So, you missed church? You might feel a lot of guilt, but remember you cannot undo the past. Instead, focus on the future. Analyze why you felt the need to miss church, and then take that wisdom and apply it to the next week of church service.
If you have missed church because you were ill and/or contagious, use godly wisdom and discernment here. You made a good decision. You wouldn’t want to make someone else sick. What if they were immunocompromised and you made them worse?
Like the last example, you could have a book full of legitimate excuses as to why you can miss church and plenty of refutes to them. For example, in the paragraph above, could it be that God is the Ultimate Healer and will not allow you to spread illness or catch it at church?
In this article, we will walk through some of the things that you can do if you missed church. If you regularly miss church, the following words should help you, too. We’ll cover it all, in fact. So let go of your guilt and embrace the grace that God has for you.
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The Importance of Church Attendance
Often, we feel guilty when we have missed church, whether it is a good reason or a bad one. However, missing church is a big deal. It is a great way to fellowship with God and other Christians. It’s difficult to make Christian friends as an adult. Church is a key connecting point.
Church also allows you to take Communion (the Lord’s Supper), get baptized, sing songs and praises to God, or even meet someone who has never met Jesus. You never know what adventure you might become if you would only go to church.
Of course, not all churches offer these pieces of worship, but if you have not already, why not participate in all that you can? At home, you can do many of these things, but fellowshiping with other believers is hard to do when you are alone at home.
To learn more about the benefits of going to church, be sure to read this article.
Now, let’s talk about the meat and potatoes – What do you do if you missed church?
What to Do If You Missed Church (10 Things)
If you’ve missed church, there is no reason to beat yourself up. You cannot change the past. Instead, try these 10 things you can do if you are planning to miss church or after you have already missed church (your congregation’s church service for the week).
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” – Proverbs 18:1
#1. Examine Your Heart.
God loves who you are on the inside. Usually, I write about the most important point at the end, but in this case, I want to emphasize the most important item first: Where Is Your Heart? The following questions might help you examine your heart:
- Did you just not feel up to going?
- Did you miss church because of sports?
- Are you not in the mood to be around other people?
- Are you finding small health concerns as an excuse not to go to church?
- How do you feel about going to church?
- Are you missing church because of betrayal, a lack of fellowship or friendship, or anger?
- Are you frequently missing church because one person was rude to you?
If you do not resonate with any of those excuses, let’s look at the other side of the coin – building a stronger connection with God.
#2. Connect with God in a New Way.
After you’ve missed church, consider spending additional time with God. You might wonder, how do I spend more time with God? First, make sure you have a quiet time with God established. This could mean time with God in your prayer closet. It could be doing a Bible Study.
Learn how to read the Bible. It is a powerful, God-breathed book that will blow you away. Spend quality time with your spouse doing a couple’s Bible study. Write in a prayer journal. You could even learn a new way to build a closer relationship with God.
“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.” Hebrews 10:24-25
#3. Watch a Streaming Church Service.
There are many churches that stream their service online for their congregation or visitors to watch the missed church service. Here are a few that you could try out:
- Crossings Community Church, based in Oklahoma, has a beautiful, large service. They do a full service based on the Bible, utilize a choir and orchestra in the Sanctuary service, and so much more. They truly cater to visitors, so why not check it out?
- Life Church is also founded in Oklahoma and has many of the same elements as Crossings Community Church. It is geared toward a younger audience, but their services are applicable for anyone. Pastor Craig gives lots of practical advice.
- Cornerstone Chapel is a great online church service to watch if you’ve missed church. They often go through the Bible chapter by chapter. The Pastor is very involved with the members, of which there are quite a few! Watch a sermon to find out for yourself!
- Elevation Church is perfect for you if you enjoy watching a church on fire for God! It will get you pumped up and energize your faith. They have a variety of features for those who watch at home. If you missed church, watch their sermon at home.
#4. Observe the Lord’s Supper at Home.
In my experience, observing Communion at home can be a very spiritual experience. It is that time when you observe Jesus as the Body of the Church. Also, we drink the wine (typically grape juice) to observe the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His dying on the cross for us.
Related: Observe the Lord’s Supper
#5. Check Your Church’s Website for the Bulletin.
You’ll still want to know what is going on with your church, even if you miss church service. Grab the latest announcements and learn what you need to know that’s happening at your church by viewing their weekly bulletin.
#6. Call a Friend or Church Member After Church.
It’s a smart idea to call another church member to discuss the service, ask any questions you might have, and have him or her explain anything that you couldn’t catch on their replay of the sermon video.
#7. Take Sermon Notes.
If you are stuck at home and have missed church for whatever reason, watch a streaming church service and take sermon notes. These can greatly enrich you. Consider writing down the Pastor’s name, location, main Scriptures covered, and application points.
When recording the application (1. Show love this week, 2. Do one act of kindness, etc.), be sure to put it in your own words so that you can easily apply it to your life. For example, you might say, “Write a letter to Aunt Ruth with Bible verses on hope.”
Related: Observing the Lord’s Supper
#8. Write Out Notes in Your Bible (Optional).
I like to take my sermon notes and record them in my Bible. For example, if the topic of the sermon is 1 Corinthians 13, I would write out the Pastor’s sermon points on love – what it is, how to show it, and easy application steps.
One encouraging step here is to use a journal or book with blank spaces for sermon notes. Then, when you get home, you can (perhaps write a tad nicer) highlight key passages, take sermon notes in the Bible, or fill up the space in your journaling Bible with further inspiration.
#9. Read Encouraging Scriptures.
The following encouraging Scriptures will help you when you feel like you are failing. Whether it’s a life-changing contagious disease or spiritual laziness, church should always be a priority. As we juggle many things each week, I often write “Church” on Sunday as a reminder.
Try reading, meditating, singing, or studying the following Scriptures for even more encouragement.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. – Romans 15:4
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. – Romans 15:5
#10. Make a Plan for Next Week.
Think about the possible reasons that you have missed church in the past. You might even write them out. Next to each possible reason, add a way that you can combat that reason if it comes up again. It’s great to stay organized so that when Sunday morning comes, you are ready to go!
Frequently Asked Questions on Missing Church
If you have missed church, don’t allow the guilt of missing church to eat you alive. Our God is forgiving and merciful. These questions will help you navigate some tricky items that might arise if you missed church last Sunday.
Is it okay to miss church for sports?
As a conservative Christian providing a short answer, I would say that if you missed church for sports, that is not okay. You can always record it and watch it later, or go to a church that starts at a different time that doesn’t conflict with your sports event.
When is it okay to miss church?
We have somewhat covered this question. If you are contagious, bed-ridden, or something to that effect, I would say that it is okay to miss church. After all, you have mobility issues. You can always catch your service on a streaming service like YouTube.
Why do I feel guilty after I’ve missed church?
You know you should be there. Plus, remember that going to church is not about you. It is your time to worship, fellowship, share with others, love others, and praise God. He doesn’t need to hear your excuses. It’s a blessing to Him to go to church. Rid yourself of guilt and go!
Conclusion
As you go through the experience of having missed church, it’s a good idea to examine your heart to ensure you didn’t miss church for the wrong reasons. God wants fellowship with you, whether through worship music or by reading a Psalm of praise.
Check out the Psalms Bible Study for unique help to build a quiet time that will change your life. Get creative with the methods you decide to pursue, and experiment with several options to find what works for you.
God bless you!
