Does it really matter where you go to church?

It’s obvious in studying the Word that if you follow the life of Jesus for seven consecutive days, you’ll always end up in church. Jesus, the Son of God, left us a clear example to follow concerning faithfulness to God’s House. David, in the Psalms mentioned often his personal affection for the House of God and for corporate times of worship. Church attendance is not an option. It’s not a matter of “if I have time,” but it’s a clear mandate of scripture that is clearly taught by the lives of Bible men and women. Before the resurrection they went on the Sabbath to worship. After the Resurrection they met on the first day of the week, on the Lord’s day.

In Luke 4:16 the good doctor gives us a look at Jesus’ faithfulness, “and as his custom was, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.” Jesus had just come off of a 40-day fast. He battled with Satan through severe temptation, then he made the 50mile trip from the Mount of Temptation (near Jericho) to Nazareth and went straight to church. Jesus did not isolate himself from the people who worshipped God. Not only did He attend, but He participated. “He stood up for to read.” So there’s no doubt Jesus promoted church attendance on a consistent basis – and not only to be a pew potato, but to be involved in praise and worship and available to be used where needed.

It does matter where you go to church. Why does it matter?

It matters because God is vitally concerned. 2 Chronicles 3:1 says, “Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” God cared where they worshipped. That plot of ground had been a key location to God’s people for hundreds of years, centuries before the birth of Solomon. 800 years earlier God called Abraham to that very spot to offer up Isaac, and God provided a substitute there. David later purchased the spot and offered peace offerings to stop a plague.

It matters because the simple Gospel is not preached from every pulpit. Without Gospel preaching, it’s not likely that many will be saved.