The Bible has much to say about the local assembly of believers. In fact, the word “church” or “churches” occurs 93 times in the New Testament. The word “church” comes from a Greek word that means “a calling out”, i.e. an “assembly.” In professing Christianity, the importance of gathering together on a regular basis for worship has diminished. To many it has become a routine of drudgery though it ought not to be. Consequently, it would do us well to remind ourselves of the purpose of (as we often call it) “church-going.”
There are several good, scriptural reasons for coming together as believers. The first is to worship God corporately. God is to be glorified (Isaiah 42:8) and he is in the business of seeking worshippers (John 4:23-24). Corporate worship is part of God’s plan for now and will be through eternity to come (Isaiah 66:23). We simply cannot worship corporately without gathering together.
We worship God through the preaching and teaching of his word. We gather to hear godly men minister the word of the Lord to our hearts through faithful preaching and teaching. God speaks to us through his word and we worship him by yielding to and obeying his truth (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 138:2). We gather together to hear his word that we may be conformed to his image through our obedience. This glorifies God.
We gather together that we may enjoy the fellowship of the saints. Christianity is a communal affair. God saved us by his grace through the gospel of Jesus Christ and, consequently, “set the members every one of them in the body [the church] as it has pleased him” (I Corinthians 12:18). Paul reminds us that “we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5). We gather together to encourage one another in the things of God. The Christian life is not an easy path. It is marked by our own sinful tendencies within and much opposition from without. God made the body to be a place of mutual encouragement.
We gather together to minister of our gifts one to another (I Corinthians 12:7). Every believer has received at least one spiritual gift (Ephesians 4:7) which God intends for us to use in the local assembly for the benefit of building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:16). The local church is a place of ministry for each believer.
Finally, when we assemble together we learn the value of corporate prayer. We learn of each other’s needs – physical, material, spiritual – and are exhorted to pray for one another. We pray as a church for the advance of God’s will, the spread of the gospel, and the ushering in of his kingdom. Christ himself taught “my house shall be called the house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13).
Finally, we come together that we might have the joy of giving back to the Lord from that which he has given us. Yes, church is a place where we bring our offering unto God. Giving unto the Lord whether it be praise, thanksgiving, or of our material blessing is an act of worship. This brings us back to that which the Father seeks, i.e. he “seeketh such [true worshippers] to worship him” (John 4:23).
From the Chaplain 