People go to church for a variety of reasons.  Many go to worship God and be encouraged by Scripture.  Some go to see friends and experience community.  Some go to have an opportunity to serve.  Others go out of a sense of tradition or a habit.  Did you know the Bible tells us to go for another purpose?  One of our goals and commands is to go to church regularly so we can spur one another on in love and good works.  Let’s look together at what the author of Hebrews says about this in Hebrews 10. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, any go since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It’s interesting the word used here spur in its original Greek literally means to provoke.  We are told to provoke one another into love and good works.  That requires being together.  I love how online church has made worship so accessible.  I dislike how it can make it harder to do things like spur one another on or encouraging each other or even experiencing the community that we were created for.  Next Sunday make it a point to head to church if you are able and provoke someone into love it’s what we are told to do. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave