Why do we go to church?

People come to church and have no clue why. They sing few songs, listen to a sermon, and go back to their lives without any change.
The problem is that they have no understanding as to why they are doing what they are doing.

If the common church attender comes to “worship” on Sunday but does not know why, then we have a problem. Why, then, should you go to church? To be more theologically accurate, why should you gather with the church — since the church is not the building down the street, but the group of believers?

SO WHY DO WE GATHER AS THE CHURCH?

We “church” to glorify God. We gather around God. Romans 12:1 commands us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. This lifestyle propels communal witnessing (1 Peter 2:9), repenting (Acts 2:38), worshipping (Psalm 150; Ephesians 5:19) and teaching (Colossians 3:16). We gather because we are one body, drawn together by God to be a people of God who live for God. We testify to God’s greatness. We disciple others through life together. We serve, teach and encourage, not just one another, but the world at large.

We do not ultimately come together for Sunday worship service to experience an emotional response that brings joy to us as consumers, though many Westerners gather for this very reason. Rather, we gather because God has united us.

We gather because we live life together in being effective witnesses to our local communities. 

We gather because the diversity of the local church should mirror heaven to a dying, lost and sinful world. Christians are made to gather.

By K. A Smith.