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Question: Is there any where in the Bible that would indicate that a member of a church must attend the mid-week Bible Study and Sunday School if they are in a leadership position or serve as an officer of a committee or church group? How important is attendance of a Bible Study group or Sunday School, if you study your Bible at home?Answer: There are no specific scriptures of which I am aware concerning rules as to how many times a week a person should go to church. There are scriptures concerning assembling together for worship.
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him" (Psalm 89:7).
"Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders" (Psalm 107:32).
"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation" (Psalm 111:1).
"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" (Hebrews 10:25).
A rather interesting verse can be found in the book of Acts. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:46-47).
The above portion of scripture tells me that the Christians in the New Testament either (a) went to the temple on a daily basis, or (b) went to the temple on days when it was available and had church in each other's homes on the other days. Furthermore, they ENJOYED it! I am almost sure that not everyone went every single day, as they had responsibilities of daily living; however, they seemed to gather together as often as possible.
Any Christian, especially leaders, should be glad to have the privilege of attending church services. Although I think it is sad that pastors must require leaders to attend a certain number of churches services, I don't see a reason why they shouldn't do so. A good pastor will want his leaders to be able to come into a church service for the sole purpose of enjoying spiritual refreshing with no obligations to hinder them from receiving from the Lord. If a person goes to church only to fulfill a task, the joy of service will soon disappear. Leaders get 'burned out' when they are continually busy ministering to others, and don't take time to rest in the Lord and let others minister to them. For example, a Sunday School teacher that only goes to Sunday School to teach the class, never attending any other service, will soon grow weary. The love for the class will grow luke-warm. It will seem like a drudgery and a waste of time, and eventually the teacher will quit. The reason is because that teacher hasn't taken time to be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Pastors know that this happens all too frequently. They try to prevent it by requiring additional church services.
Other issues to consider:
(1.) How is a leader to make wise decisions concerning the church if he/she is not in?
(2.) How can leaders understand the spiritual needs of the people they are to lead if they do not associate with those people on a regular basis?
(3.) Pastors often count on their leaders for assistance at unexpected times. Sometimes the leaders are asked to handle the tasks of another person in a time of emergency. The pastor should be able expect his leaders to be on hand if/when he needs them. On the other hand, a pastor with faithful leaders will be understanding when a person cannot be there due to unusual circumstances.
Whatever job, position, or title a leader has, part of the job description is that he/she should be willing to be an assistant to the pastor and stand behind him in prayer and visual support. It is important for the congregation to see the pastor and leaders working together. It is my opinion that if a person does not respect a pastor enough to follow his wishes concerning church attendance, then that person shouldn't be in a leadership position. If there is a job or some other responsibility that hinders church attendance on a regular basis, the person should make it a definite matter of prayer and decline leadership until faithful attendance is possible.
As to your second question concerning group Bible study and/or Sunday School, I feel both are very important. Yes, a person can and should read the Bible and do personal Bible study at home. That is to be commended. However, group meetings are equally important for clarification, edification, and fellowship.
(1.) Many misunderstandings and misinterpretations occur when a person tries to study the Bible alone. Satan has a way of twisting the scriptures and making us think the Bible says things that it really doesn't say. In a group setting, issues can be discussed and a truer understanding can be had.
(2.) If the class or topic of study seems uninteresting because it is too basic, that is not a good reason to stay away. It is the perfect opportunity to sit in, make comments, and help others to understand what is being taught. More than likely, the teacher will appreciate thoughtful input.
(3.) People studying the Bible together not only gain a greater understanding of God and the Bible, they also gain a greater understanding of one another. Sharing experiences, ideas, and feelings is as much a part of group Bible study as gaining knowledge.
More on This Subject
Why do Christians have to go to church so much?
Why should I take membership in a church?
Is it justifiable to refrain from going to church when there are no good Christian churches in my area?
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