We can often think of all kinds of reasons why we shouldn’t go to church. Maybe we’ve had a busy week and just want some time to ourselves. Maybe we feel like we’ve not been getting anything from it. Maybe we don’t really like joining in with a big group of people. But going to church is something we really need to be doing. Here are just a few reasons why we should: 1) It’s what God wants us to do. ‘You should not stay away from the church meetings…but you should meet together and encourage each other’ (Hebrews 10:25 NCV). 2) It’s an opportunity to meet with other believers and be part of a community. Romans 12:5-6 reminds us that ‘in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us’ (NIV). We’re stronger together, and can achieve more when we work as a team, where people with different skills and gift can all contribute to the church’s work. 3) It’s a place where we can give and receive encouragement. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica: ‘encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NCV). We should all be doing the same. 4) It’s a time we can fully devote to praising and worshipping God. Psalm 29:2 says, ‘Praise the LORD for the glory of his name; worship the LORD because he is holy’ (NCV). This doesn’t mean that church is the only place and time we should be praising God – we can thank Him anywhere, anytime – but attending church helps us make sure we’re regularly focusing on Him.

What now?

Make a list of all the positives about going to church – how it makes you feel, things you’ve learned, ways it inspires you to use your gifts, and so on. Keep your list. Whenever you don’t feel like going to church, re-read the positives for some encouragement.