
These thoughts were inspired by a good friend who said, “I get a lot more out of sitting on a log in the woods and listening to the birds than I do out of sitting in a pew and listening to a preacher.” Yesterday, we looked at some reasons why the Church needs to gather in prayer. Today, we explore some other benefits of the Church worshiping together.
Worship is not a spectator sport! Every command related to music in worship involves the individual participating in a shared activity. (See Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; and Colossians 3:16.) Jesus prayed for unity among His followers, and singing together is one of the most unifying things we can do. The purpose is not to entertain God or people. By singing together, we unify, encourage, and build up one another.
The Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, serves as a means to encourage and edify one another. It is not just vertical toward God but also horizontal to your fellow Christians. Remembering the sacrifice of Christ and sharing a memorial provides a way to unify, grow, and be encouraged by the Church worshiping together.
Even giving is not for God’s benefit. God is the creator who made and owns everything. He does not need our money. The Bible makes it clear that giving benefits the giver. (See Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7; and 1 Corinthians 16:2.) The person who never learns to give loses in every aspect of life. A good marriage, good kids, good sex, good recreation, and good health all depend on being able to give freely and unconditionally.
People giving through their local congregations can accomplish significant things in the world. Atheists and agnostics take delight in pointing out every mistake that Christians make, but atheism does not primarily address hunger, disease, broken families, mental illness, and homelessness. The Church worshiping together not only encourages and builds individuals, but it also coordinates resources and directs them to meet real needs.
A person may find that “sitting alone in the woods” brings them more personal pleasure than “going to church,” but it will not address the world’s problems or allow them to be part of something bigger than they could accomplish on their own. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together …” (Hebrews 10:25) is not an ego trip for God but a call to action for Christians. The fellowship of the Church worshiping together can have a powerful effect on us individually and on the world.
— John N. Clayton © 2025