Hey friends, and happy Thursday – or whenever you read this. Today, let’s talk about church for a few minutes. Not the building, not the steeple, not the stained glass or the slightly out-of-tune piano—but the messy, beautiful, awkward, sacred thing that happens when people show up together to lean into this wild story of God. I get it—sometimes the idea of “going to church” feels like a relic, like something your grandma insists on, or maybe it’s just another box to check in a week already stuffed with boxes. But what if there’s something deeper going on here? What if showing up and participating in church isn’t just a habit—it’s a holy rebellion against isolation, cynicism, and the lie that we’re in this alone? Here are three reasons I keep coming back to why church matters.
1. You’re Part of Something Bigger Than You
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to shrink your world down to just you? Your phone, your playlist, your coffee order—it’s all so tailored, so custom, so me. And that’s not bad—God made you unique, after all—but there’s this moment when you walk into a room full of people singing, praying, stumbling through the same ancient words, and you realize: Oh, I’m not the whole story. Church pulls you out of the tiny orbit of self and plugs you into something cosmic. It’s like the Spirit whispering, “You’re part of a body—a weird, sprawling, glorious body that’s been breathing for centuries.”
Think about it: the same God who spoke galaxies into being is somehow present when a bunch of us—flawed, distracted, hopeful—gather to say, “Hey, we’re here, and we’re listening.” That’s not just a Sunday routine; that’s a collision of the eternal and the everyday. You need that. I need that. We need to be reminded that our little thread of life is woven into a tapestry way bigger than we can see.
2. It’s Where You Learn to Love the Unlovable (Including Yourself)
Let’s be real—church isn’t always easy. You’ve got the guy who talks too loud during the prayer, the kid who spills juice on your new shoes, the sermon that goes 15 minutes too long. And don’t get me started on the politics in the parking lot or the unspoken tension over who gets to hold the mic. But here’s the thing: that’s the point. Church isn’t a country club—it’s a crucible. It’s where you bump up against people you’d never choose to hang out with and figure out how to love them anyway.
And then there’s you. You bring your own mess, your own doubts, your own “I’m not sure I belong here” vibes. Church is this strange, grace-soaked space where you’re forced to wrestle with that—and where others show up to remind you that God’s not done with you yet. It’s like Jesus saying, “You’re all a little unlovable sometimes, and I love you anyway—so try doing that for each other.” Participating in church teaches you how to forgive, how to listen, how to sit with the tension—and that’s not just good for your soul; it’s good for the world.
3. It’s a Rehearsal for the Kingdom
Ever wonder what God’s up to? Like, the big picture—what’s the endgame? The Bible keeps pointing to this vision of a renewed world, a kingdom where everything broken gets fixed, where tears dry up, where the table’s big enough for everyone. Church—when we show up, when we sing, when we pass the bread and the cup—it’s like a dress rehearsal for that. It’s not perfect, sure, but it’s a glimpse. A taste. A little echo of what’s coming.
When you participate, you’re not just killing an hour on Sunday—you’re practicing resurrection. You’re saying, “I believe this story isn’t over.” You’re joining hands (literally or figuratively) with people who are just as hungry for hope as you are, and together you’re leaning into the promise that God’s making all things new. That’s not passive—it’s active. It’s a declaration. It’s you and me and the lady in the pew behind us stepping into the rhythm of eternity, one off-key hymn at a time.
So, Why Bother?
Church isn’t about guilt or obligation—it’s about waking up. It’s about showing up to a mystery that’s been unfolding since the beginning, a mystery that says you’re invited, you’re needed, you’re part of it. Yeah, it’s messy. Yeah, it’s imperfect. But it’s also where the Spirit moves, where love gets legs, where the future breaks into the now. So maybe this week, give it a shot. Walk through the doors, sit in the back if you want, and see what happens. You might just find yourself caught up in something bigger than you ever imagined. Give it a shot. What have you got to lose?
-Grace & Pews,
Pastor Scott.
If you like audio/podcast content, please subscribe to my new offering – “Faith Ponderings” exclusively on Spotify (and it’s free!!)
Pastor's Ponderings 
Leave a comment