GOING TO CHURCH is neglected by many people who call themselves Christians. That is a mistake. If you really wish to serve God (a big if, admittedly), then you should realize that churchgoing provides at least a minimal amount of each of several things you should be doing weekly. These are things it's pretty hard to argue with, no matter what your variety of Christianity (as opposed to, say, Communion, the need for which is debated).

Learning. You should be learning about God and about how to live, and be reminded of things you'd rather not think about. A sermon does that.
Serving. You should be helping God's work in the world. The offering does that.
Worshipping. You should offer God worship. The hymns do that.
Praying. You should be offering God prayers of thanks, worship, confession, and supplication. Church prayers do some of that.
Encouraging. You should be encouraging other people in their service to God. Doing all the other things in a group does that, and so does the conversation over coffee after the service ends.

John Mangrum's sermon at ECC this morning was on the topic of relationships, and cited the standard verse on this subject, Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another..." Churchgoing is neither necessary, nor sufficient. A weekly Bible study group could replace it (but in effect would be churchgoing), as could five separate regular activities. And churchgoing accomplishes nothing if you don't pay attention at church, or go to a bad church. But church is a convenient way to pay at least a little attention to your duties.

[ http://php.indiana.edu/~erasmuse/w/03.07.13a.htm ]

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