Is attending church on a regular basis important?

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Solidlyhere

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If a person learns how to have a close experience with Jesus Christ, that is wonderful.
If you are in constant contact with the warmth of God's Love, you have GOT IT.
This person may not EVER need to go to Church again.
There are many such people, living in far-away places, and they KNOW God.

For the rest of us, going to Church helps stoke the fire of God's Love.
It gives us the perspective of Christianity, as seen through our Pastor's eyes.
It gives us other Christians to talk to, and maybe make friends with.

Church . . . it's a good place to hold-on-to a person's Christianity.
Those who can, do.
Those who can't, may not make it to Heaven.
 
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Kelly

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Reasons to go:

1. Corporate worship, lots of voices praising God at once.

2. Wisdom, a chance to hear a good sermon and either get some 'meat' or remind yourself of something you should know already.

3. Service - Help in the kid's church, the daycare, be an usher, play in worship, cook a meal, greet newcomers.

4. Fellowship with the saints. Those after church meetings and socials are there for you to get to know your brothers and sisters better.

5. Join a small group or ministry - Everything from bible studies to addiction recovery. Help or be helped.

...or you can go it alone.
 
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Lightbearer3

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Reasons to go:

1. Corporate worship, lots of voices praising God at once.

2. Wisdom, a chance to hear a good sermon and either get some 'meat' or remind yourself of something you should know already.

3. Service - Help in the kid's church, the daycare, be an usher, play in worship, cook a meal, greet newcomers.

4. Fellowship with the saints. Those after church meetings and socials are there for you to get to know your brothers and sisters better.

5. Join a small group or ministry - Everything from bible studies to addiction recovery. Help or be helped.

...or you can go it alone.
Excellent reasons brother.
 
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Lightbearer3

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If a person learns how to have a close experience with Jesus Christ, that is wonderful.
If you are in constant contact with the warmth of God's Love, you have GOT IT.
This person may not EVER need to go to Church again.
There are many such people, living in far-away places, and they KNOW God.

For the rest of us, going to Church helps stoke the fire of God's Love.
It gives us the perspective of Christianity, as seen through our Pastor's eyes.
It gives us other Christians to talk to, and maybe make friends with.

Church . . . it's a good place to hold-on-to a person's Christianity.
Those who can, do.
Those who can't, may not make it to Heaven.
Also very good answer.
 
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LLWHA

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Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt NOT be as the hypocrites [ARE]: for they love to pray standing in the churches and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, pray to thy Father in private; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jesus states here not to pray in churches. God gave permission for only one Church. God wants to live in the heart of man not in buildings.
Jesus was also the last Priest. You are now supposed to hook up with The Holy Spirit. No blind guides, no paid preachers. It totally all right to get together and talk about the Bible imho.
 
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Cris413

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Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt NOT be as the hypocrites [ARE]: for they love to pray standing in the churches and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, pray to thy Father in private; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jesus states here not to pray in churches. God gave permission for only one Church. God wants to live in the heart of man not in buildings.
Jesus was also the last Priest. You are now supposed to hook up with The Holy Spirit. No blind guides, no paid preachers. It totally all right to get together and talk about the Bible imho.

This is absolutely incorrect interpretation of this Scripture. In the full context of this Scripture...Jesus is by NO MEANS commanding you not pray in church.

What Jesus is saying in first several verses of Matthew Chapter 6 is not to be a fake. Not to have an appearance of holiness or righteousness and putting on a show for men to be reveared and approved by them.

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven

v5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For the love to pray standing in the synogogues and on the corners of the street, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you that have their reward

v7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words

v16 Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting.

Jesus is saying that when you give, when you pray, when you fast do it to the glory of God...not to impress people.
 
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Cris413

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To the OP. I personally feel attending church regularly is important.

Also important is attending church for the right reasons.

