Read the Bible or go to Church?

I don't go to a church (building) but I belong to a church (group of Christians fellowshipping). Is Bible study and alternative fellowshipping enough or must you go to church?

I don't believe you actually have to be part of a Church as far as a building goes. I believe if you're gathering with a group of other Christians, that is church. If you look at Matthew 18:20 it says: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Church is the same whether you have it with 100 people or one of your friends. Studying the word, praying, worshipping, serving, whatever it may be and with however many people God is happy.
I hope this helps..

[bananaboo4]

I don't believe that the building is the church; just the people.

Hebrews 10: 25 says Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It doesn't say anything about being present in a building, although it is nice to have a home church and being a part of regular services... :c)

[1Corinthians13]

It seems to me it's more important to read the Bible and to follow it than to go to church. It is true that a church is only a building. God does love us to and wants us to congregate with others who follow the Word, but it's more important to follow the Word than to show up at a designated building. If the congregation is there for appearances and is not living in the Spirit , there's little point in being there.

People in remote areas and without a tv to watch services rely on their Bibles and other Christians and of course, themselves.

Standing, sitting, kneeling and repetition are a big part of many "church services." There is little focus on the Gospel. The jumping up and down and repeating things is good exercise and can be done on two hours sleep but unless you find a Bible based church with a pastor or preacher that relays an actual sermon rather than a meaningless circle or drivel, you leave feeling emptier than when you arrived. You would have gotten more out of your time to stay home and read the Bible.

I found this as I moved from church to church until I started attending a Bible based church. The only memorization is from the Bible itself. The Scripture is explained to us and applied to aspects of our everyday lives. Before church we have Adult Sunday School. It gives us a chance to study, discuss and interpret book by book.

For people with children, the members take turns in the nursery so that everyone can take part in worship and hear and have interpreted for them....the Word. Everyone helps each other. The Spirit is strong and evidently present. The Pastor gives opprtunity many times during hymns for anyone who is not saved or just needs to talk and a member will sit and talk with them in another room.

So if you are fortunate to live close enough to such a church, you can read the Bible and attend church. It's a blessing!

[1Corinthians13]

Originally Posted by fellowlaborer

I don't go to a church (building) but I belong to a church (group of Christians fellowshipping). Is Bible study and alternative fellowshipping enough or must you go to church?

....I would say that you get more out of your Bible Study group that you would receive at most church services.

Merry - I'm not saying you're wrong by any means.. I completely agree with you, but don't you view a group of 10 guys, or a mix of 10 people any gender a church? It's a fellowship of believers studying the word together, worshipping, praying. Worship doesn't have to just be singing to God, worship can be a number of things. I just want to know your thoughts on that.

Okay, I agreed with everything you said. I didn't want to come across as me saying you're wrong. The big "C" Church - is the body of Christ. A group of believers is part of the Church.
Those were good verses though, I liked them! =)

I enjoy reading my BIBLE on my free time ... but I also enjoy the fellowship that I can get from the members of our church on Wednsday & Sunday Services.

On Sunday ... We are split into 2 groups - The group we are talking about our TALENTS we have to offer and ther other group ... I will have to get back with you on that as my husband is in that group and I will have to ask him.

On Wednesday night ... We just starting splitting off into 2 groups the MEN are on one side and they have a husband leading the class while his wife & the ladies are on the other side of the church doing there class and it is been really good too. I have been asked to lead a class on Wednesday night but I am scared and not sure I can do it ... so I am going to be praying about this and so we will see what happens.

Also on Sunday's like I said it is wonderful to fellowship and to hear God's Word.

Going to a church and studying the bible is not the only thing about being a christian. Spreading the word is another task of being a christian. Mat 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". Now on the fact of a church, a church isnt the building in a whole but the people in it. So gathering with christians and worshiping and serving god and reading the word is just as the same as showing your face in a church.

[griz]

Church could be one or two people huddled under a bridge having gone day's without food, armed with only a few versus handwritten from the night before stained from the constant downpour running from their persecutors. For alot of them they are sent as lone missionary's to distant places where culture and language are just as arduous to negotiate as the terrain, some of these will be killed along with their families, wives and children. This is the price some of our brothers and sisters of the persecuted Church of the East live daily.

[griz]

check out some of these videos http://www.gfa.org/video

I don't think it is wrong to have a group Bible study as church necessarliy, but I do think that there should be some solid structure to it. In I Timothy it talks about the qualifications of pastors and deacons. I think there need to be solid qualified leaders at the core of every church whether the body consist of 10 or 10,000.

I think one should renew their minds till they can prove what is the acceptable, perfect, and pleasing will of God. I say go to a small fellowship that you attend for 1-2 months, and then go to a church for 1-2 months and see if you notice that one is better. I personally think that small fellowships are better because you give input rather than only receive input, but I have found that God CAN use one man to direct a church. Point is - settle it in your heart, by renewing your mind and tasting and seeing which is better for you. Because, from where I stand, both fulfill the commandment not to forsake the assembling of yourselves.

Originally Posted by fellowlaborer

I don't go to a church (building) but I belong to a church (group of Christians fellowshipping). Is Bible study and alternative fellowshipping enough or must you go to church?

