Do you struggle spiritually, physically, professionally, or in your closest relationships? We all want success in every area of life. Here is the good news: if you are a follower of Jesus, He has already given you a way to overcome these struggles. Today we are sharing 3 reasons why you should go to church straight from the 3 Steps to Victory Sermon Series by Pastor Robert Morris.

1. God’s Presence

   
   The number one reason to go to church is God’s presence. Now, I understand that God is everywhere. That’s called His omnipresence. Then, there is His inner presence, which is the Holy Spirit living within us. But God’s manifest presence—His made-known presence—happens when we come together. In Exodus 33, when God became angry with the people of Israel as they were traveling through the wilderness, He said to Moses, “I’m not going to go with you into the promised land, but I’ll send My angel.” Moses’s reply was, “If Your presence doesn’t go, I don’t want to go.” Moses then made an incredible statement: “If Your presence doesn’t go with us, how will we be different from any other people in the world?” It’s the only thing that makes us different. The reason gathering at church is different than any other organization or meeting is because the presence of God is so strong when we gather together as His children.
   
   

2. God’s Power 

Matthew 18:20 reads, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Look at the verse right before: “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (v. 19). And then Jesus says: “For …” The word for is a preposition that means “because.“ In other words, Jesus is saying why something is done. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst” (v. 20) The reason what you ask is done is because God is standing right there with you. His presence is there. And when His presence is there, His power is there. Many people want and need the power of God in their life, but they don’t go to church. 

3. God’s People

You may be thinking, Well, if I’ve got God’s presence and God’s power, why do I need God’s people? Because His presence and His power flow through His people. You need people. In Matthew 22:36, Jesus was asked “What’s the greatest commandment?” He replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind … but the second is like it …” The phrase like it means “equal to”. The second is equal to it. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then Jesus makes an incredible statement: “On these two commandments, hang all the law and the prophets.” Remember, they didn’t have a New Testament when Jesus was speaking. So when He referred to the Scriptures, the law, and the prophets, what He was saying was the whole Bible hangs on these two commandments: Love God and love people. You need both a relationship with God and a relationship with people. 

God created church. God created a place for His people to come together, worship Him, learn His Word, sense His presence, and experience His power. His presence, His power, and His people … that's what church is! Sometimes churches get off track or maybe go the wrong way, but it's still church, and it's still a place where if we press in with all our hearts, we can enter God's presence, hear God's Word, grow in Him, and affect other people's lives.

Learn more in the 3 Steps to Victory Sermon Series DVD and Study Guide.
View all Pastor Robert Morris Curriculum at this link.