attendance – La Vista Church of Christ

Why Do You Go to School?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:14:20 +0000

by Jefferson David Tant

Well, one might say, “That’s really a dumb question. We go to school to learn, prepare for our adult lives, and learn how to survive in the world. To learn how to read. And there are many reasons why going to school and getting an education are necessary to live in the world.”

It’s quite obvious that going to school and getting an education is necessary if we are going to do well in the world in which we live. Now, while that makes good sense, let us give some attention to a much more important thought, which is, “Why go to church, and why do we need to study and learn the Bible? And why do we need to do this while we are young?”

Well, let’s go back to the first question. Why is it needed to get an education while one is young? It’s pretty obvious that if you want to succeed in life, you need an education. If one waits until age 25 or 30 to learn how to read or how to do math, what success do you think he or she will achieve in life? I think my readers would agree that such a person's life would be difficult, if not a complete failure.

Well, there is another realm where knowledge is important, and extremely important. And that is in the spiritual realm, the realm that deals with our eternity. Yes, our 80 or 90 years on this earth are certainly worthy of a good education to prepare for them. But what about our eternal existence in a realm that has no end? It is eternal. And how do we “graduate” at the end of life and receive a “diploma” that opens the door into heaven for us? That “diploma” is the result of our time on this earth worshipping God and learning and applying what we learn from God’s Book of Instruction—the Bible.

As I go about my day, my wife and I go shopping, travel, and eat out at restaurants. And what do we often see? We often see young people (and older people, too) who may be living good lives, earning a salary to provide for themselves and serving their customers politely, but who seem to have no interest in spiritual matters. Rarely do I find a waitress who attends church regularly or who knows anything much about God’s revelation to mankind—the Bible. I most always give them a tract or article to read, and often get their email address. But I rarely have any response from them.

I will close with some good advice. In fact, it is not only good advice, but also the most important advice in the world. It was written thousands of years ago by one of God’s servants: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'" (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

I Never Intended to Quit

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:07:55 +0000

by Gus Nichols

A man who had not attended a church service in four years told me he never thought of “quitting” the church. I reminded him that he had already

withdrawn his presence from its services,
refused to give his moral support to the activities of the congregation, and
had withdrawn his financial support, for he had not given one dime to help carry on the Lord’s work.

Then I asked what else you would need to do to “quit” the church? In case you ever decide that you no longer desire to be a member, what other steps will be necessary for you to take? Just what else will be necessary to “quit” the church?

As his true status dawned upon him, his expression reflected his sober thoughts. He replied, “Why, Brother Nichols, I’ve already quit, haven’t I? Well, I surely didn’t mean to! And I don’t know when I did it, but I’ve quit the Lord and His church! I’ll tell you right now: I’m coming back!” He did, too. At the next service, he was restored, and three years later, he was still faithful.

Dear reader, how about you? Have you quit the Lord and His church without resolving to do so? Perhaps no one deliberately decides to quit, while many carelessly drift into backsliding. If you have (1) quit attending services, (2) quit boosting the program of activities planned by the elders, and (3) quit giving as God has prospered you to enable the congregation to meet its budget, you need to be restored.

God’s Call to Bethel

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:02:27 +0000

by Zeke Flores

In Genesis 35:1, God tells Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there .. build an altar."

This is a reminder that worship is not optional for God’s people; it’s foundational. Bethel was the place where Jacob first encountered God. Now God calls him back to renew his devotion.

Spiritual drift is real. Jacob’s household had accumulated idols, compromises, and distractions. Before Jacob could obey, he had to purify his home. Worship requires consecration. It’s not just singing; it’s surrender.

God’s call to Bethel is a call to re-center life around Him. It’s a call to remember, repent, and realign.

If your commitment feels scattered or spiritually dull, God may be calling you back to your own “Bethel”, the place where your faith was awakened, where God met you, where your devotion was clear.

Return. Rebuild. Renew.

