why should a christian bother going to church?
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
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Adams's Study Notes
Week 1, March 9: Why Should Christians Bother Going To Church?
I can worship from anywhere.
My relationship with God is strictly personal.
This question is usually asked by someone who believes in God and claims to have a personal relationship but does not want to go to church on a regular basis.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The act of going to church is an observation of the Sabbath. Observation of the Sabbath is recognized as early as Exodus 16:23 and 20:10-11 (ten commandments) and was carried through the new testament where Jesus was teaching in the temple Mark 1:21. If Jesus being our perfect example went to temple maybe we should to.
The Sabbath:
The Sabbath is an observation of God resting on the 7th day after the creation of the earth
Genesis 2:2-3
2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
The Sabbath is a GIFT! God does not have to rest but gave us the Sabbath to rest.
The Sabbath was not just for the Children of Israel but was for those that came after them
Exodus 31:13
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
The Sabbath was made for man
Mark 2: 23-28 Also referenced in Luke 6
23And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
25And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
26How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Examples of Paul and Barnabas teaching in the Temple Acts 13:14-end
It Does not matter what day (Saturday or Sunday)
Colossians 2:16-19
16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
There are many reasons people will give for not wanting to go to church on a regular basis but the heart of the matter is a Lordship issue. Many people want Jesus to be their savior but not to be their Lord.
James 4:7-8
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Romans 13:1-2
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
We are members of the body of Christ. The body of Christ has diversities of gifts so if you are forsaking being a part of the body of Christ you can not have access to all of the spiritual gifts that you could have access to if you were are part of the body of Christ.
I Corinthians 12:4-31
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Some people say that going to church is not important because they can have a meaningful relationship with God through prayer and personal devotion
God has given us pastors and teachers to help us perfect our understanding and lead us to a deeper relationship with God
Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
I Peter 5:5-10
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
Philip and the Eunuch
Acts 8:30-31
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him
The New Testament is full of “one another” commands. We are to comfort one another, build up one another, confess our faults one to another, pray for one another and many more. How can we obey these directives if we stay away from the gathering of believers?
I Thessalonians 4:18, I Thessalonians5:11, James 5:16)
As a Christian we have a personal mission to Be Saved, Stay Saved and See Others Saved. It is impossible to have a fully balanced Christian life with out seeing others saved. When you minister to someone and see them saved they are looking to you as a person to help lead and guide them in their walk with God. With out associating yourself with other believers in a church environment with a God called pastor you have now become the pastor in the smallest of churches, you and the other person. A 100 fold Christian has only 2 positions on church, in one or starting one.
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach he gospel to every creature.
Another reason people give for not going to church is that it is boring, predictable or the same all the time.
Church is repetitious but so is life. The days of our lives are structured around cycles of work, eating, family and recreation times. Any of these activities can become boring if we don't strive to find something interesting or enjoyable about them. Also it would be unhealthy to only eat or sleep once a month or only on Christmas and Easter so how could it be healthy spiritually to only go to church that often.
I Corinthians 7:24
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Another reason people give for not wanting to go to church is that they had a bad experience in church and can’t bring themselves to go back.
The answer lies is in reconciliation. We must remind people that these things (while wrong) were done by man and not by God. Jesus will not hurt them, he has healed them, completely and forever. He has forgiven their sins, and he has forgotten them too.
II Corinthians 5:19-20
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
