Why People Don’t Go to Church

Hebrews 10:25

INTRODUCTION: The book of Hebrews exhorts us, as members of the Body of Christ, to approach God: let us draw near to God. This is the first of five “let us” phrases that encouraged the people to persevere:
1. “Let us draw near to God” (10:21).
2. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (10:23).
3. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on” (10:24).
4. “Let us not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (10:25).
5. “Let us encourage one another” (10:25).

These assemblies were of two kinds: first, the regular ones, on the Lord’s day, (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2); second, occasional ones, as the duties of the church required (1 Corinthians 5:4).

I. PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE THEIR HEART IS NOT RIGHT.
Without exception, we have found that people whose hearts are right with God go to a good church unless they are sick. In Luke 14:18, we are told that those who were invited by the Lord to His supper “all with one consent began to make excuse.”

2. ANOTHER REASON PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS ARE SINFUL.
John 3:20-21 says: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

3. A THIRD REASON WHY PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE OF VOLUNTARY WORK ON SUNDAY.
Some work on Sunday is involuntary, and the employee has little choice in the matter.

4. STILL ANOTHER REASON PEOPLE DON’T GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE THE DEVIL HAS THEM DECEIVED ABOUT SOME THINGS.
2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 says: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

5. A FIFTH REASON PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
In Acts 2:46, it says “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart…”

6. A SIXTH REASON PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE AS CHRISTIANS THEY ARE OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE.
1 John 1:7 says “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth us from all sin.”

7. THE FINAL REASON WHY PEOPLE DON’T GO TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE OF LOVE OF PLEASURES AND SELF.
The Bible says that in the last days men would be “Lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:2-4).

CONCLUSION:
Christians must not neglect gathering together for corporate worship and for times of prayer and encouragement. Hebrews 10:24 and 25 are strong words of judgment against those who are in the habit of neglecting other believers. Those who neglect assembling together cut themselves off from the very means whereby Christ feeds, assures, and protects his people. To say, “I can do this alone,” is to defy the very command of Christ. Instead of searching for an excuse, Christians should be doing everything within their power to meet together. Not only because they need to be fed by the preaching of God’s Word but also because it is part of the faith to stir up fellow believers to love and good works.

Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. One of the strong motives for faithfulness is the soon coming of Jesus Christ. Actually, the only other place the word translated “assembling” (Heb. 10:25) is used in the New Testament is in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where it’s translated “gathering” and deals with the coming of Christ.

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