The Heart of Sunday Worship: Why Do We Gather Weekly?
A year ago, I made a difficult decision about my son Benjamin's love for football (soccer for some), which he played on Sundays. We often rushed to church after games or missed parts of the service, and I began feeling conflicted. Eventually, I told Benjamin he couldn’t play club football on Sundays, prioritising church. There were some tears, but after a heartfelt conversation, he understood.
Last Sunday morning, as I placed my hands on Benjamin’s eight-year-old shoulders, I felt deeply moved. I listened as he sang, “With a thousand hallelujahs, we magnify Your name. You alone deserve the glory, the honour, and the praise.” Worshipping with Benjamin, alongside our church family, brought an immense sense of peace and joy. It felt right.
In Sunday morning’s sermon, we were challenged as men to lead our families faithfully. Reflecting on past moments, I felt the weight of times I hadn’t led as I should. Yet, we were reminded of God’s grace, His forgiveness for past failures, and His strength for today and the days to come. We were called to be faithful to our covenant community — to care for one another within the church. The church, or "ecclesia," meaning "called-out assembly," is not just a building or a place but a gathering of believers. Thus, our purpose isn’t merely to "go to church," but to be the church.
In Hebrews 10:23-25, we are encouraged:
‘Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.’
Christians gather on Sundays because we have been redeemed from our sins, united with the risen Christ, and bonded with each other through faith in Him. This unity calls us to regularly gather as a community, offering joy and thanksgiving in worship, not as isolated believers but as one body—praying, singing, hearing God’s word, and celebrating the ordinances of Jesus.
To conclude, consider these words by Charles Reade:
“Sow an act, and you reap a habit.
Sow a habit, and you reap a character.
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny —
for yourself, your family, your church, your world.”
Written by Daniel Wiens, Elder