Do I have to go to church on Sunday?

Do I really have to go to church on Sundays?  As a youth pastor, I get this question a lot.  Teens in particular struggle with waking up early on Sundays, sitting through a sermon that is primarily geared toward adults, and being deprived from their video games for hours on end.

But, if we adults are honest, we struggle with those things too.  Sometimes its just been a long week and it would be so much simpler and easier to just stay home on Sunday morning.  There are Sundays when we attend church and for whatever reason just don't feel like we got much out of the sermon.  And that's not even mentioning the fact that going to church causes us to miss the first half of the game on TV.  These things are normal.  So... do I really have to go to church on Sundays?



Here is a thought.  If Sunday morning is all about you, it becomes really easy to want to skip going to church.  If the sermon is about what you learn from it, if the trip to the church is about you having a good morning, if the point of everyone getting together is for you to have a great time. . . then its really tough sometimes to figure out why you should even go.

But what if church on Sundays isn't actually about what can be done for you?

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -- Hebrews 10:25

Why does Paul say we should make sure we keep getting together as the church on Sundays?  We get together to encourage each other.  He spells that out a bit more in the previous verse.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  -- Hebrews 10:24

Going to church on Sundays is not just about what can be done for you, but what you can do for others!  Just think about this for a moment.  Every Sunday, there are people who come to church who have had a really rough week and could use a listening ear.  There are people struggling with sadness and even depression who could use some encouraging words.  There are people who feel lonely who could use a friend.  There are people with questions about life and faith who could use some advice from someone who has gone through similar situations.  There are children in classes who could use teachers.  There are ministries from worship to greeting that could use volunteers.  When you go to church, are you going to see what you can get or are you going with the intent to give?

We go to church on Sundays for a lot of reasons.  Certainly we hope to grow by listening to a good sermon, have fun with fellow Christians, be inspired by good worship, and more.  But lets be honest.  There will be days when those things just don't happen.  Maybe the sermon is one we have heard before or just doesn't connect with us.  Shoot, as a preacher, there have been Sundays I felt like I dropped the ball.  Maybe the worship team didn't seem to practice or had technical problems.  Maybe you end up missing out on a fun event outside of church.  If those were the only reasons to go to church, you might even feel like church failed you that Sunday.

But an important reason to go to church is often overlooked.  You have something to give to others!  Through volunteering, teaching a class, listening to a friend, praying with someone, or encouraging a fellow Christian you can serve Christ and help to build up the body of believers to keep it strong.  Don't forget this important aspect of church.  Go to church with a heart set on helping others.  You have a part to play.  Don't just come to receive.  Come to church to give to and bless others.

Take a few moments to think about new ways you can be a blessing to the body of Christ this Sunday.  You may find ideas by thinking about things you wish others would do for you.  Then go do it this Sunday!