Encouragement. We all need encouragement. Hopefully, we like to encourage others. That mutual encouragement is part of what God designed the worship service to accomplish. Look at the exhortation in Hebrews 10:24-25, “let us consider one another to provoke one another unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as you see the day drawing nigh.” Those verses demand we be present for the services of the church. There is no option given for those who are able.

I think it is interesting to note the emotional or relational language used in these verses. God said that worship is about: being considerate of others; motivating (provoking) others; not forsaking others (being loyal to the church); and exhorting (encouraging) others. Church services are about God and the church. Now lets say we skip the services of the church. To use Bible words, we forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the custom as is the custom of some. Lets think seriously about what we are doing. We have been inconsiderate of our church family; we have demotivated our church family; we have proven disloyal; and we have discouraged our church family. Furthermore, what have we told the community when we choose not to be with the church?

Finally, we should consider what our attendance in services says to God. Being present for worship is an oath of allegiance to the Lord. It is an act of devotion to the Savior. It is a gift of love to the Father. Our attitude toward the services of the church should be that one exemplified by Paul in Romans 1:11-12, “For I long to see you that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the others faith, both yours and mine” (NASBU).