I Attend Bible Classes Because…

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:54:24 +0000

by Eldred Stevens

It is a delightful way to obey a scriptural command (II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 1:5; 3:18; I Timothy 4:13; John 5:39).
I have a great desire to emulate first-century Christianity (Acts 2:41-47; 4:23,24; 12:12; 17:11).
I have three children (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:7; Ephesians 6:4).
I like to be with my brethren (Romans 12:10; I John 4:7,8; 3:14).
I want to do good, to abound in good works (James 4:17; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Revelation 20:12,13; 14:13; 2:2.9.13.19; James 2:16).
I want to be consistent (Titus 1:6).
I must protect and maintain a good influence (Matthew 5:13-16).
It helps to keep my spiritual temperature high (Revelation 3:16).
I love our home congregation (II Corinthians 11:2; I Thessalonians 1:2-8).
I respect the eldership (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2).
I want to keep my scale of values properly adjusted (Matthews 6:33).
I love the truth (II Thessalonians 2:10-12; Matthew 5:6).
I love the Lord, and I have a reverence for God (John 14:15).
I want to be a good example (I Timothy 4:12).
I shall be judged by the Bible (Revelation 20:12).

Does a church have the right to remove from its roll a member who no longer lives in the area?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 01:43:41 +0000

Question:

Dear Sir,

I have been reading your articles and learning a lot from your Bible teachings. Thank you for all you do and for your heart to spread the Truth.

Here’s my question: There’s a sister in our Church who was reached out while working as a house helper in a disciple’s home, but after years of working, she went home to her hometown to visit her family. but she got sick, and the doctor advised her that she could no longer work, so she told her employer. She decided to stay with her family in her home town but there’s no nearby church where she could attend to, it takes 12 to 14 hours travel by land to get to the nearest church, she’s poor and does not have the means to travel and since she could no longer work so that’ means she can’t go back to where she used to work as a house helper and join the church where she was reached out to. The church counted her out as a fallen away because she couldn’t come anymore and no longer physically attend church to worship or attend midweeks. Is the church's decision biblical?
By the way, I have an illness that limits me from going to church’s devotional and other Bible studies, especially at night, due to my health condition. Still, I reached out to people online, and I tuned in on Wednesday night to listen to the midweek devotional. I also attend Sunday service since it’s in the morning, and I usually have more energy then. I am sick myself. I felt sad when I heard the church’s decision regarding that sister.

Is it Biblical for the church to remove a member from their membership only because she cannot come anymore due to health issues, but her heart wants to stay faithful to God? What can we do as a Church to help those people who are sick but want to remain faithful to God, but there’s no disciple or nearby church in their hometown? What is the teaching of the Bible on this matter?

Thank you so much.

May God continue to bless and guide you as you spread His Word.

Answer:

I'm sorry to hear about the sister's illness.

Christians who live in a locality are to gather together as a church to offer worship to God and work together in service to God. The sister no longer lives in the area of the church. Practically, she cannot be a member of the church, though she could join a congregation near where she currently lives. If there isn't one, then she can start teaching people with hopes of getting another congregation started in time. She hasn't fallen away from the faith. She is in a difficult situation. While she can't be a member of the congregation because of distance, it isn't right for the congregation to declare her to be something she isn't.

Christians who are no longer able to attend due to illness should be cared for by their family and the brothers and sisters in the congregation (Acts 6:1-3; I Timothy 5:8-16). Do what you can while you're ill. Plan ahead to save up your energy so you can attend as often as possible. Find things to do for the Lord that is within your ability.

The Problem with an “Attendance Problem”

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 23:52:28 +0000

by Joey Sparks

Worship attendance can be a sensitive issue for Christians. Some are satisfied with coming only on Sunday mornings. Or Sunday evenings. Or for long enough to take the Lord’s Supper. Some are content with worshiping only on holidays. Some are only at the local assembly when facing tough times. Although some individuals seem content with their on-and-off attendance patterns, their attitude gets defensive when discussed by an elder, preacher, Bible class teacher, or fellow Christian. The truth is that many Christians are aware of their attendance problems, yet they take no action to fix them.

