Jeremiah 36:8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the word of the Lord in the LORD’ s house.

We have heard all the arguments before. I do not have to go the church to worship. I do not have to be in church to be saved. I can feel closer to the Lord when I am in nature. When the Israelite’s came to a place of needing help from God, they repented and gathered. This is a theme that is repeated over and over again in the bible. They gathered, then repented, read the word of God and worshiped.

Why does it seem that gathering at a church is a strange idea to our society? There are numerous reasons. We have become so engaged in recreational activity. Fishing or hunting with our friends. Ball tournaments with our children and their friends. Hanging out with people in nature. Whatever the reason we seem to want to put God on the back burner. This is fine and dandy when all is well. What happens when tough times strike?

I am not writing this to shame people into coming to church. I am writing this to help us realize that honoring and worshiping God in church is commanded in scripture. We are not to forsake the gathering of the saints. It is where we get our battery charged. it is a place where iron sharpens iron. It is a place where the spirit of God comes to join His people. Do not wait until there is some bad situation in your life to realize gathering for church is where you should have been all along.