Do any of these statements sound familiar to you? Maybe you have thought one of these statements yourself, or have had a family member or friend say something similar to you. Here are eleven compelling reasons that answers the question, "Why should I go to church?"

1. It is a biblical requirement. Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together as some have."
2. It can prevent backsliding. Though this is not a guarantee, a person is prone to stay faithful when they are with the faithful at and in church.
3. It provides spiritual encouragement. Acts 2:42 is a snapshot of what the early church was up to and God blessed them, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to the fellowship." These are all communal activities.
4. It obeys the Great Commandment. Matt. 12:30, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." How can you love God when you do not obey Him, and you don't want to be with those He loves?
5. It follows Jesus' own example. Luke 4:16 states, "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom." If anybody had a reason not to go to church, it was Jesus Christ! Yet, even so, we see a pattern of going to the place of public worship in Christ's life.
6. It is a testimony of support. Matt. 12:30, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." The places you go show support of those places and church should be top priority, unless of course, the kingdom of God is not the top priority in your life.
7. It enables the hearing of God's Word being preached. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the apostle Paul charged the young pastor Timothy to "Preach the Word." This implies that if God commanded the Word to be preached, then he wants the Word to be heard! Would you like your spouse to say "I love you" by giving you a tape with her recording of it on the tape?
8. To experience the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of the Church. We are commanded by Christ to observe this in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24,25).
9. To have experiences with God that happen publicly. 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14 show the importance that each Christian has in using their spiritual gifts. These gifts were given for the building up of the body of Christ, that is, the Church. How can this occur if you are not going to where the body is gathered?
10. It is an indication of having eternal life. Church attendance is no guarantee of eternal life, however, love for the brethren is: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers" (1 John. 3:14). How can you love and show love for the people of God if you are not with them? However, not going to church could indicate not having eternal life (cf. 1 Jn. 2:19)
11. Finally, for a balanced Christian life. Ephesians 4:11-13 gives a picture of wholeness in relation to the ministries of the Church. There are so many spiritual fads that come and go. Being a part of a local church will help keep you from being involved in these.