What does the Bible say about worship attendance? Very little, actually. I think that is by design; obedient lives don’t have to be convinced about the importance of worship and Bible study attendance. Truthfully, if we have “attendance problems,” attendance is not our main problem. Upon examination, Hebrews 10:24-25 bears four principles that reveal what an “attendance problem” really is:

A Heart Problem

An “attendance problem” is really a heart problem. In New Testament Greek—as in most languages—much of the meaning of a clause is determined by the verb. In Hebrews 10:25, the verb form is translated “not neglecting” or “not forsaking.” In other passages in the New Testament, we see the idea of intentionally neglecting or forsaking in the same word. Paul uses the word in II Timothy 4:10 and again in verse 16, “For Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica...At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me” (ESV). Demas and those who forsook Paul made an intentional choice to neglect him. When we choose something else over worshiping our God (such as sleep or recreation), we intentionally pass up the opportunity to tell God how great He is.

Additionally, the same verb is used in Hebrews 13:5, “for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (ESV). What a shame that our Lord has said that he will never forsake us, yet our hearts sometimes intentionally forsake Him.

A Fellowship Problem

An “attendance problem” is really a fellowship problem. The immediate context of Hebrews 10:25 warrants attention. Notice what the author says in Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…”; he then continues later in Hebrews 10:25, “but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The Hebrews’ writer knew that Christian fellowship was an important aspect of not falling away from Christ. Coming together for worship, Bible study, prayer, and other spiritual activities is vital to maintaining—and strengthening—our own and our fellow Christians' spiritual determination. By neglecting these opportunities, we imply that we care more about ourselves than we do about our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we never be guilty of such selfishness, but may we lift the needs of others above our own (Philippians 2:3-4).

A Worship Problem

An “attendance problem” is really a worship problem. In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author is explaining the beautiful opportunity Christians have to approach God directly through Christ (because of His sacrifice). First-century Christians were tempted to revert to Judaism. The author reminds them that Christ allows what the previous High Priests could not: continual and direct access to God. The implication is that not worshipping correctly negates the blessing of New Testament worship. Intentionally forsaking worship opportunities makes the same statement. Our attitude toward attendance is also our attitude toward the blessing of New Testament worship.

A Cross Problem

An “attendance problem” is really a Cross problem. Finally, the broader context of Hebrews chapter 10 reveals a humbling principle about worship. By this point in the letter to the Hebrews, the author essentially states that “Christianity is better than Judaism because of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” If we fail to worship correctly or worship regularly, we prove that we do not care about the cross of Christ. Notice what the writer says later in chapter 10, “Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy...how much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:28-29, 31). We see how much God values worship when we see the cross; do we value it enough to follow Him there?

May we always strive to resolve our problems, even if they seem larger than they are. See you at worship.

You Need a Church

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:03:08 +0000

by Jarred McCrary

Available data indicate a decline in church attendance nationwide — a trend that has accelerated significantly in recent years. One writer described the rate of attendance as dropping like a cannonball in a pie filling. In case you’re wondering, that’s not a good thing. People need church, and by “people” I mean all people. By “needing church,” I mean that people need the benefits of attending church regularly.

Let me offer you a few reasons why:

You need a church for a steady, balanced diet.

If we are to hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), it’s imperative that we consume the right things, and the church is meant to be instrumental in providing us with that diet. In Ephesians 4, for instance (Ephesians 4:11-16), there are evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip saints for the work of service, to build up the body of Christ, and to help us achieve knowledge, maturity, and stability. Paul told Timothy, a young evangelist working among local churches, to be constantly nourished on the words of faith and of sound doctrine, and to prescribe and teach those things to others (I Timothy 4:6-11). Church should not be the extent of our spiritual diet, but it’s certainly meant to play a vital role in it.

You need a church for the accountability.

