8 reasons God wants you to go to CHURCH

8 reasons God wants you to go to CHURCH

What does the BIBLE say about the idea of attending church?
Answering the question “why should I go to church?” from a BIBLICAL perspective. 8 reasons that the BIBLE gives for why believer’s in Jesus should go to church. I also deal with 6 common excuses people have for not going.

This video was featured in http://afreshword.org/ as the November 20th, 2014 post. Check it out!

Pause the video to get all the scripture references and feel free to comment, like and make suggestions for future video ideas. The goal of my channel is to make videos that inspire a biblical worldview.

49 Comments

  1. Christopher Dorsey on May 28, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Wish I could still go to church!, I’m not sure what to do with my life !!!!!

  2. Daniel Ponder on May 28, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    the pop up book of Phobias? HAHAHAHA, I have to see that!

  3. Living in the Spirit on May 28, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    When people say they don’t like organized church, typically they mean they do not like the institutionalization, control, domination, indoctrination, etc, all of which tends to go along with these business institutions commonly referred to as churches. If as a non-catholic believer you think of the way the Catholic church has operated for centuries you get a good idea of what i mean. But in truth lots of this is also the case within perhaps the majority of non catholic institutions that call themselves christian churches as well.

    For example, the control of being told they have to find an institution to make into their home church in order to be a follower of Jesus, being told they need to "submit under" a pastor (most commonly a paid pastor), make this pastor and/or other leaders of the institution and/or the institution itself their "covering", being expected and/or pressured and/or guilted to give 10% of ones paycheck to this institution, being expected to just go along with what the institution, it’s board, it’s denomination, etc, has decided for you in pretty much every area of doctrinal belief and thus being expected to conform to all of these popularized institutionalized beliefs lest you be shunned, ostracized or worse, being expected to go to the institution every week lest you be looked down upon as if you are not committed to God Himself, being judged in various other ways for not conforming in every way to the expectations of the institution, its leaders and its congregants, and other negatives that are almost always associated with institutionalized / organized religion. As well, being expected to say none of the things i have said in this post lest you be shunned, ostracized or worse.

    Blessings to all.

  4. A. Alzate on May 28, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    I hit "Like" even before the video started because in my experience as an evangelist i have come accross too many people with such excuses.

    It’s like a sick person saying "I won’t go to the hospital until i get better". Church is for spiritual growth and healing, you won’t truly attain it until you go out there and experience the Bible.

    I used to think like that, but after further study of the Bible i realized i was making a grave mistake.
    Before, my line of thinking used to be : "As long as i read my Bible and have Jesus in my heart, what’s the point of being part of a church?"

    One day after reading the parable of the vine – John 15:1-6 i realized i don’t want to end up like the dried up branch that did not produce any fruit…years later i joined a well balanced church. Then i joined a ministry from that church that evangelizes patients at a hospital. i now understand what Jesus meant by "…so that you may have life and have it in abundance…" My life has become interseting, the alternative would’ve been me just sitting in a room playing video games instead of doing something productive in life that benefits humanity. Granted , no church is perfect, but at least join one that practices good Bible-based doctrine and that preaches the same Good News the apostles preached. Also, a church resembling the church mentioned in the Book of Acts on how they helped each other and cleaned up their community. Research what other things they did, "The Way" church, in the book of acts, is part of the criteria i would use. Galatians 1: 8-9 is another criteria i used to determine if it’s a Christian church or a sect. It is one’s duty to ask what they believe before committing yourself to them and MUST line up with the Bible, otherwise it’s a "Red Flag"

  5. Ryan Halford on May 28, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    I was brought up s Jehovah’s witnesses and the love bombing really put me off, because it was so false.but true Christians are great,even if it’s in a coffee shop.

  6. babykate519 on May 28, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    My excuse is because I don’t have that option. I am a christian from a mostly christian family, but specifically my mom, dad, and brother are atheists. My parents said they would not bring me to church because they don’t think I should be a christian like the rest of my family on my moms side. (Its my moms side thats mostly christian) So I can’t go.

  7. Solo Daniel Joseph Chiasson on May 28, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    Where else do you partake of the memory of Jesus Christ on your hearts if you don’t go to Church?

  8. Lloyd Tucker on May 28, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    Much like the Chinese Government, Many institutional churches here in the United States *hate the idea of home fellowships* and house churches that operate outside the perceived authority of the man-made institutional church.

    One of the reasons we see all these seminaries such as _"Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Urshan Graduate School of Theology, The Master’s Seminary, Moody Theological Seminary,"_ and so on is because they’re trying to establish a perception of institutional church authority.

