WHY SHOULD WE GO TO CHURCH?

Philippines Update: Nothing new to report this week. Studying continues on the book of Mark and I have prepared evaluation forms for the students to encourage and help their peers improve in their preaching.
 
Have you ever asked yourself why we attend church? Answers could vary from the age and social status of others who attend, or worship style, or safety and cleanness of the nursery, or available children's programs, length and time of service, or even parking. Others answers may focus on denominational background, or millennium views, or views on the Sovereignty of God in salvation, or views on Israel, or any number of theological issues. These reasons all have a place in choosing what church we attend. But why should we go to church? Here is one important reason.
The first verses that come to mind are from 1 Corinthians 14, "On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church."(3-4) "...so that the church may be built up." (v5). "...how will I benefit you..." (v6). "...strive to excel in building up the church." (v12). "...not being built up."(v17) "...in order to instruct others..." (v19). "What then brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up." (v26). It seems obvious to me that we are to go to church with the intention of building up others in the body of Christ and in turn expect to be built up as well. Our goal for Sunday morning should be to go and build others up in whatever way we can. Hebrews exhorts us to "exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (3.13) And also "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." (10.23-24)

The goal of seeking to build others up as we meet together for church is also taught in Ephesians 4.11-16, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Pastors are to equip the congregation to minister to build itself up. You as a believer have a part to play in this building up process. This is not only a reason why we should go to church but how we should go to church. Come out on Sunday morning and build someone else up and be built up. Ask God to show you this week how you can be a "body builder" this week in your local church.