When was the last time that you sincerely thought about the importance of being faithful in church attendance? Likewise, when was the last time that you gave much consideration as to the benefits to you and your family being in the church worship services? Too often, we scurry around on Sunday morning trying to get everyone fed, dressed, and out the door to go to church without giving much attention as to the reasons we go. And if we are honest, we allow the stress of the former week to override our joy in the church services – and there are many times that we give in to those pressures, which lead us to not showing up at all.
Very often you will hear the pastor quote the following commandment from Hebrews 10:25,
“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.”
However, what must also be read are the previous verses in this passage.
Hebrews 10:19-24 states,
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
As you see from the previous verses, when we consider who we are in Christ – and especially the fact that Jesus Christ is our high priest over our assembly – our desire should be to assemble with our brethren at all of our church services (Sunday School, Sunday morning / afternoon worship services, Wednesday evening Bible study) so that we can consider one another; to encourage one another unto love and to good works. And we do so with anticipation and desire “as we see the day (of worship) approaching”.
Consider for a moment the upside of having your family in the church services. You and your children learn the truths of God’s Word together. Your children are taught foundational truths that Jesus really loves them, cares for them and wants His best for them. If we are negligent in teaching our children about the love of Christ, they will not run to Him in their hour of need (and especially in their formative years when they have many unanswered questions) – but they will be led to turn to others for comfort and guidance. Our children need to be taught the importance of developing a strong relationship with Jesus Christ – through the lives of their parents and grandparents. Yes, our children need to see this relationship throughout the week; but they also need to understand that assembling together during our worship services strengthens our resolve in the Lord, as well as to better equip ourselves to live as godly people throughout the week.
If our families are to be strong in the Lord, we need to understand the foundational principles of “faith”. Faith is more than just a noun or even a verb. True faith looks at the “object” of our faith (who is Jesus Christ) and drives our desire to worship Him, encourage others in Him, and to lead others to know Him as Savior.
Hebrews 11:1,6 states,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Because of who Jesus Christ is, He moves us to have a greater desire to serve Him. We also read that God receives honor and glory when we assemble together to worship Him, and then to take His Gospel message into the world.
Ephesians 3:21,
“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
When we assemble together, our families will become stronger in the Lord, and our children will come to truly understand the essence of John 3:16,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
So, how important is church attendance to you and your family?
