Why Do We Gather?

It’s a question worth asking: Why do we gather as the church each week?

In our day, weekly worship has fallen on hard times. A Gallup poll recently revealed that—for the first time in over 80 years—less than half of Americans belong to a house of worship. Attendance has dropped from 68% two decades ago to 47% today. And with each new generation, the trend grows sharper. Add to this the lasting effects of the pandemic—many churches were forced to close for a season, and some believers have never returned. With livestreams and online options so accessible, many now wonder, Do I really need to gather at all?

The book of Hebrews gives us a resounding yes. In Hebrews 10:19–25, the author urges weary Christians not to abandon the gathering but to press into it. Why? Because the local church is not a social club or outdated ritual. It is God’s appointed means to help us persevere in faith until Christ returns.

The passage offers three “let us” commands that frame the purpose of gathering:

1. Let us draw near to God (v. 22). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the curtain is torn and we have full access into God’s presence. Worship together is our weekly reminder that we live in His grace.
2. Let us hold fast our confession (v. 23). We are urged to cling to the hope of the gospel without wavering. In a world that constantly tempts us to drift, the gathering strengthens our grip on Christ.
3. Let us consider one another (vv. 24–25). This is the heart of it. We gather not merely for ourselves but to “stir up one another to love and good works” and to “encourage one another.”

This third command shifts our focus outward. Corporate worship is both vertical (toward God) and horizontal (toward one another). Yes, we come to encounter the living God—but we also come to look around, to notice, to study one another’s lives so that we might encourage and spur each other on. True worship is never self-centered.

Think of it this way: you can’t stir up or encourage anyone if you’re not present. Nor can you receive the encouragement you desperately need. When we’re absent, both we and the body suffer. As one pastor has said, “If you can miss church without being missed, something is missing. And if you can miss church without missing church, something is very wrong.”

But presence alone is not enough. We are called to participate—to encourage, to speak words of hope, to humbly put the needs of others before our own. That is how the church becomes a place of mutual edification and mutual encouragement.

Finally, Hebrews gives us a motivation: “all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Christ is coming soon. Every Sunday gathering is a preview of that greater day when believers from every tribe and tongue will stand before the throne, worshiping the Lamb (Rev. 7:9–10).

Until then, we gather—not out of habit, but out of hope. We gather to worship God, to hold fast to Christ, to build up one another, and to anticipate the final, glorious gathering when Jesus returns.

So, why do we gather? Because the Day is drawing near. And until it comes, we need each other.