Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Traditionally when asked the question, “Why should I go to church?” it is usually met with this statement found in the verse above. You may even know someone who is tired of hearing you say, “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together…” 

However, we should not simply ignore a verse in the Bible just because it makes someone feel uncomfortable. The Bible is the Bible—period; which is the Word of God. But how we present truth requires some thought. Any truth carried to the extreme can be wrong. The truth is never wrong, but how you deliver that truth, repeatedly, pushing and shoving it down someone’s throat… can be a turn-off because of your stubborn persistence. However, we should go to church… and especially, the right church.

Acts 2:46 says, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart…” When the church was born in Acts chapter 2, there were meeting places called ‘temples’. Going to the temple was a regularly practiced custom for the Jews. But many of these new believers in Jesus simply went from in house to house, just to hear the Words of Jesus taught.

Therefore, let’s look at the context of Hebrews 10:24-25. It says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together….”

We are to congregate together at an agreed upon location; i.e., a house, a building, or a barn, and we are to come together with a purpose in mind, and that is to be a blessing to each other. The church you attend should be a place where you are built up and not beat down. When you leave, you should feel grateful that you were there and not wish you’d never attended.

A church should not be a place of wars and “rumors of wars.”  When Jesus prophesied this in Matthew 24, He was not talking about the church. Yet a warring church is what many have attended, and now they no longer go to church. When believers’ come together, it should be a place where believers “consider one another” stirring up love and good works. Simply put; be considerate of each other. When you promote love and good deeds, you are being considerate of others.

The church should be a place where you are loved. Love should take priority over every disgruntlement, because even Christians can become disgruntled. If the Word is preached and you are being fed the revealed truth of Jesus; then choose to let love become the primary theme of your conversation and mannerisms.

The church has always been filled with a mixture of nationalities, cultures and opinions, but Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  One of the most needed elements of any successful church group is for the people to “continue steadfastly” in the Word. If you’re going to continually hear “the apostles doctrine”, then you’re going to have to attend church somewhere. In other words... be as faithful to your church as often as you possibly can. Remember, you need your church body for fellowship, just as much as it needs you.

One day Peter entered Caesarea and Cornelius gathered some of his family and close friends together. And the Bible says in Acts 10:27 “he went in and found many who had come together.”  But he continues in the next verse and says, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.”  So the church had its opposition, but it remained the church and continued to meet together throughout the New Testament. In others words, the church stayed the church.

That’s why Hebrews 10:25 said, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Now I believe the “Day approaching” is the day when Jesus will return. Paul doesn’t say to badger people in order to get them into church. But he does say to “exhort one another” or encourage one another to go to church.

In laymen’s terms, he was saying, ‘don’t forget to go to church’, as it has become the habit of others. Some may not attend church at all. Acts 2:47 said that the church was “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” 

Do you know someone who has stopped attending church? Are you pounding on them to try and “compel them to come in”, or are you practicing what this verse says…? “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” People will not come to a church where they are constantly pressured to come. But they will respond to love and we are to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”  …Think about it!