One of my favorite things about visiting my family is simply being around them again in person. Phone calls, video chats, or texts are fine, but they do not come close to being there with them. And when we consider the life of a Christian and the local church, the same can be said. There is something special about weekly coming together for worship and edification. Why is this?

The first reason is that God designed the local church as a gathered group of people. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of the local assembly (Heb. 10:25) and the habit early Christians had of coming together for worship (1 Cor. 11:17, 20). I can receive encouragement and edification to some degree via recorded sermons, but it is not the same as being there in person with the family of God.

Secondly, God has given us a special purpose for our coming together. When we gather, we are to share in the Lord’s Supper, give and receive encouragement, and receive instruction in the word of God. When we come together on Sunday, it is for a special God-given reason to honor and worship Him as members of His family.

Because the church is to gather for God’s special purposes, we, as His children, need to value the weekly local gathering. It is a time when we can reflect on our walk with God, enjoy fellowship with the family of God, and rededicate ourselves to God’s service as we begin a new week.