Is Church Attendance Enough?

Holding Fast to Our Faith: The Importance of Being the Church
In Hebrews 10:23-26, we find a powerful message about what it truly means to be the church. It's not just about attending a building on Sunday mornings, it's about being an active, engaged member of the body of Christ.

What Does It Mean to "Hold Fast" to Our Faith?
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23)
Holding fast means maintaining a firm grip on what we believe. It means standing strong in our faith, even when challenges come. Why? Because God is faithful to His promises. Our faith isn't based on shifting circumstances but on the unchanging character of God.

How Should Christians Provoke One Another?
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24)
The word "provoke" might sound negative, but here it means to stimulate or encourage. As believers, we're called to intentionally motivate each other toward love and good works. This might mean gently correcting a brother or sister who's harboring anger or acting unlovingly.
Remember, it's only contentious if we choose to receive it that way. When done in the right spirit, holding each other accountable points us toward Christ-likeness.

Why Is Church Attendance So Important?
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
This verse isn't just about showing up to a building, it's about being an active part of the body of Christ. We come together not just to fulfill an obligation but to encourage one another, especially as we see Christ's return drawing near.

What Happens When We Sin Willfully?
"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27)
This passage takes on a sobering tone. In context, the "willful sin" being addressed relates directly to the previous verses about not forsaking the assembly. When believers choose to disconnect from the body of Christ after knowing the truth, there are serious consequences.

Are All Christians Going to Be Judged?
Yes, all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. As 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
This isn't about salvation, that's secured through faith in Christ. Rather, it's about accountability for how we lived as believers.

What Will Happen to Our Works at Judgment?
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 explains that our lives are built on the foundation of Christ, but the materials we use to build are our choice:
  • Gold, silver, and precious stones: Works done through the Spirit
  • Wood, hay, and stubble: Works of the flesh
When we stand before God, His consuming fire will test our works. Those done from a heart of worship will endure, while those done from selfish motives will be burned up.

Why Is Being Part of a Church Body So Critical?
When we choose not to be part of the body of Christ, we're engaging in willful sin. Just as a severed finger cannot survive apart from the hand, we cannot thrive spiritually when disconnected from the church.
The choices we make affect not just ourselves but the entire body. Each member is vital, there are no unimportant parts in God's design. When we withdraw, we choose a path that leads to spiritual loss.

What Does It Mean to Be the Church Rather Than Just Attend Church?
Being the church means:
  1. Actively communicating with and supporting fellow believers
  2. Responding to others' needs and prayer requests
  3. Using your gifts to serve the body
  4. Participating in outreach to the community
  5. Holding each other accountable in love
It's not about checking a box of attendance but about living as a connected member of Christ's body.

Life Application
This week, consider how you're functioning as part of the body of Christ. Are you merely attending church, or are you being the church? Here are some questions to reflect on:
  1. Am I actively encouraging other believers toward love and good works?
  2. How am I using my gifts to serve the body of Christ?
  3. Am I willing to receive godly correction from others?
  4. What "willful sins" might I be committing by disconnecting from church life?
  5. Are my works building with gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, hay, and stubble?

Remember, every choice we make either strengthens or weakens the body. When we choose to be active, engaged members of Christ's church, we're not only obeying God's command but also ensuring that our lives produce lasting fruit that will endure the testing fire.
Don't settle for merely attending church. Be the church God has called you to be, a vital, connected member of His body, provoking others to love and good works as we await Christ's return.
Posted in

No Comments


Recent

Archive

Amped Lamp Bible Bread of Life CSB Canvas and Clay Chosen Christlike Christ Creation Creator Do You Don't Just Listen ESV Father of Lights Give God Can God Heals God Will God is Love God knows best God of All Comfort God of Impossible God the Father God's Blessings God's Word Gods Glory Gods Leading Gods Resume Gods Word Godsays He Can When I Can't He>i Healer His Purpose His Way HisStory Holy Spirit Holy I am God's Child I can because He did I do IAm IN Christ Illumination Jesus Christ Jesus made me new Jesus Just History KJV Leave the Light On Liberty Life goes on Lifesnotaboutyou Light the Way Living Sacrifice Love God Love Your Enemies Love your neighbors Love MEV MKJV Make Up Application Merry Christmas More Christ Music that Moves Music NIV NKJV NLT Not Mine Obey Our Least for His Best Poor in Spirit Recieve Royal Scripture Serving Others The History Book The Life The Way The Word Time to Die Try Jesus WordofGodSpeak Work of Art Workmanship aboveall all things ammo areyoulistneing ask for help ask attitude of gratitude bad friends be loving beattitudes beloved beseting sin bitter baptist bitterness bitter blessed brain cache brainwashing bridled brokeness brokenness broken busted bubbles christian church at home church comforting comfort complicated confession confident conforming confrontation content conviction crying darkness decietful destitute devotion die to self do it well do it doingtheWord don't quit easy faithcomesbyhearing faith fatter fat favorite child fear of the Lord fear over faith fear find finish focus on Christ follow Jesus follow the Spirit forever forget forgiveness forgive free from sin freedom future get IN God's Plan get In Christ get humble getting humbled gettingoverit gift giving goback godislove godly testimony good example good friends grace harsh healing heal history honest humility humilty hunger hurting hurt iamtheenemy identity imaginations investing investment jesuswins joy just ask knock lame lay it aside liberal life is hard lifesnotaboutme light like Christ limited limitles limits living for we losetowin losing love like God love like Jesus love not hate love one another loving relationship lyingtoyourself made new makeaplan making plans meekness meek merciful mercy ministry mom said motives matter motives mourn move on need help new stuff new no condemnation no means no nosuchthing obedience open opportunity oppression pain pasthurt peacemaker peace peculiar planning playing dead playing possum poor posting poured out praise Him praise praisingJesus prayer praying humbly praying pray prisoner pure purity race real faith rebellious repent restoration rest righteousness sacrifice salvation scriptures second hand seek showthemJesus sin sick sing sin speaking special spirit filled spiritual warfare stillhurts stinking thinking strength strongholds supplication sustanence swagger swag take a stand texting the Lord is my Shepherd the Rock the heart the law thendoit thirst times are tough tired? transforming transparency true understanding unforgiveness victory wakeup walk this way walk with Jesus walking dead walking in the light walking in the new walking we choose we know weak weary wewininJesus where is God whisper why am I here wicked wisdom wise words words work out works of worship works or worship works work worship yoke you have my word