    At 58:53 this gentleman said: _"I’ve also heard people say: can’t I just do church on my own, at my own house maybe with my own family…"_

    His calls this type of thinking an _"excuse"_ as though saints owe institutional church something. Concerning home fellowship and home bible study, he says _"…That’s really not what church is…"_

    At 6:19 he discredits the idea of home fellowship saying, _"…when you start out your own home church, and you disassociate with the churches around you, you’re sort of anointing yourself as the pastor of your own family and your kind of becoming their church. You’re the leader, you’re the elder board, you’re everybody in the church to them and that’s a little bit weird don’t you think?"_

    Here in the United States, _"church"_ can’t legally force people to submit. So, _"Church"_ has to operate as a business, and of course, _"church"_ doesn’t want to go out of business.

    Respectfully, this gentleman is just promoting the company that he works for.

  9. reasy1978 on May 28, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    I’ll give you 2 reasons why you should not. 1, because scripture does not instruct believers to go to church, nor does scripture say a building is a church. It tells believers to BE the church, and it says the PEOPLE who are in the body of Christ are the temple. 2, all churches that are denominational are false churches, and so are all the churches that teach a monetary tithe.

  10. gretchen white on May 28, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    I wish I could go to your church. I’ve been to a lot of church’s growing up with my mom. It was like she just couldn’t find a church she fit into and so all my child hood we went to different churches every time we went. I want to go to church but I’m scared to go and be told things that aren’t right. And I’m scared to go alone without someone who’s really read the Bible because I haven’t yet for myself all the way. If I lived where you live I would go to your church. But in my life I’ve never met a pastor that I understand like you. So thank you for that.

  11. Reflection Stillz on May 28, 2019 at 12:36 pm

    Watching this as I skipped for 3 weeks … thanks for this video

  12. Edward Goodall on May 28, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    What a wanker! This guy’s truly up his own arse! The Church isn’t a frickin building it’s the people you jerk!

  13. Jonathan Grandt on May 28, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    I wonder if I’ve ever used or actually met anyone who has used these excuses… lets see…

    Should I meet with other believers? Yes. Should it be on a “regular basis”? What is regular? On sunday? EVERY Sunday? Did 100% of them gather every Sunday? 80%? Eh?

    Hebrews says, we don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves for the sake of encouraging and provoking one another to love and good works. If you’re king to church and that’s not happening, you’re forsaking the assembly.

    Hey, why do pastors decide that just because someone is opposed to organized churchianity means they’re isolationists? Hilarious.

    Again, no one is talking about isolationism. Most people I’ve ever encountered are not isolated. Get outside your bubble bro.

    If my wife and I announced on Facebook that we were having a weekly get-together and then every wee nobody showed up, would we then be justified in saying “gosh they must not like having friends! They’re isolationists!” No that would be super stupid. It would be more likely that our parties just sucked and nobody liked sucky parties.

    #1 hurt by the church. People I have actually talked to who have been hurt by the church Don’t use this as a reason to not meet with other believers, even regularly. They just don’t want to be involved in an unbiblical expression of “church”. It seems to me that you assume more than you have actually experienced when it comes to people who have reasons to disassociate with organized religion.
    Side note: you don’t understand what racism is or even the most basic definition of it. If you were jumped by a bunch of people from a different race and you developed a fear of all of them because of it, this would actually be a perfectly rational sequence. It wouldn’t be racism at all because at no point in your illustration did you say “I am superior to this other race”. So your analogy actually makes the excuse perfectly reasonable. If someone were constantly hurt and abused by organized church then it makes sense that they wouldn’t go to where they are being abused. If you turned it around and said that a black person was avoiding white people for the same reason, there’s no way you would call that racism. It would be preservation.
    Score one point to the “isolationists”.

    Ok lets just skip down to the other excuse because the rest are really stupid and fillers.
    Ok, “I don’t do organized religion.” Here you go with some really silly ideas… first you create a false dichotomy by insinuating that there are only two options, “organized church” or basically anarchy. “Disorganized” and just random loosely goosey all over stuff. You even wave your arms like some wavy palm tree to show how silly you think this is. Well it’s actually neither. Organized Church does not mean a church that is organized. To claim that that’s all it is is to be dishonest. You can organize your efforts to meet with people but still not be part of the “organized church” which is a business. Goodness if you don’t admit that there’s a difference your just ignorant or lying. Everybody knows what is meant by “the organized church” and it is not the same as merely having a scheduled regular meeting place.

