Top 10 reasons to attend a local church

St. Frances of Rome - the patron saint of drivers.

Last Sunday at NRN I mentioned in my message that a new reality in the church today is: the definition of a “regular attendee” has greatly changed over the years.  When I began in pastoral ministry a regular attendee meant a person attended Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night EACH week.  Today a regular attendee is a person who attends at least 2 to 3 Sunday mornings a month. This week I checked the time stamp on the recordings of my last three sermons for the podcast posted on the church web site.  The average time I have preached is less than 30 minutes per message.  I simply ask that in the series of messages I will begin this coming Sunday – January 13,2013 – be important enough that you try to attend four consecutive Sundays and see if the impact of attending church makes a difference in your spiritual life.

Only  a few people who attend our church live less than a mile from our church. In fact, I live 20 minutes away.  Some faithful individuals drive up to 45 minutes to our church. Whether you come from Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forrest, Creedmore, Cary, Garner, Crabtree area, or anywhere across the North Raleigh or Triangle area - it it always worth the drive to be at NRN.  God is present in our worship and the Word of God will always be presented in the power of the Holy Spirit.  A simple truth is the more people in the Worship Center - the better I preach.

 Here are some top reasons to attend church that I recently read:

Top 10 Reasons to Attend at a Local Church:

10. It's environmentally friendly.

9. You are uniquely positioned to help the local church bring hope to your neighborhood.

8. You can make it home in time for the football game, and nap.

7. Christian friends you worship with are the ones you want close by.

6. It provides accountability.

5. It accommodates mid-week time to gather for prayer with other Christians

4. Surprise! Community life happens best in... community.

3. It makes you better aware of local Christian services and ministries.

2. "Greeting time" should not be the first and last time you shake a person's hand.

1. You might be the means by which a local church is able to provide what so many commute to church for.

Bonus: Arrive to church without the need to confess sins committed in road rage