Our congregation offers numerous opportunities for members to get involved. We have a Bible class on Sunday morning, a worship service, another Bible class on Sunday night, and a Bible class on Wednesday night. We also have an area-wide devotional at another preacher’s home on Thursday night. Plus, we have a variety of work projects, including highway clean-up, food pantry activity, and phone calls when a member or their loved one is sick or has died. A member recently asked me, “Do I have to attend all services of the church?” I responded with an article by Steve Higginbotham that I think answers that question very well. We all need to consider this:
Do you have to hug and kiss your little children?
Do you have to remember your wife’s birthday?
Do you have to call home when you are going to be working late?
Do you have to buy Christmas presents for your family?
Do you have to attend programs your kids are in?
Do you have to attend the funeral of a close friend or relative?
Do I have to say “I love you” to my spouse?
We don’t have to do many of those things, but we are blessed to be able to do them. We get a great deal of personal joy and/or satisfaction from these things. The same is true of church activities. Steve comments, “When my relationship with God is based on what I have to do and what I do not have to do, I need to take a look at that relationship.”
— John N. Clayton © 2026