As noted by:

Solidlyhere

Kelly


Also important is attending the right church. A Bible based, Spirit led church under the shepherdship of an anointed Pastor/Teacher is very beneficial to spiritual growth and maturity.

If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...you're saved.

You don't "have" to go to church to have a relationship with Him. You don't "have" to go to church to receive the Holy Spirit. You don't "have" to attend church to grow in the Spirit...

but IMHO...going to the right church for the right reason is certainly beneficial for a healthy relationship with Him, exponential growth in the Spirit and more opportunity to serve Him.
 
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Lightbearer3

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To the OP. I personally feel attending church regularly is important.

Also important is attending church for the right reasons.

As noted by:

Solidlyhere

Kelly


Also important is attending the right church. A Bible based, Spirit led church under the shepherdship of an anointed Pastor/Teacher is very beneficial to spiritual growth and maturity.

If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...you're saved.

You don't "have" to go to church to have a relationship with Him. You don't "have" to go to church to receive the Holy Spirit. You don't "have" to attend church to grow in the Spirit...

but IMHO...going to the right church for the right reason is certainly beneficial for a healthy relationship with Him, exponential growth in the Spirit and more opportunity to serve Him.
The Bible does say: not to forsake the fellowship of the brethren..we can fellowship anywhere though. The Bible is clear I believe on points about leadership of a body of believers, protocol, prayer, etc., so it appears to me that God did mean for us to come together in corporate worship, to hear His word from the local Shepherd(pastor), God has always appointed leaders over His Flocks(old and new testament, Moses, Samuel, Paul, Peter and others) and to give into the ministry(tithes, offerings) has it is recorded in 1st Cor. 16:2, encouragement, fellowship, the Bible has much to say about our gathering together.

As to those who are unable to do so, God knows their hearts and will help them accordingly in other ways such as T.V, radio or His Spirit..We can't put God in a box, each situation is unique.
 
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Lightbearer3

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Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt NOT be as the hypocrites [ARE]: for they love to pray standing in the churches and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, pray to thy Father in private; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jesus states here not to pray in churches. God gave permission for only one Church. God wants to live in the heart of man not in buildings.
Jesus was also the last Priest. You are now supposed to hook up with The Holy Spirit. No blind guides, no paid preachers. It totally all right to get together and talk about the Bible imho.
I disagree with the point about praying in churches, like the other's I believe it is the intent of the heart.

I also believe that pastors should be paid and supported by the flock He shepherds, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads the corn" If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap in your carnal things? Paul states that it is ok for those who shepherd the flock to receive support for their work in God's kingdom. The priest in the Old Testament were also supported. Paul states this: What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I make the gospel without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. Paul chose not to receive of them, but he let them know it was good to support those who preach and serve in the kingdom of God. 1Cor. 9:7-18, read this and if this is not enough I will give more examples.
 
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Cris413

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The Bible does say: not to forsake the fellowship of the brethren..we can fellowship anywhere though. The Bible is clear I believe on points about leadership of a body of believers, protocol, prayer, etc., so it appears to me that God did mean for us to come together in corporate worship, to hear His word from the local Shepherd(pastor), God has always appointed leaders over His Flocks(old and new testament, Moses, Samuel, Paul, Peter and others) and to give into the ministry(tithes, offerings) has it is recorded in 1st Cor. 16:2, encouragement, fellowship, the Bible has much to say about our gathering together.

As to those who are unable to do so, God knows their hearts and will help them accordingly in other ways such as T.V, radio or His Spirit..We can't put God in a box, each situation is unique.

Absolutely sister! :thumbsup:
 
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New_Wineskin

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http://www.joywell.org/Sermons/dontmiss.html


I visited the above link and thought that this pator's sermon had some very good points, read it and see if you agree.

Why do you attend or not attend church on a regular basis?

I don't attend "church" because I *am* the Church .

But , you are referring to club meetings and using the usual term . I do get together with siblings in the Lord .