    The reason I’m ok with calling you silly and stupid right now is because of the mocking way in which you present some ludicrous ideas concerning this matter. Ordinarily I wouldn’t call you a clown but given that your approaching this with ridicule I find it fitting. Rock Paper Scissors and the winner has to teach? Are you a clown right now?

  14. Monster Vodka on May 28, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    Interesting… These are all reasons the Mormons would say too :/

  15. Richard on May 28, 2019 at 12:48 pm
  16. Jaime McAlister on May 28, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    While, most of these points I agree with, I think it’s crazy to kind of dismiss “church hurt” the way you have here. We’ve had several issues with people trying to come to the Lord and being slapped back from that, because of “saints”. THATS a serious issue and bitterness inside of the church, that’s SHOULD be dealt with, but instead-so many pastors are worried about numbers in pews, rather than cutting that kind of stuff off at the pass. Jesus himself said “suffer not these little ones” I don’t think that was only referring to children, but babes in Christ. And if we are hurting them from the inside, that’s an issue that doesn’t necessarily start with the unsaved.

  17. Alexis Lane on May 28, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    Check out the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at Mormon.org. I know that It is Christ’s restored church and it has brought such peace and happiness in my life and answers questions such as where we came from that no other church has answered. You can find a church in your area on this website

  18. Halver Eduardo on May 28, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    I do agree with you now. But tomorrow people will not be able to have organized religion. What we must do then? I had dreams where people were hidden in houses praying. And it works awesome!

  19. peter nicholson on May 28, 2019 at 12:55 pm

    How can a perfect being want anything?

  20. D. L. Starkey on May 28, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    This is the answer you’re always going to get when its origin is from a traditional Christian church. They really can’t teach otherwise without fear of lost attendance, decrease in salaries, etc. I used to be a salaried Senior Pastor, so I always knew the dangerous discussions to avoid.

    I was hoping he wouldn’t site Hebrews 10:24-25, but he did. This is the "go-to" verse on church attendance. This is actually the only passage in the entire New Testament that says to "attend," when misinterpreted. But is this what the passage is really speaking about? If you consider the context, it’s actually addressing something else entirely. It is speaking of that "blessed hope," of Christ’s return. Notice also this oft quoted section of Scripture: "Forsaking not the assembling of ourselves…" The Greek word for "assembling," is used in only one other passage in the New Testament. It is found in the context of 2 These. 2:1-2, where is speaks of our being "gathered" to Him at His return. The Hebrews passage is saying the same. We are not to forget, abandon (or another way to put it, we should keep in the forefront of our mind) the time of our being assembled with Him as we see that Day approaching. And if we were to stick to the inaccurate interpretation of "church attendance," it never speaks of where or when this fellowship is to take place. Nothing about Sunday or Saturday in this text.

    Secondly, the current traditional church does not represent our early ancestors, for they met throughout the week for fellowship in each other’s homes. The typical traditional church of today still incorporates much from the Roman Catholic Church. The Senior Pastor now serves in the role of the Catholic priest, even though he no longer absolves of sin, etc. But the church still revolves around his teaching, preaching, ministry and vision. He is still placed on a spiritual pedestal. He is still addressed with a respectful title (even though Jesus condemned this in Matthew 23). God’s people are divided by all these manmade Christian institutional churches.

    Plus, there is no command to give to a church every week. It just isn’t in the Bible, but they won’t tell you these things. 1 Cor. 16:1-2 can’t be used because that is addressing saving, not giving (lay by in store), and it is for a special collection that Paul is collecting. It is not non-ending. In fact, as one studies the New Testament carefully, he or she will discover that the entire reason for giving was to provide for needy saints such as widows, orphans, traveling Apostles and missionaries. It was never for salaried local pastors. Not even Jewish Rabbis were paid till about the 5 or 6th century.

    And this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more that I could say about this.

  21. Monster Vodka on May 28, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    It’s way too easy to get into groupthink and be mislead. I’m pretty sure the pastors and teachers that were ordained are no longer living. There really isn’t anything somebody can say that would have me believe any modern day organized religion is worth going to on a regular basis.

  22. Gabriel Duenez on May 28, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    I love it. Thank you

  23. Chrissiela on May 28, 2019 at 12:59 pm

    Not disagree with the overall message, though it’s not always easy for all believers to find other local like-minded believers with whom they can gather together, but I don’t believe the "gathering together" spoken of in Heb 10:25 (Reason #3) is talking about physically gathering together with other believers. It seems to me to be talking about our having been "gathered together" into "one body," and against those who would be guilty of what Paul preached against in 1 Cor 12 when he wrote about the whole body not being an eye, etc, and "that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." And, unfortunately, there is lots of schism in the body of Christ, which is exactly why some believers cannot find local fellowship.