By God’s design, there are built-in safeguards in the church. Shepherds are there to watch over our souls (Hebrews 13:17). That’s not the only defense, though. In Galatians 6:1-2, Paul writes, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Good people sometimes lose their spiritual bearings, and they need “spiritual” people pulling them back in the right direction. Being in the church should mean that no one falls through the cracks. No one veers off the path unnoticed. No one has to carry a burden alone. Accountability means there’s always someone to challenge your thinking and behavior. You need a church.

You need a church for the stirring.

Faith is challenging, and it’s difficult for various reasons. Sometimes, the daily grind and stresses of life pile up, and things get overwhelming. If we’re not careful, that can challenge our faithfulness. Sometimes faith is hard because the fight to not conform to the world gets tough. Sin gets hard to resist. Satan just doesn’t take breaks. In a world with that kind of pressure, we need the church. We need a shot in the arm. We need the regular reprieve from the world. We need the time to unplug from the noise and re-center our minds on the eternal. Church has a way of stirring us. Maybe it’s in the songs we sing, or in the message, or in the conversations we have. It may even come just by way of seeing other people — other people in the same stage of life, fighting the same battles. Or maybe it’s people who are aging, or dealing with health issues or major setbacks, yet they still come to church. Seeing the faith of others has a way of bolstering our own faith. The writer of Hebrews seems to point to that:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23–25).

You need a church.

You need it for the diet, for the accountability, and for the stirring.

Is it a sin to not attend on Sunday night?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 03:28:52 +0000

Question:

I was raised in and am a member of the church of Christ. God blessed me with faithful parents who didn't just "take me to church," but lived it. I am 66 years old and have struggled with an issue for most of my adult life. It is the question of Sunday night services.

My dad wasn't raised in the church, and he had a pretty sad childhood and wild adult life, so when he became a Christian, he was both very grateful and serious in his spiritual life. One thing he believed was that where the Bible said women are to be keepers at home, they must be at home to do that well (and I agree that is best). But in keeping my mom at home, he had to work a full-time and part-time job to pay the bills (mom was very frugal with money). It would have violated his conscience for my mom to work outside the home.

Dad never took a job where he had to work on Sunday mornings, but he did miss Sunday nights. He said that Sunday night was a good thing started by elders for people who couldn't make it on Sunday morning, and that it took off during WWII. He was the finest Christian man I ever knew. We had Bible studies in our home, and he had Bible studies on his lunch hour at work. He (and my mom) truly lived the Christian life.

I provide this background so you understand that I'm not looking for an excuse to miss Sunday night service. I have gone back and forth with the question of whether, if you are faithful to God and have fulfilled God's command to worship on Sunday, you are sinning if you do not go on Sunday night as well. While I agree that Sunday night worship is an added benefit, since men started it, if it is a sin to miss this service, why not just discontinue it and save souls who only come on Sunday morning? You see, it's as if I keep going in circles with this subject. And perhaps I just can't be certain.

I'll tell you why this is so important to me. My husband and I milked cows for over 30 years. Neither of our parents milked, but it was my husband's dream to milk. So, we bought the farm, a few cows, used equipment, etc., and barely made ends meet, but we were happy. I'm not sure if you're familiar with milking, but for the health of the herd, it's essential to milk at the same time every day. My husband became a Christian before we married (my first husband died) and was not raised in the church. He started from scratch, and seeing him struggle with biblical concepts made me realize even more how blessed I was to have had the head start of biblical knowledge given to me by my parents.

On Saturdays, we did what we could to help Sunday worship go better. Sunday mornings were a challenge. It didn't seem to matter how early we got up to milk the cows and feed baby calves; something would always happen to put us in a rush, and it didn't help that we only had one bathroom. My husband always made it to Sunday morning worship, and most of the time, to class as well. I was proud of what he went through to get there. One particular Sunday, the kids were ready, and we were in a dead run to get there on time. We made it and had class and then worship. We love the preacher and his family very much. He preached on church attendance that morning, and most of it was good until he said, "Anyone who misses Sunday night services, let not that person think they are going to heaven." My husband squeezed my hand so tight I knew he was trying hard not to get up and walk out. We finished worship, and he said, "Get the kids and let's get out of here."