If attending these club meetings was important , it makes the Lord's death and ressurection meaningless . Righteousness is through faith in Him . I don't see how sitting in a specific building at a specific time and day each week automatically creates righteousness .
 
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Lightbearer3

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I don't attend "church" because I *am* the Church .

But , you are referring to club meetings and using the usual term . I do get together with siblings in the Lord .

If attending these club meetings was important , it makes the Lord's death and ressurection meaningless . Righteousness is through faith in Him . I don't see how sitting in a specific building at a specific time and day each week automatically creates righteousness .
No arguing with the fact that we are the "church", but we are told to come together as a unit of believers and there are instructions to the order of those meetings. Each person's walk with God varies, I don't judge your walk with God, have a blessed day.
 
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Cris413

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I don't attend "church" because I *am* the Church .

But , you are referring to club meetings and using the usual term . I do get together with siblings in the Lord .

If attending these club meetings was important , it makes the Lord's death and ressurection meaningless . Righteousness is through faith in Him . I don't see how sitting in a specific building at a specific time and day each week automatically creates righteousness .
I sit in a building pretty much every mon-fri and it doesn't make me anything except a reliable employee who earns a wage.

However, sitting in my church every sunday, attending ladies fellowship and bible study, participating in fellowship and prayer with my brothers and sisters, worshiping the lord in song, being under the shepherdship of and being taught by an anointed Pastor/Teacher, opportunity to serve, tithing and gifting ...all pretty beneficial stuff to my relationship with God and my service to Him.

I don't think it's about seeking righteousness...none of this makes me righteous....it adds tremendously to my joy in the Lord!
 
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BustedFlat

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There is nothing we can do to add to that what Christ Jesus did.

Going to church, baptism, communion, ... etc. none of that will add to the righteousness that his blood provides for us.

Having said that all these things are to remind us of His sacrifice for us.

We should want be baptized at least once as an adult.

We should want to have communion at least once a month, if we are spiritually ready for it.

We should want to attend services at least once a week, to fellowship, worship, praise, etc.

We should want to read our bibles, study our bibles and pray daily.

We should do these things with the heart of joy, wanting to do them to be closer to Him and not as the response to some outside pressure to do them.

If you are doing these things due to some commandment, or some sense of duty as a Christian then you are looking at this from your prospective and not that of Gods.

He wants you to want to worship, to praise, to fellowship with Him and with fellow believers, not to do it as an obligation, or something you do because you think it is what Christians must do.
 
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Lightbearer3

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I sit in a building pretty much every mon-fri and it doesn't make me anything except a reliable employee who earns a wage.

However, sitting in my church every sunday, attending ladies fellowship and bible study, participating in fellowship and prayer with my brothers and sisters, worshiping the lord in song, being under the shepherdship of and being taught by an anointed Pastor/Teacher, opportunity to serve, tithing and gifting ...all pretty beneficial stuff to my relationship with God and my service to Him.

I don't think it's about seeking righteousness...none of this makes me righteous....it adds tremendously to my joy in the Lord!
So true
 
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Lightbearer3

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There is nothing we can do to add to that what Christ Jesus did.

Going to church, baptism, communion, ... etc. none of that will add to the righteousness that his blood provides for us.

Having said that all these things are to remind us of His sacrifice for us.

We should want be baptized at least once as an adult.

We should want to have communion at least once a month, if we are spiritually ready for it.

We should want to attend services at least once a week, to fellowship, worship, praise, etc.

We should want to read our bibles, study our bibles and pray daily.

We should do these things with the heart of joy, wanting to do them to be closer to Him and not as the response to some outside pressure to do them.

If you are doing these things due to some commandment, or some sense of duty as a Christian then you are looking at this from your prospective and not that of Gods.

He wants you to want to worship, to praise, to fellowship with Him and with fellow believers, not to do it as an obligation, or something you do because you think it is what Christians must do.
"Want" is the operative word isn't it?
 
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