This last Sunday, I preached a sermon titled, “Why Should We Go to Church?” As I introduced the sermon, I repeatedly asked the question in various forms. A lady in our church sent me this text later. I was not aware this was going on at all. Here is what she said:
“So I was taking care of my grandkids this weekend so their parents could celebrate their anniversary. It was up to me to get them ready for church (no small chore). I literally brought one of them screaming and handed them to the nursery workers at church (I owe them BIG!) Everything was going fairly well until you announced the sermon…”Why should we go to church?” My seven-year-old granddaughter, who I thought was not paying any attention at all, suddenly gasps, stands up, and raises her hand. Mortified, I told her to sit down. She said, “But I KNOW why we should go to church!” I asked, “Why do you think we should go to church?” She responded, “Because it makes God and Jesus happy and it’s where we learn to have faith.” I couldn’t argue with her. It sounded like she had a good hold on things. I said, “That sounds right, but let’s be quiet.” I thought we were good, but you kept asking the question throughout the sermon. Every time you asked the question, she tried to stand up and raise her hand. She said, “But why is no one else raising their hand?” I tried to explain, “Maybe you know why we should go to church, but maybe others don’t. Let’s be quiet and listen.” Incredulously, she said, “If I (with as much emphasis as a seven-year-old whispering little girl can put on the word, “I”) know why we go to church, why doesn’t everyone else?” It was a good question. I am sorry if we were loud and distracting today, but we were listening. At least she was. Thanks for the blessing. It was a great service!” Comparing what the girl said with what I said, we were on the same page for sure. We were looking at Hebrews 10:19-25.
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:19–25, NASB95)
Why should we go to church? (Hand raised) According to this passage, it is not about the preacher, the music, the children’s ministry, or the facility. It is not about the friends, family, or tradition of attending. We should go to church to draw near to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) We come to draw near to God through Jesus because we can. In Christ, we are forgiven. He has opened the veil into the HolyPlace and we have direct access to God. And yes, it makes God and Jesus happy. (verses 19-22) Why should we go to church? (Hand raised) to hold fast to our confession or to show that our confession of Jesus as Lord is more than just words. No one is born, “just believing in God.” We must be born again (John 3:3). We are born again as we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and that He lived our righteousness, died in our place, and has a right to rule and reign over our world and heart. (Romans 10:9-10) as we serve in church, we have to surrender our pride and follow Him by faith. (v. 23) This is part of learning to have faith.
Lastly, why should we go to church? (Again, hand raised) for the sake of others’ faith. It is not about what I can get, but how I can give and serve and love others. This is where we get things wrong. We think we go to church for us. Since we go to church for us, when things don’t go our
way, we have conflict (James 4:1). When we go to church to consider ways to help others grow in their faith, we get it right and look like Jesus who did what was needed for our faith to even be possible. (verse 24-25) Yes, to grow in our faith and to help others. Lastly, don’t forget, Jesus is coming soon! This little girl could have preached my message. Why do we struggle to understand why we go to church? (hand raised)