As soon as we walked in the door, he turned and said, "Why did I rush through milking and all the work and showering and shaving and go to worship my God today when I'm going to hell anyway? I might as well stay home and relax because I'm sure not going to heaven. He was so upset, hurt, and mad, experiencing a multitude of emotions. My husband is a good Christian man. He has always invited others to worship, attended VBS, visited the sick, and gone to funerals, giving money we didn't have to help those in need, and many other things that he never did before he became a Christian. Please don't think I'm saying going to heaven is a point system where you check off boxes and add up what you've done; I'm saying he's not just a go to church, go home and live however you want kind of "Christian." My son, daughter, and I sat down with him and read the verse about forsaking the assembly. He said, "Dad, you haven't forsaken anything...we looked up the word in our Greek Lexicon and it said forsake means to turn your back on completely." We studied for several weeks on this to see if he was sinning, and I still don't "think" so, but I'm not certain. I've never been one who changes how I feel about something God forbids because a family member is doing it. For instance, people will adamantly say you shouldn't let your child go to the prom until they're of the age to go, and then it's okay. I wanted to discuss it with our preacher, but my husband forbade me from mentioning it. I teach class, so he told me to go to our church, but he visited other places because he couldn't worship there for a while. He's back at our church, but it's like something in him has died, and I don't know how to help him.

've read what you have on your site, but I still need to explore this topic further. Is there anything else I'm missing? Or can I not know for sure and must leave it up to my husband to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling?

I want you to know that your articles on various subjects have helped me greatly in the past when teaching ladies' class, and when I taught the teenage girl class, as well as when I teach the 3rd and 4th grade class (they can ask some pretty deep questions at times). I know this is a long email, and I apologize for that. I wanted to let you know that I would truly like to resolve this matter in my own heart, if possible.

Thank you so much for what you do. To Christ be the glory.

Answer:

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25).

It seems to me that you are looking at this problem from the wrong perspective. When churches began holding services twice on Sunday, it was an attempt to make them more accessible to their members. Here at La Vista, we have two services because we have members who work swing shifts. They can usually make Sunday morning services or Sunday evening services, but not both. We could not come up with an optimal time for everyone, so we hold two services. The evening service is an extension of the morning service. Those of us who can attend both services do so because we want to spend time with our brethren and worship God. However, I have lived in upstate New York, where several of the members were dairy farmers. They also had members who had to drive 75 miles one way to attend worship. In discussing the problem, the members decided to have one service in the late morning, which ran a bit longer: an hour for Bible study, a half-hour focused on the Lord's Supper, and an hour for worship and a sermon. That schedule worked well because it didn't interfere with milking, even with the time changes in the spring and fall.

The choice of meeting times is at the discretion of the local congregation. The decision should allow as many, if not all, who can attend. If people are struggling to attend, then the congregation should sit down and determine a better way to schedule services. In this, your husband was incorrect to not mention his problem to his brothers in Christ.

Please note that, despite our best efforts, some individuals may still be unable to attend every service. Illness happens. Some are tied to the military and have little say about when they can leave the base. Brethren should be understanding of those who would prefer to attend the services but are unable to do so. Where the problem arises is with those who could be at the services but find other things to do. Jobs can interfere, but sometimes I can select a job that allows me to attend. Sometimes I can strike an agreement with my employer to have time off for worship and make up that time during another part of the week. The desire to be with the brethren should be so strong that I will make an effort to be with them as often as I can.

Therein lies the core of the problem. People are skipping out on opportunities to learn about God and to be with His people. It is an attitude problem. If the attitude were fixed, the lack of attendance would not be nearly so bad. It is here that I think most of us miss the solution. We focus on the physical things that we can see — not showing up at Bible study — and miss entirely the problem that needs to be fixed. There is a spiritual problem because love has gone cold. What is needed is someone to fan the flames. Someone to inspire people to be excited about being a Christian. I believe that was what your preacher was trying to do, but he forgot to consider everyone in his audience.

