Many of the greatest challenges Christians face are perennial. Take the temptation to neglect consistent presence in the weekly worship gathering: even 2,000 years ago, some folks were just “too busy” to make it on Sundays; other opportunities trumped church involvement. The Lord addresses this problem in Hebrews 10:24-25:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
And yet, although this is a perpetual issue, recent years have seen a trend toward even more sporadic Sunday church presence. Whereas once it was typical for most believers to attend 3-4 Sundays a month, now it seems many come more like 2-3 (or even 1-2) times monthly.
I know this is a complex matter, and that issues of your life stage, health, employment, extracurricular opportunities, and extended family needs (etc.) impact Sunday scheduling decisions. But here at Goshen, our Sunday gathering is primary. It’s our “Main Street” for coming together to pray, sing, preach, and be encouraged. And that includes Sunday School for all ages—we offer six adult classes that allow you to be known in a fellowship of believers, pray for and support each other, study Scripture, and walk with Jesus together.
To be sure, all week long there are small groups, ministry teams, Bible studies, kids’ clubs, prayer fellowships, discipleship groups, and service projects in which to engage here at Goshen. But, again, the Sunday morning gathering is primary—it’s our principal and vital assembly as a local church body. And we need to be there.
Hebrews 10:25 makes the penetrating point that neglecting to meet with your church family can become a “habit”: you let it slide a little bit, then a little more, and pretty soon you’re seeing all kinds of “reasons” to de-prioritize worship attendance. And with absence comes a loss of encouragement—for you, for others; the reason not to neglect meeting together is so we can encourage one another!
So I say to everyone in our church community, on the authority of Scripture and for our spiritual health: Do not neglect meeting together.
