“…and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)

After preaching for almost 60 years, I have witnessed a sad view of church attendance on the part of some professing Christians. Or, should I call them, “…former church going people.”? In the opinion of certain individuals church attendance is an optional extra in the Christian life.

To these people Covid-19 and the temporary restriction on church attendance has proven we do not need to go to church because we survived without it. Just watching our church’s service over the internet from the comfort of home is adequate they say.

It does not seem to matter that Scripture assumes (Psalm 73:13-17) and even commands attendance at the Lord’s house (Hebrews 10:24-25).

These people somehow evade the clear teaching on the matter of meeting regularly with the Lord’s people. But those who have ceased church attendance are robbed of the opportunity to receive powerful ministry. Let me explain.

I recall seeing a new widow leading her young family to church, and watching her sing God’s praise as tears ran down her face. She was a remarkable sermon in and of itself on trusting God when you can’t trace Him. I saw her every week faithfully worship the Lord when none of us could understand why the Lord took her loving husband and fine father of her three children. They needed him so much.

She demonstrated the amazing grace of God by being able to worship Him when she could not understand Him. Had I stopped going to church I would have missed seeing that living sermon. As we survey various congregations, it is not hard to find other living sermons being lived right in front of us.

The sermons we see are sometimes more powerful than the ones we hear, and if we miss going to church, we may miss some rich teaching on how to live the Christian life.

When you go to God’s House this coming Sunday, look around and see one or more living sermons and marvel at how those people are living proof of specific biblical teaching. Or, perhaps you will be the living sermon that others see at God’s House next Lord’s day.