Church attendance

[notuptome]

As to the Thread: Building? Yes.......and, not always needed. Jesus Himself criticized those who had turned His Fathers HOUSE into a den of thieves. Pretty sure He was talking about a building. The early Church gathered to worship in a home of one of the Congregation. Pretty sure that would have been a building. Now, at times, their worship services were outside, but for the most part, they took place IN A BUILDING.

Folks wanna diss a Church Building.......but it IS Biblical.

As for the word Church.........it has more than one meaning. The Church (all believers) The Church (building). Both are correct, and both are Biblical. From early on God Himself instructed His people on how to build HIS BUILDING.

The church meets in the church. The church also meets outside the church. When the Lord returns only the church will meet Him in the clouds.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[oldhermit]

Is church attendance biblically mandated? Not really looking for personal opinion as much as scriptural proof. Thanks.

26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 38BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. 39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]

Maintaining a Standard of Faithfulness, 23-39 – The standard of our faithfulness is the faithfulness of God. The admonition is “Let us old fast...” Our fidelity is demonstrated in two ways.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A. Our relationships to one another in love and good deeds.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]B. Our responsibility to fellowship. This involves:
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1. Exhortation[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2. Corporate worship[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3. The fellowship of the table.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]C. Unfaithfulness to the assembly = sin. Our personal habits of honoring the assembly are a barometer of our spiritual condition. This is a reflection of an attitude toward God and one another.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1. Forsaking the assembly becomes a habit. Complacency builds from a tendency to rationalize the behavior.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]a. Assembly forsaken in favor of other things[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]b. Assembly forsaken to avoid:
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[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* Uncomfortable relationships with other members, the preacher, a certain teacher or the elders.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* Being confronted for sin in our lives.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2. Forsaking the assembly is a decision of the will.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3. It is an insult to the Spirit of grace.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]4. It is a rejection of the covenant between you and God. This sets aside one's covenant with God in favor of personal comfort and other interests.
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]a. This person has “trampled under foot the Son of God.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]b. It regards as unclean the blood of Christ - The proverbial hog slaughtered on the altar.[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This Decision Forces a Change of Relationship – Whether we accept it or not![/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A. We become a hindrance to the body [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]B. We have become enemies of God [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is self separation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]C the Consequences are:
[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]1. Divine vengeance – Exodus example of Moses and the Law – Death![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]2. More severe for us.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]3. Total separation from God and the assembly[/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]V. The Remedial Recommendations[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A. Remember your former days – Bring back the zeal.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]B. Remember your participation in the welfare of the saints. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]C. Do not throw away your confidence in the promises of God to bless and to curse.[/FONT]

 

[oldethennew]

one can never be more Faithful to God, than when they worship their Saviour
in the best way that they can, at any particular time of their lives...

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Do not take this out of context because this applies to me also. If you set your alarm clock to get up and go to work, and don't set it to get up and go to church on Sunday, mammon (money) is your master. The spirit of mammon will make a person get up on time, shower and groom, put on nice clothes, and arrive on time. When Sunday morning comes...excuses - excuses - excuses! Jesus says mammon is your master and you don't really trust me. You love me, but you don't love me first. Open your bible and read Luke 16.

Study Rev. 2:4-5. We learn something is wrong, despite their zeal. "Because you have left your first love (not "lost" your first love; it refers to a departure from the Cross. This means they fell from Grace, which means they had stopped depending on Christ and the Cross - Gal. 5:4).

 

[Willie-T]

one can never be more Faithful to God, than when they worship their Saviour
in the best way that they can, at any particular time of their lives...

Not a lot of people understand this, but an example of a worship service was much of what John related to us in the book of Revelation.

 

[Denadii]

Yes and I am thankful that we have churches now and we don't have to meet in people's homes. You ever been to a group bible study at somebody's home? In my experience it is usually much more awkward than if we meet at a church, and much fewer people will attend.

So anyway, Corbinscam, about the OP: We are to follow the examples in the Bible, even if it never says "Thou shalt regularly attend church." What did Paul do? He held meetings in people's houses when he had to, sure, but when he could he convened at the local church.

Home groups feel awkward because you can't sit in back and hide. People actually ask you to talk, to interact

 

[Denadii]

Is church attendance biblically mandated? Not really looking for personal opinion as much as scriptural proof. Thanks.

There is no scripture that say you must attend an organized church, or corporate church as some call them. That verse about "Forsake not the gathering of yourselves together" is used by legalists that say it means you have to attend one of those organizations. But if you join with your wife for praise and worship and study of the Word, you are gathering together. There is You, your wife, the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son.

People should not take this as a permission to stay away from church. Most people still need church. If God brings you out of that then you don't go. If God does not bring you out of the organized churches YOU STAY. Stay! Stay Rover. Stay. LOL Good dog.