  24. maegan hill on May 28, 2019 at 12:59 pm

    I was raised in a Pentecostal church and recently took a 5 month break from going. It helped me know what I really believe and rely on only Jesus and not people. I have recently been going back, but I’m having struggles with their believe system in the whole doctrine they preach, I’m not getting many answers to my questions like “where does the Bible say you must speak in tongues?” I still haven’t found in the Bible until someone can show me,… I wondered what organization, or church do you belong to? I’m just seeking to go deeper into the true gospel of Christ and not emphasize or highlight certain points that are not meant to be overly talked about and pressured on people for salvation.

  25. clint patterson on May 28, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    Mike I really appreciate you and your videos. I have recently left the morman church and basically it’s the only one in town. I live 50 miles away from any other church and I know I’m supposed to go to church but it’s impossible for personal reason why I can’t do 100 round trip every week. Is there a online church I can view.
    Thank you and keep up the great work.

  26. Benjamin Brown on May 28, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    Let me tell you. I left the church because of that reason. Churched christians are more nasty than going to a bar. I have to say I can go to a bar, or restraunt and people are so willing to pay even for my food or drinks that I am drinking or what have you. I go to a church and their are needs but people do not care about you. They care about themselves. They say well, we need to give a brother a hand but then when I ask for a lift to church they don’t care and what do they start doing gossiping. You know I can tell you. A christian’s favorite song is I love to tell the story. Their favorite game is telephone. They love to point the finger when they preach that you should not do it. They are firts to point the finger and they love doing it. Go to a bar and people do except you. Go to church and they don’t give a crap about you. They do not care about you. I can see that I have left blood pressure whent down and I am feeling great. I can go anywhere else and bee excepted. You go to church and you may get gossip about you. Heck. Even the ministers get gossip and they too gossip. This is why I say. You would think that going to a bar would bee the oppsit but it is not. You would think that church would hwlp you but it does not. It creates annimosity. You would think that the church would bee a family and the bars and restraunts would not care about you but it is obvious. It is the opisot. The church in all honisty does not care about you like they want you to think. It is hypocritical. So their you have it. I am telling the truth and nothing but the truth.

  27. Andrew on May 28, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    This explains Hebrews 10:25:

    https://youtu.be/d8RU5nx7txM

  28. Bronze on May 28, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    There are so many lazy Christians on here; you’re not super holy and too good to go to church. Find a church and fix it then if they are all wrong. You just want to sleep in. Yep, 5013c…snores…doctrines of devils…snores. "I am the only true Christian"…hits snooze button.

  29. Alana M on May 28, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    I love church and fellowship but am unable to drive and to exhausted to leave my home.. I’m 62 and disabled so I do my fellowship online or with family! I watch sermons and keep in the word and in prayer all day! There are those of us who physically can’t get to church! I think God understands this!

  30. kenneth Kazper on May 28, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    the so-called Christian in Thailand are not true christian. they call themselves Cheistians just to taje advantage of the true believers

  31. Pip Yo on May 28, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    #6 opened my eyes XD

  32. Its Time on May 28, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    Pastor DEFINE CHURCH? not our definition, the Bible’s definition. I am not against organized meetings of the body but I have seen and been involved in "Churches’" that I want nothing to do with now.

  33. Joel Matthew Moore on May 28, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    This assumes that there is a church near you that is actually righteously functional. The ones I have been to recently are barely biblically literate and are essentially Jesus branded social clubs. I don’t feel ministered to by giant TV screens and facade-people pumped full of bottomless coffee singing weirdly amorous songs about how the great "he", "you", "him" makes them a super champion life winner. #narcissisticChurch

  34. Mommar39 on May 28, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    The only reason to go to church; To honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

  35. ExMormon4 ChristAlone on May 28, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    Its just that it has been hard to find authentic relationships there. Most are based out of duty, obligation, going through the motions or just putting a smile on your face while you say hi

  36. GoodNews777 on May 28, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    Great video brother. Keep up the good work!!

  37. Justin Mack on May 28, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    I grew up in church as an evangelical Christian. I love God and I don’t know what I do if I never asked God into my life. I was struggling with beliefs and doctrines like whether there is an afterlife immediately after death or if we just rest in our graves until the second coming of judgement day. Another one is regarding the sabbath whether it was meant for only the Jews or if it was meant for both Jews and gentiles. I just want to make sure that I’m in a good bible based church that I don’t have to ask too many questions as to what I believe. Anyone have any suggestions?

