What If I Don't Feel Like Going to Church? E-Book

David Gundersen

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: Church Questions
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along to their congregations to help them think biblically about the Christian life. 9Marks Church Questions is a series that seeks to provide ordinary Christians with sound and accessible biblical teaching by answering common questions Christians have about church life. Each volume offers biblical answers and practical applications with the goal of nurturing healthy church practice and commitment. This booklet motivates Christians to still go to church even when they feel like it will be unsatisfying, unhelpful, or just plain awkward by helping them discern their feelings, ask for help, and rediscover the power of being present at their church's gathering.

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Endorsements for the Church Questions Series

“Christians are pressed by very real questions. How does Scripture structure a church, order worship, organize ministry, and define biblical leadership? Those are just examples of the questions that are answered clearly, carefully, and winsomely in this new series from 9Marks. I am so thankful for this ministry and for its incredibly healthy and hopeful influence in so many faithful churches. I eagerly commend this series.”

R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Sincere questions deserve thoughtful answers. If you’re not sure where to start in answering these questions, let this series serve as a diving board into the pool. These mini-books are winsomely to-the-point and great to read together with one friend or one hundred friends.”

Gloria Furman, author, Missional Motherhood and The Pastor’s Wife

“As a pastor, I get asked lots of questions. I’m approached by unbelievers seeking to understand the gospel, new believers unsure about next steps, and maturing believers wanting help answering questions from their Christian family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. It’s in these moments that I wish I had a book to give them that was brief, answered their questions, and pointed them in the right direction for further study. Church Questions is a series that provides just that. Each booklet tackles one question in a biblical, brief, and practical manner. The series may be called Church Questions, but it could be called ‘Church Answers.’ I intend to pick these up by the dozens and give them away regularly. You should too.”

Juan R. Sanchez, Senior Pastor, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas

What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church?

Church Questions

How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?, Jonathan Leeman and Andy Naselli

What If I Don’t Desire to Pray?, John Onwuchekwa

What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church?, Gunner Gundersen

What If I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism?, Isaac Adams

What Should I Do Now That I’m a Christian?, Sam Emadi

Why Should I Join a Church?, Mark Dever

What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church?

Gunner Gundersen

What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church?

Copyright © 2020 by 9Marks

Published by Crossway1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Jordan Singer

First printing 2020

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6889-3 ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-6892-3 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-6890-9 Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-6891-6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gundersen, David, author. 

Title: What if I don't feel like going to church? / David ‘Gunner’ Gundersen. 

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, 2020. | Series: Church questions

Includes index. 

Identifiers: LCCN 2019050328 (print) | LCCN 2019050329 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433568893 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781433568909 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433568916 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433568923 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Church attendance. 

Classification: LCC BV4523 .G86 2020 (print) | LCC BV4523 (ebook) | DDC 254.5—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019050328

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019050329

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2020-05-19 01:18:28 PM

And all who believed were together . . .

Acts 2:44

The most important time to be at church is when you don’t feel like it.

I once talked with three Christians in a week—two struggling with depression, and a third going through a tough breakup—who’d stopped gathering with God’s people. Whether for weeks or months, all three stopped showing up on Sundays.

One said it would be unsatisfying because there wasn’t a sense of connection. Another said it would be awkward because he didn’t want to see his ex. The other said it would be unhelpful because she had no desire to be there anymore.1

I’m not here to minimize their burdens or condemn them for feeling the way they did. I’m not writing to them or about them. I’m simply writing to every Christian who feels the way they felt, who feels (as I have felt before) like gathering with God’s people will be unsatisfying, unhelpful, or just plain awkward.