Fellowship On Purpose Series

We’re going to begin discussing the five purposes of the church by first looking at what the Bible says about fellowship. Dictionary.com defines fellowship as, “friendly relationship,” “companionship,” and “communion, as between members of the same church.”(1) The Lord wants us all to have close friendship and companionship with fellow believers – people of like mind and faith – and this is best accomplished by church attendance; or rather, being “involved” in a local church.

So, why should believers attend church? This is a question we need to address, for some individuals fail to see any real value in going to church. Someone once asked Winston Churchill, “Are you a pillar of the church?” He replied, “I am more of a flying buttress: I support it from the outside.”(2) How many believers could respond as Churchill? Perhaps you feel that church is important, but not enough to attend on a regular basis, and you only go occasionally.

If you’re someone who doesn’t attend church regularly, then what’s the reason? Perhaps you don’t go because you can’t stand being around a lot of people, and you don’t like others making a big deal that you showed up.

Comedian Alan King talked about his poor attendance record in church. His rabbi confronted him about the frequent absences and challenged King to make more concerted efforts to be in worship. King gave a long list of excuses that contained little merit. He then became defensive and stated, “Every time I come, people make a big deal about me being there. That makes me feel very uncomfortable.” The wise rabbi replied, “If you came more often they wouldn’t be that excited to see you!”

Perhaps you’re looking for the perfect church to attend and you can’t seem to find it. You’re looking for one that meets your needs, suits your time schedule, and is completely free of hypocrites. Each member of the Northend Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington received a special announcement in the mail, listing the many things that would be done for them at the upcoming “no-excuse-to-stay-home-Sunday.” Here’s what they were told (and, yes, this is a true story):

Cots would be available for all those who say that Sunday is their only day to sleep in. Eye drops would be supplied for all those who have red eyes from watching late Saturday-night television. Steel helmets would be given to those who say that the roof would cave in if they ever went to church, blankets for persons who think the church is too cold, fans for those who say it is too hot, scorecards for those wishing to list all the hypocrites present, and TV dinners for those who can’t go to church and also cook lunch. And then finally, the sanctuary would be decorated with Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those people who have never seen the church without them.(3)

Maybe you don’t see any real value in going to church because you feel that you could worship the Lord just as well on the golf course. It’s been said, “A Christian who says he worships God every Sunday morning on the golf course is really worshipping golf on God’s course.”(4)

Perhaps you reason that since your body is called the temple of the Holy Spirit, that God is with you every single place you go; and therefore, you can worship Him anywhere, including home. Paul did say, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). Christians can indeed worship God anywhere, and they should worship Him everywhere and all the time; but how does that exempt a person from attending church and fellowshipping with other believers?

Can you effectively worship the Lord on your own, if you separate yourself from the place that teaches people how to worship God? Why do you need to go to church? Is there something in it for you? Yes, there is something in it for you! There’s something in it for each and every one of us, and that’s what we’re going to look at in our message this morning. We’ll look at the benefits of fellowshipping with other believers by attending church.

Why Attend Church? We Need Each Other!

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

So, why should believers attend church? One good reason is that we need each other! Thomas Lea, in the Holman New Testament Commentary, says that these verses speak of our responsibility to one another to stir each other up to love and good works; and that we must help teach and motivate others in their Christian walk. Lea says this can only be done when Christ-followers meet together, and he states, “Christians who meet together with the aim of promoting godliness and love for one another can be remarkably successful in their ventures. Regular fellowship with believers is an essential ingredient in Christian growth.”(5)