  38. Terry Napoli on May 28, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    The bible does not speak of going to church as a church system or a church building. All references to the church in the bible is a group of believes, not a church system. Church systems began in 320 Ad under Alexander and he merged Christianity with paganism. Church systems are man made and not biblical. In fact they are exactly what Jesus did not want.

  39. Jen Werner on May 28, 2019 at 1:15 pm

    Personally I stopped going to church years ago. The hypocrisy , the gimmie gimimie attitudes when it came to tithes & offerings and the way they treated the less fortunate , rather hypocritical to say the least.

    Besides @Mark Winger, whats up number’s down? You’ll have to get a day job!

  40. Jonathan Grandt on May 28, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    “I’m not gonna use my own opinion!”

    Uses own opinion for the entirety of the video.

  41. Phyllis Devonish on May 28, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    I was invovled in what really turned out to be a Cult…People would say "ask…" they wouldnt go into the Word. He used his knowledge of Scripture and Psychology to manipulate and control. Year and years later…my family is Still Reeling from that. One Pastor, in the middle of a Sermon asked me to leave…to Thiis Day… I dont know why. (If he had followed Scripture, I would know). Timie after Time AfterTime I have been stabbed in the back by the institution. of Churchinaity. I have been growing and learning more by fellowshipping with Believers outside of the Institution.

  42. Paula Norris on May 28, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Mathew 7:21-23
    John 6:40
    Isaiah 55:6
    We need to work on "seeing Him" and "believing in Him". We need to work on seeking Him (Isaiah 55:6) while He may be found. This life is less about church and more about seeking Him. Then… we may see Him and know that He is, and look no longer as through a glass darkly. The hope of all… His face, His words, His will, His hand. Not figuratively. Not symbolically. But literally. If you have some friends to seek Him together, then even better. Minister to each other, sing praises together and pray together. It will look closer to what the early church looked like and less like "church" these days… and give to the poor, visit the sick and do good together. Not because your pastor guilt-tripped you into it. Not because your works save you (btw, they don’t). But because you are actively seeking the face of your Savior and wish to please Him above all else. The testimonies abound for people having these experiences. Repent…which means to turn back or return…. turn back to Him, and seek Him with everything you are!!! All glory be His!!!!

  43. Hannah Burton on May 28, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    I was just wondering what your opinion is of ‘speak life’ it seems like a focus of a lot of pastors these days. I feel it might conflict in some ways with the Gospel.

  44. Petit Zwane on May 28, 2019 at 1:21 pm

    The most important reason we go to church/come together as believers is to break bread. Other reasons follow this main reason. Remember the bible makes it clear that they moved from house to house to break bread, they met to break bread etc all phrases which indicate the importance of breaking bread when we meet. It is disheartening that this core reason for meeting is the one most ignored. How do we go the whole month to church without breaking bread in our meetings? Read carefully your bibles. Breaking bread is everything we need. It is preaching the gospel, in breaking bread we get healed, we are set free from every oppression, we get the spoils of our warfare …the list is endless. This service was removed or confused by the Devil so that he makes all our meetings useless. Please fellow brothers and sisters let us revisit this important service and be careful to do it in a worthy manner. Amen

  45. Never Alone on May 28, 2019 at 1:21 pm

    Anyone interested in some thought provoking material on the issue of Institutional Church vs Ekklesia. Check out: The great ecclesiastical Conspiracy (Google it and YouTube), The Harlot Church System (Google it, free to read online) and Pagan Christianity

  46. Mary Carroll on May 28, 2019 at 1:21 pm

    There is not one church in my town where I would want to attend, so far. No one prays for the sick, casts our demons. No one wants to street preach. No one wants to learn how to fight satan and help others be healed and delivered. Too many believe that you can talk about God one moment, then talk like the devil the next. I am looking for a group that wants to be pure and holy, to please Jesus. I have one friend like this, I see her on Thursdays. My salvation, healings and deliverances are very precious to me. I guard them because I know how satan slithers in, trying to steal all that Jesus has done for us.

  47. rcrdcntrrs on May 28, 2019 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for this video. I have some close friends who say they believe in God but they refuse to attend any church. This information really comes in handy.

  48. Alan Figliola on November 1, 2019 at 12:03 am

    I dugg some of you post as I cogitated they were extremely helpful handy

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