59% of Americans agree “Worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.” But here’s what the author of Hebrews knows: much strength arises from being together and worshiping together. Even if the sermon is poor and the worship shoddy, the church service gives us chance to be together, and that, more than any pleasure we take or approval we give of the sermon or worship, is the real point

The author know this, too: community increases love. How can it do otherwise if Jesus is there with us? As 1 John 4:8b tells us, “God is love.” And where love increases, the things of God must follow