Why Christians Should Attend Church

IWHA IS THAT?

ATTENDING CHURCH IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

Illus: Statistics reveal that the risk of fatal heart disease is almost twice as high for the non-churchgoer than for church-goers according to a study made by Dr. George W. Comstock of the university’s Department of Epidemiology. (Epi-demon-olgy)

There must be some truth to that because…

Illus: You can hear people when they attend a good Bible-preaching church, frequently say as they leave, “I am glad I came to church…I feel better now that I came.”

That could be because the Bible tells us in James 4:8 that if WE DRAW NEAR TO HIM HE WOULD DRAW NEAR TO US.

And when people attend church they have taken a step of drawing nigh to God.

Bible preachers preach on church attendance for at least two other reasons, as follows:

(1) BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD COMMANDS IT

Notice, God’s Word does not say, “If you think it is a good idea, you can attend church regularly!”

The fact is, God commands church attendance as much as he commands “Thou shalt not steal” or “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

The Lord clearly commands us in Hebrews 19:25, to “FORSAKE NOT THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER.”

Illus: Remember that during the pandemic, when churches were closed down for months, we read that we had more suicides, divorces, fussing and fights and complaining than usual.

God Himself saw fit to establish the church. We, the family of God, need that time when we can come together and break bread as the family of God.

So one reason a preacher should preach on church attendance is because the Bible teaches it as a command.

But he preaches on church attendance for another reason.

(2) BECAUSE HE IS A BIBLE-PREACHING PREACHER

If a minister is going to be a Bible-preaching pastor, he is going to have to preach on church attendance. This is something God’s Word teaches.

However, any time a preacher preaches about church attendance, he needs to make two things very clear.

Such as:

(1) ATTENDING CHURCH WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE

Illus: One man said it very eloquently: “Going to church will not save you any more than going to a garage will make you a mechanic.”

Church attendance will not save us but it is something we are to do after we are saved.

(2) ATTENDING CHURCH IS SOMETHING YOU DO BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD

Let’s face it; some people do not love the Lord. They say they do but their life does not reflect they do.

• There are a lot of men who say they love their wives, but their life does not reflect that they do.

• There are a lot of women who say they love their husbands but their life does not reflect that.

WHY DO SINNERS NOT LOVE TO ATTEND A BIBLE-PREACHING CHURCH?

Let me tell you why.

Most people who love sin do not want to attend a church and hear a Bible preacher preach about their sins. They love their sins - they are devoted to their sins.

Let me illustrate, suppose you have a good friend and you hear somone talking about your good friend in a bad way.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

You would speak up for our good friend. That last thing you would want to hear someone talking about your good friend.

The reason they do not want to attend church IS BECAUSE THEY LOVE THEIR SINS! And they do not want to hear any preacher putting down something you love

Illus: There are sinners that would rather go to a dentist and have a root canal than to attend a church and hear a man preach about their sins that they love.

Illus: Every Bible preacher that preaches against sin has had someone tell them, “I DO NOT INTEND TO COME BACK TO THIS CHURCH BECAUSE YOU PREACHED ABOUT….(A SIN THAT THEY LOVED).

However, there are people who say they love the Lord and they will not attend the house of God for six months or a year.

Illus: Suppose a fellow claims he loves his wife and he does not come home in six months. Do you think he could convince his wife that he loves her?

Illus: Speaking of love, before marriage, I can never remember a time when my wife begged me to come see her. (I went to see her so much that when I arrived at her house her parents must have said to each other, “Here he comes again!)

Illus: I was afraid they were going to start charging me rent.

• The fact is, because of my love for her, every time I got a chance I went to see her

• The fact is, I was never looking for an excuse not to go; I was always looking for an opportunity to go.