Why Worship Matters

At Northgate, we recognize that life is full of demands and unexpected changes. We don’t expect anyone—volunteers, staff, or even our pastor—to be here 52 Sundays a year, 52 services a year. People get sick, families travel, and schedules fill up. That’s why we emphasize grace over guilt and flexibility over legalism when it comes to attending worship.

Take, for example, young Jack. He loves being here, serving with energy and excitement. There was a time when his family was traveling, and Jack was genuinely concerned about missing church. “I can’t miss church,” he said. “This is what we do on Sunday.” His family gently reminded him, “Pastor John was just traveling and missed church, too. It’s okay to take a Sunday off.” Sometimes, it’s even your children who get you here—motivated by their own desire to be part of our community.

We never want to be legalistic about church attendance. In fact, if you’re sick, we encourage you to join us online. We care about you, and we want you to take care of yourself and those around you. At the same time, we do encourage a commitment to worshiping together. Gathering as a church is not just about ticking a box; it’s about making worship a priority in our journey of faith.

As Richard Foster writes in Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, worship is a key step in spiritual growth, alongside prayer, fasting, and the study of Scripture. Foster says, “If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.” Worship is not just about singing or sitting in a pew—it’s about encountering God and being transformed by that encounter.

Being part of a church means committing to spiritual growth, which includes worship as a priority. It also means fellowship—coming together frequently to build the bonds that sustain our faith. Hebrews 10:23–25 reminds us:

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The priority of meeting together is so that we can encourage one another and spur each other on toward love and good deeds. This is essential for us as followers of Christ.

We want to make this commitment to worship as accessible as possible. That’s why we’ve introduced a Thursday evening service at 7 p.m. For those whose jobs or family commitments make Sunday attendance difficult—whether you work in healthcare, have children in weekend activities, or are traveling—Thursday offers a spiritual respite. It’s the same message and music as Sunday, providing another opportunity to worship and connect with your church family.

There’s an old saying, “Going to church on Sunday is a Saturday night decision.” For some, it can now be a decision made on Wednesday or on Thursday afternoon. Either way, we’ll be here, offering God-centered worship, the Word of God, and the encouragement of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Worship is not about perfection or attendance records. It’s about encountering God, growing in faith, and supporting each other as we journey together toward Christ-likeness.