Why do you go to church?

Is church too crowded for Jesus? Why do you go to church? Why should you go to church? What's in it for you? Today Pastor Tim Hartwig answers questions about church.

John 2:13-22

Why do you go to church? Is it to keep God happy? Is it because you’re supposed to? Maybe you don’t go to church. Why should you?

Many people turn church and religion into something that we are to do to God to keep him happy. It’s as if our activity can earn his favor.

Jesus found the same thing going on in his day. The people in the temple were focused on their sacrifices as an outward way to earn God’s favor. Jesus went into the temple and drove out the animals and the money changes and upturned their religious practice.

In a sense he was making room for himself so that he could be the proper focus of their religion. Worship that truly honors God is focused not on our works, but his.

We’re to go to church because we want to learn more about what Jesus did to save us from our sins we want to see that he loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die in our place so that we could be forgiven. Church is really about God serving us. Serving us with his love and grace in Jesus.

So go to church.

Go to church and learn about God’s love for you.

Go to church and learn about what God did in Jesus so that you could be his very own child.

Go to church and learn that Jesus has earned God’s favor for you. Amen.

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Timothy Hartwig
Timothy Hartwig

Tim Hartwig is currently serving as President of the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary.

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