As long as you are in an assembly of other believers, you meet the Biblical mandate.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:25 (KJV)

[MahogonySnail]

yes - assembly of other believers, that's important. There are many "churches", that aren't christian, but still call themselves a church.

[Slepsog4]

The reference about 2 or 3 being together from Matthew 18 is not about assembling for worship or edification.

Rather it is in the context of the apostles being given authority to bind and loose, and the subject of church discipline.

People really need to stop using it to justify skipping regular services.

A church is a group of believers with or without its own building.

[MahogonySnail]

Then 2 or 3 qualifies as "group of believers", with or without the verse taken out of context.

Another thing to take into consideration with this is taking part in communion, don't you all agree? While that is not the single most important part of being a Christian (at least I don't feel it is the MOST important), it is still something that Jesus asks of us, to remember Him.

I really ought to have my Bible handy to look up the scripture...I'll get on that after I've had some coffee and a walk in the snow

My personal thoughts on whether you should go to Church or just read the Bible...aside from the Communion aspect...

Both have their benefits. A church body, a church home, fellowship, worship...those are all important to keep in your life. But sometimes you (well, I, at least) feel closer to God by having a solitary Sunday morning curled up with the Bible.

Then again, I can curl up with my Bible any time I want, so it's not a valid reason to skip out on Early Service...

But I don't think that it is necessarily WRONG to replace a regular church service with, as was mentioned, a smaller study circle.

God created each of us to be unique, and if some people feel more comfortable, closer to God, and more able to focus in a group of 10 people rather than 100, I'm sure He made you that way for a reason.

God bless!

[thefightinglamb]

You do not go to church for yourself alone...There are many more people that you may serve as a living witness of Jesus Christ to in church than in a small group...

I'm just saying this because in the past I have been quixotic about larger church attendance, but when you take the focus off of that supreme idol "me" you see that you go to church to strenghten others--often people you don't even know I would say--in the truth of God.

What happens when someone weak in the faith sees you skipping church services? Discouragement. And I thought you believed in scripture? and here I am just struggling to fight my sins just to attend this church service to try to find hope. And what do I find? Not the spiritual food the Lord wnated you to give me but I may starve...These thoughts do enter the minds of those pursuing righteousness, for they once entered my mind...and if you are not that 'light of Christ' in their dark place, how are they even going to be led to a smaller Christian group?

Yes, for you, church can be done in 10 or ten thousand...but God cannot affect others by you in the same way, for you "know not" how greatly the Lord can use you to save a starving soul..and there are many in every church...possibly why some of you have started believing in smaller church gatherings than worshiping the Lord in the general assembly???

I am personally disgusted with people (sometimes myself) who hoard their salvation as if saving themselves was the ONLY thing they were caring about and toss everyone else thoughtlessly to the wind...so attend your own small Bible study and also attend things like church that combine people of all ages in a group to help guide, instruct, correct, and love each other--for the smaller groups, I have news for you a family of Christians doesn't consist of just peers--where is the Christian mother or father figure to help make sure their kids aren't just doddling away their time in vain speculations?

I know I have been hard on almost every physical church I have been to...in expecting too much or making sure everything is spiritually right in them and nothing feels warped...but I do go to church every week--though I do not know where the Lord will lead me one week to another for I 'seek to go' whereever the Spirit leads me...and right now that is not in any specific church building...but ranges from being confounded at a Roman Catholic church (which I keep saying I am never going to again after attending) to Baptist (where I turned to the Lord) to Lutheran (where I was nominally brought up thinking I was Christian--and trying to figure out what spiritually is happening in that church) to pentecostal to messeinic Jews...

Bottom line--do whatever the LORD tells you--if He tells you not to go to church (unlikely) or that it is useless to go there for you or for others--I would strongly question that spirit...but if He shows you specifically what he wants you doing when you would be going to 'church gatherings' than do whatever he tells you and you will be blessed.

May God be with all of you, and through you help tend his sheep that need you as a part of their lives ,
and our struggling just for a glimspe of righteousness,
though they may be 95% blind.

God bless
tony

Originally Posted by Merryheart

Who's standards are you measuring this by? Gods word is clear on this topic:


"I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:14-15)


The church is the "assembly" of God's people. Being part of the church provides spiritual nutrition. Being cut off is like a part of one's body being cut off. If you cut off your finger and do not have it re-attached, the cut off finger will die.



"Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17)\


A responsibility of church leaders is to keep watch over the souls of church members. These leaders will someday give an account for their work. There is another verse on that I cannot recall atm.



When we remove ourselves from the Body we hurt ourselves and others because its a cutting and a brokenness away from a living thing just like our own body needs eyes and ears (without others are forced to pick up the slack). The following passages are a worthwhile read for this topic - american standard version:

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: 23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; 25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.


I enjoy a good worship time (where instruments and voice together) while praising God. That is my favorite part of a gathering, as well as prayer time. I don't think your wrong if you are not in a church building every Sunday as long as you are following the word of God as I posted in the above verses and thoughts.

Amen to that! I think we should want to do both! Is there anything of more importance than to give glory to God on Sunday morning? !!! Praise God!