On a recent Sunday, a pastor remarked some of this church members had not resumed the habit of post-pandemic worship attendance. He lamented some of them might not be returning, citing their new habit of viewing online worship services or just not participating altogether. When he first used the word “habit” to describe church attendance, it struck me wrong. It seemed like a less-than-spiritual description of what should be a more than a habit.

But then a Scripture passage came to mind. The Bible says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).  The biblical writer reminded his readers neglecting church, and by inference attending church, is a habit. That reminder changed my perspective on the pastor’s use of habit to describe church attendance.

A habit is a pattern of behavior, initially intentional, but repeated so often it becomes routine. We establish habits to improve our lives. Positive habits entrench healthier behavioral patterns. They become engrained and produce permanent results. For example, changing food consumption patterns is healthier than going on a short-term diet. Establishing an exercise routine is better than binge workouts motivated by guilt. Habits begin with intentional choices but, as they become routine, result in lifestyle changes.

Church attendance is a good habit. It begins with an intentional choice to change based on a desire to learn a new way of life. Unbelievers often make this choice with hope a life change will result. Believers make this choice because they know church participation provides the support, training, and information they need to live out their spiritual commitments. Once church becomes a habit, we participate without asking “Do I go this week?” because we know something positive will happen as long as we invest ourselves in the opportunity.

During the pandemic, many believers switched to viewing online worship services. This has become a new habit. While it offered a positive means of maintaining a connection to their church during COVID, it is less effective for producing life change than attending worship services and other church events. How so? Because part of coming together is considering “one another in order to provoke love and good works.” In other words, the habit of church attendance is not just about you “getting something out of it.”  It is also what you do for others by your presence, involvement, and service.

Church attendance is a habit—a good habit. It’s time for believers to re-establish this habit. We need the discipline of gathering, for our benefit and the benefit of others we influence. Online options have been a good way to stay connected during the pandemic. But that habit can have the subtle negative aspect of being too self-focused. Assembling with other believers restores the balance of gathering to receive ministry as well as extend ministry to others. It’s time to restore this essential habit.


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Perspective: SBC 2023

Dr. Iorg discusses what unites the SBC in light of next week’s annual convention.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

Intentionality

 The greatest problem in our world is lostness. The only solution to lostness is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jeff Iorg
President
Dr. Jeff Iorg is the president of Gateway Seminary. Prior to his service at the Seminary, Dr. Iorg was the Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for almost ten years. He was also the founding pastor of Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, and has served as a pastor in Missouri and a staff pastor in Texas.

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Lead On Podcast
June 4, 2023

“Life is Curriculum”: How Leaders Grow after Seminary

Dr. Iorg encourages leaders to continue growing after Seminary. He identifies seven ways to cultivate and work towards spiritual maturity. 

Lead On Podcast
May 28, 2023

Dealing with Angry People

There is a lot of anger in the world right now and a lot of that anger is spilling over into the church. This week Dr. Iorg discusses different ways to engage with and disciple angry people in your ministry.


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Spirituality of Jonathan Edwards | JEC at Gateway Seminary

Dr. Chris Chun hosted a digital symposium with Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. Robert Caldwell to discuss Edwards’ spirituality, devotional life and theological impact in American Christianity.

Chris Chun
Professor of Church History | Director, Jonathan Edwards Center
Dr. Chris Chun is the professor of Church History and the director of Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary. Chris’ doctoral research at St. Andrews University was focused on the eighteenth-century Edwardsean Baptists in Britain. He also has served as president of The Evangelical Theological Society (Far West Region).

Faculty Dialogues: Dispensationalism or Not

In this episode of Faculty Dialogues, Dr. David Rathel and Dr. Paul Wegner held a live discussion on their views on dispensationalism.

David Rathel
Associate Professor of Christian Theology
Dr. Rathel is the associate professor of Chrisitian Theology at Gateway Seminary. Prior to Gateway, Dr. Rathel supplied pastoral care to churches in the United States and Scotland, served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy for the Baptist College of Florida, and provided teaching assistance for the University of St Andrews.

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