Why Do I go to Church?

Hebrews 10:24-25 gives us one good reason. The Bible tells us to. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I love to get together with the entire body of Valley Bible Church to sing praises to our God. I think it helps to be reminded every week that there are several hundred other people out there in our community all week who love and serve Jesus where they are. We come together at church like football players get into the huddle after every play. The huddle is not the game. The game is what you do after you plan and encourage in the huddle. Coming to church is not the game. The real game is what you do all week. The huddle is to be encouraged and to plan for what to do in the game during the week.

My parents had a friend in Bible School who was totally deaf but who always went to church and sat right down front. Someone asked him why he went to church when he could not get anything out of it. He said, "I go to church to show whose side I am on." He wanted to be on the side of those who worship God and believe in Jesus.

Our eight year old grandson complained to his dad, "We just went to church last week. I don't want to go. Why do I have to go again?"

It was shortly after Ethan's birthday. His dad answered, "The day you were born was so special to the people who love you that we celebrate that day every single year."

He continued. "The day that Jesus rose from the dead is so special to the people who love him that we celebrate that day every week. Sunday is 'Alive day.' It is 'resurrection day.' It is a resurrection party. Let's go! That's why we get together."

So that whole thought every week about church, sometimes we go, sometimes we don't go. We go to church to celebrate, "Alive Day."

Scott Linscott has been a pastor in Maine for about 25 years. He wrote on his blog several ways to turn our kids into being apathetic about their faith. It is a great read that Seth posted on his FaceBook. Some of the ways were: teach your children that school is more important by allowing them to skip for school activities or homework. Teach them that money is more important by letting them work instead of going to church. Drive hundreds of miles for a couple of soccer games but tell them that youth group is too far to drive to.

So why do you go to church? What causes you to miss? What are you communicating to your kids by the reasons you miss?