Best answer so far. This is the reason for churches. I've heard it taught on before and we all know and even quote sometimes Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching..../KJV
But what does it really mean? What is exhorting one another mean? Easy. All you have to do is to continue reading where v25 leaves off!
Hebrews 10:25-31
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God..../KJV !!
And to be clear on Exhort...
"strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something."
What are we supposed to exhort each other to do while we are assembled?!
Well to worship God of course! That is the main reason for churches to exist! So that the people can assemble themselves together with others for a corporate worship of the Lord! Teaching is also to be done in church thru the reading of the scriptures.
You see, when a believer does something in the Lord, it can be a powerful thing if done in spirit and in truth...so what does corporate worship do that a single Believer can not? Good question! I'm glad you asked. It gives a body of Believers one voice in worship of God...!!!
And I'm not sure of what happens spiritually, but I suspect there is a sort of geometric progression and multiplication of voice unto God, so corporate worship is very very important. So much so that God likes it so much, that He even put it in scripture for us to learn!
That said, I admit I have no church per se. I haven't been to church in a few ears now.
I came here to this location in 2018 and started working here in my trade for a company that I think serviced all the churches in this town (facetiously, but a lot!) So I got in a lot of different churches and consequently, got invited to services many times. And I went to the services. It feels like I have attended services in most of the churches in my county and some of them I returned to several times because I liked them. So why didn't I become a member in any of them?
Well, when I lived in Colorado, I didn't really choose my church. My church chose me! I went there to make a repair on something and after I was done, I was leaving and thought hmm, I'll step into the sanctuary and take a peek, maybe I'll attend next Sunday? As soon as I stepped into the sanctuary, the Holy Spirit fell on me hard. It was a great feeling! And I thought, yeah, this is the church that is my church!
That has never happened for me in an Ohio church. So I didn't feel drawn to join any of them, even tho they spoke truth (for the most part) and all the people were friendly. Besides some of the ones I did like, were teaching what I learned years before, so I wasn't really getting anything new for myself. A good message for new Believers, but I had no place there. No draw. Which shouldn't matter if I am there to worship the Lord I understand, but I was getting so much new info on Youtube teaching videos...that there was (and is) my draw.
I've even been to a couple home church services which were ok but mediocre at best, and the distance involved to attend! Whoa. Why do they always live so far from me!
Now I live alone, and I have eyeballed my house as being very suitable for a home church. But even tho I have plenty of room in this house to do such a thing, I am not fully prepared to start having home services. I have ample floor space, but zero folding chairs! I bought a case of Bibles on sale supposedly but they turned out to be very small print. Too small in my mind. I have enough wafers and wine for a Communion service for a small crowd of people! But I'm not organized to have a home service. I have never written a sermon to speak. I'm not drawn to being behind a microphone in front of a bunch of people (Yikes!) and I've never worked in a church before to know how it is run. All the home church services that I've ever attended all are basically a Bible Study group. Which is good, but not the fellowship that scripture speaks of...corporate worship.
I don't even have any hymn books!
...??? So I dunno. That idea languishes while I try to collect some things that I need. Besides, I don't know hardly anyone in this town! Like two people only, and only one of them is a Believer. I need a dozen folding chairs and you can't use plastic chairs for this sort of thing. Any suitable metal folding chair is like $40 to $80 bucks now! So much for that idea! Even for only one dozen, lol!
