. The Bible mentions how beneficial community is to the Christian walk several times. Check out some of the mentions:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV).
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 NIV).
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).
Jesus attended church
Did you know that Jesus attended church? It’s not something we may think of or hear about a lot. But He did. Jesus spent a lot of time in the temple; He even disappeared from His parents once and was later found in the temple courts and responded, “Why were you searching for me? … Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).
The church can help grow your faith
Your involvement in the church can actually help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Not only will you have the opportunity to hear sermons to help you learn about God’s Word, you should also be able to join a Bible study for in-depth teaching and fellowship. Here’s what the Bible says about the church helping to grow your faith:
“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NASB1995).
Church offers a place for worship
Since the Bible doesn’t specifically demand that you attend church, it’s easy to not go. You think, “I can worship anywhere.” While that’s true, attending church regularly helps to carve out time for worship that is uninterrupted. It allows you to fully surrender to Jesus. Here’s what the Bible has to say about worship:
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 NIV).
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV).
“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him — his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” (Psalm 68:4-5 NIV).
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s purpose and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.