Hebrews 10 reminds us that worship is the time for Christians to gather and praise God, but it is also the time for brethren to encourage one another and build bonds of unity. That time is critical because we can't make it to heaven on our own. One of the strongest warning signs that a Christian is losing his faith is his lack of attending services when he could have been there.

Is it wrong to attend a different church after being baptized?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 02 May 2025 02:02:08 +0000

Question:

Greetings Brother,

I want to know if it's wrong, once we're baptized, to worship at a church other than a Church of Christ.

Answer:

I'm puzzled. If you were baptized at a church of Christ because you realized you need to obey the Lord and you realized the church taught the truth regarding baptism, why would you want to go to a church that doesn't?

See:

Response:

Brother,

Thank you for the material you've sent. I will read them, brother. I truly appreciate your prompt reply.

Drifting Away (Ellison)

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:47:44 +0000

by Kyle Ellison

The Bible warns Christians that there is a reality of drifting away from the Lord if we are not careful.

Have you ever been enjoying a day in the ocean only to look up and realize you are far past where you entered the water? Perhaps you didn’t even realize you were now hundreds of feet down the shoreline!

You see, drifting from the Lord can be just this subtle. Can I share a significant symptom that almost always manifests when drifting begins? As a preacher, I can tell you that almost always, the first significant sign of drifting in the life of a Christian is a developing indifference toward whether they attend the church assembly or not. Now, I realize some circumstances prevent this, but those drifting will often be seen doing everything else in their life, but cannot be found on Sunday when God’s people gather.

Do you know what is happening? They are drifting. They do not push, prioritize, and long for worship with fellow brothers and sisters. It starts with a miss here, a miss there, and then the saying is true! “The more you miss it, the less you ‘miss’ it!”

As one drifts, one becomes weaker in one's faith, compromising a bit here, allowing this sin, overlooking this sin, and participating in that sin. What is happening? They are drifting!

Brothers and sisters, drifting can happen; before you know it, a shipwreck is imminent! Examine yourself, be honest, and ask if you have drifted.

Just as Israel had a habit of doing, so do we tend to backslide into a place of danger, and worst of all, our souls are at stake in such times as these. If you are drifting, will you make it right?

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).

We often see people who fall away from the Lord, get weak, disappear from the assembly, and the next communication they get from us is some form of letter communicating discipline. This is not God’s plan. If those who are weak are not being bombarded with love, cards, encouragement, and care, then what fellowship is there to withdraw?

We can hardly expect people to be saddened by losing something that did not even exist. Give this excerpt a read!

“Removal of fellowship was a serious tool Jesus wanted His church to use to bring about repentance.

The natural implication, of course, is that the fellowship and love of the church would be so valuable and so sorely missed that it would be hurtful to have it taken from one’s life. Where threat of eternal punishment is sometimes too distant to motivate people, showing them the immediate price tag of sin through the loss of family is God's way of showing the sinner just how painful sin is. However, if the threat were simply ‘You have to go somewhere else on Sunday’ — essentially what it amounts to now-the correction would hold little chance of effecting change. When Christ's church is such a small part of its peoples lives, having it taken away feels like a rather small cost.

However, if the church were something more, if it were truly the family and support system we see in the Scriptures, being cut off from such a situation would be devastating. The distinction between being part of the church and separated from it would be noticeably different, which was clearly God's intention.

In the institutional, business-like model of church, the guilty party can simply move on to the next one, akin to getting kicked out of McDonald's and walking across the street to Wendy's. But if there exists within a congregation something that simply can't be found elsewhere because it is powered by God and shared among people who have sacrificed everything for Christ, one can't just replace that by driving to join a church down the street or in the next town. It only works this way if church is more.” [Jack Wilkie, Church Reset]