Local Church Membership

18 Points to Seriously Consider

These are questions regarding attending the meetings arranged by a local church for the benefit of the members, especially the Bible classes, Sunday evening assembly, and mid-week meeting. The focus here is not on people who miss for obviously legitimate reasons such as sickness, but on those who really could come but deliberately and repeatedly miss because they do not think it is necessary to come or they simply choose not to. (To really benefit from the questions, you need to read the passages listed.)

1 Should a Christian try to do as much as he can to please God or try to seek minimal service and avoid opportunities to do God’s will (1 Cor 15:58; Titus 2:14; Gal 6:10; Matt 22:36-38; John 14:15; 2 Cor 8:5; Rev 3:15-16)?

2 Would Jesus attend as often as He could, or would He choose to stay home when He could go (Luke 4:16; Matt 15:32; Mark 10:1)? Are we following His example if we stay home (1 Peter 2:21-22; Phil 2:3-8; 1 John 2:6)?

3 Are we studying the word and growing in knowledge as diligently as we should when we attend or when we refuse to attend (Psalm 1:1-2; Prov 2:1-12; Matt 5:6; Acts 17:11; Heb 3:12-14)?

4 Are we doing our best to edify and encourage others when we attend or when we stay home (Rom 14:19; 15:14; 1 Thes 5:11; 1 Cor 14:26; 2 Tim 2:2)?

5 Do we show a sincere devotion to giving thanks and praise to God for all His great gifts to us when we stay home or when we come (John 4:23-24; Luke 24:52-53; Acts 2:42; Heb 13:15; 1 Pet 2:5, 9-10; Psalm 95:1-3; 122:1; Rev 19:1, 4-6; Rom 1:21)?

6 When our brethren in Christ assemble with one accord to worship God, do we manifest sincere oneness of heart and soul with them when we stay home or when we attend (Acts 1:14; 4:24, 32; Phil 1:27; 2:1-4; Eph 4:2-3; Rom 15:5-6)?

7 Which member will demonstrate the greatest commitment to cooperating in the work of the church, working diligently and serving his brethren: the member who has the desire to stay home or the member who desires to attend (Acts 2:42; 9:26-29; Eph 4:16; Gal 4:13; 6:2)?

8 When God’s ordained leaders have arranged times for the members to study and be edified, is a member showing respect for these leaders when he comes or when he stays home (Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-2, 5; Heb 13:17; 1 Cor 14:34; 1 Tim 2:11-12; Eph 5:21)?

9 Do we imitate the example of faithful men of God when we attend or when we stay home (Phil 3:17; 4:9; 1 Peter 5:3; Heb 6:11-12; 13:7)?

10 Who sets the best example for the new converts, weak members, and children: the member who comes or the member who does not (Matt 18:6-7; 5:13-16; 1 Tim 4:12; 2 Tim 1:5)?

11 Who is being a diligent parent and/or head of the family, training the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: the father or mother who brings their children to services, or ones who keep them home (Eph 6:4; Prov 22:6)?

12 Are we truly putting God first in life and abounding in the work when we stay home or when we come (Matt 22:36-38; John 14:15; 2 Cor 8:5; 1 Cor 15:58; Rev 3:15-16)?

13 Are we sacrificing ourselves for the cause of Christ, like He sacrificed Himself for us, when we stay home or when we come (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 5:2; Heb 12:2; Matt 16:24-25; 1 Peter 2:5; Heb 13:15; Mal 1:6-8, 13-14)?

14 Do we grow, increase, and improve in strength and service to God best when we attend or when we do not (Eph 4:11-16; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:2; Rom 1:12; 1 Thes 4:18; 5:11; Heb 10:23-25)?

15 When a member attends fewer and fewer meetings as time goes by, is he growing in God’s service or drifting away (see Heb 2:1-3 and the verses above)?

16 Are the meetings of the church a good use of our time and an opportunity to do good or not (Gal 6:10; Eph 5:16; Titus 2:14)?

17 Do we please God best when we resist the efforts of brethren to teach and encourage us to improve our attendance or when we appreciate those efforts (Rev 3:19; Gal 6:1-2; James 5:19-20; 2 Tim 4:2-4; Matt 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Prov 15:31-32; 13:18; 18:13; 10:17; 29:1; 19:20; 1 Peter 3:15; John 3:19-21)?

18 And, who is truly a faithful, mature Christian: the man who refuses to come to all the services unless someone can show him a specific passage that says he is going to hell if he doesn’t come, or the person who understands general Bible teaching and loves God enough that he wants to come and worship Him (Heb 5:12-14)?

“I was glad when they said to me,

"Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 122:1