6 Things to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Going to Church

Early in my ministry, I visited an elderly man in a retirement home whose body and mind had been steadily declining. As a result, he had not been to worship for some time. When I found him, he was sitting alone, rocking back and forth, repeatedly uttering the words, “Take me to church.” I was struck that in his condition, the deepest desire of his heart was to worship God in the assembly of His people.

That man died not long after, and I had the opportunity to speak at his memorial service. I told those who had gathered there that God had answered his request. He had been taken to church—not a Sunday worship service, but rather that great assembly (church) of God’s people gathered around the throne (Heb. 12:22).

I share the account above because it touches on two crucial aspects of Christian worship. First, this man presents a model of deep personal desire to attend the weekly gathering of God’s people for worship. This is something that we all can strive to cultivate. Second, it touches on the reality that when we gather for worship with a local congregation, by God’s Spirit, we join with that great assembly in the heavenly places. By the blood of Christ, we enter the presence of God. We will first look at what happens when we come to worship. Then we will consider how to cultivate the desire and practice of weekly worship.

When Christians go to church, we do not merely gather in a local setting. In these earthly assemblies, we are lifted by God’s Spirit to His heavenly presence. The great privilege of every Christian, because of our Great High Priest, is to come to the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22) and enter the heavenly Holy of Holies to “offer up a sacrifice of praise . . . the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb. 13:15). Understanding this staggering spiritual reality transforms the way we think and how we feel about worship.

We also see throughout the New Testament that the early church gathered for worship on the Lord’s Day (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Heb. 10:25). These are joyful scenes as Christians hear God’s Word, rejoice in the deliverance from sin, give praise to God in song and prayer for His wondrous works in Christ Jesus, and serve others in love. We are called to continue this weekly practice of gathering for worship on the Lord’s Day.

So, if you are working through feelings of not wanting to go to church, it is important to examine your heart and motives. Humbly bring this to the Lord in prayer: Why do I not feel like going to church? The answer to this question could be a serious spiritual matter or reflect competing priorities that result from the complexities of life.

Sometimes our own sin can keep us from wanting to worship. If this is the case, confess your sin and find the freedom and assurance of forgiveness in Jesus. If perhaps it is the sin of a brother or sister in Christ, lovingly confront him or her and seek reconciliation (Matt. 18:15). If you find that you are not in awe of God, meditate on His attributes until you can ask with the prophet, Who is like God? (Mic. 7:18). If you find worship boring, ponder the spiritual realities highlighted above and discover why your church worships the way it does.

Schedules that are too full, even full of good things, can also be a sinful reason to skip regular worship. If worship is the most important thing to which God calls us—for His glory, for our own good, and for the blessing of others—then we need to cultivate the conviction and discipline to clear the calendar and make worship our highest priority.

There may be other obstacles you face when considering weekly worship. Some of these include the realities and challenges of different stages of life: discipling little children, difficult college studies, demanding work schedules, and debilitating health issues. You might think staying home would be more restful. But in fact, it is Jesus who offers true rest (Matt. 11:28–30). Come to Him and find rest for your soul.

Finally, I want to encourage you to work through the short list below. I hope it will help you develop a deeper desire for weekly worship, anticipating the spiritual realities and blessings of worshiping in God’s presence:

1. Pray that God would open the eyes of your heart so that you might know the hope and riches that are yours in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:18).
2. Pray that God would fill you with songs of praise and thanksgiving as you meditate on the great things He has done (Eph. 5:19–20; 1 Peter 2:9).
3. Listen carefully to the Word of God as it is read and proclaimed. Respond in faith to His promises and in obedience to His commands (Col. 3:16).
4. Participate in the public prayers by praying along and bringing those prayers to the Lord through the week (Eph. 6:18).
5. Receive the sacraments with faith and thanksgiving (Luke 22:19–20).
6. Find fellow believers whom you can encourage and serve after worship (Heb. 10:24).