The challenge of getting people back in the habit

Hebrews 10:24-25 - 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.

Last weekend my church restarted in-person church services.

We didn’t go.

This Sunday I have an assignment due, so we may not attend this week either.

We are now, due to COVID, out of the habit of church attendance.

I feel that this will be an unforeseen result of the pandemic - People will have forgotten how to “do church.“

After months of online services - probably a year+ for some - previously consistent and committed attendees will have gotten used to staying at home. Now, they will be in the habit of cooking a roast dinner (which I’ve loved doing every Sunday night this year) or doing the odd jobs which get them prepared for the week ahead.

The challenge for church leaders will be to remind people of the value of physical church attendance.

In part, they will need to contradict the massages they have been giving all throughout the pandemic - that online church is genuine church and that you can be a healthy believers without physical church attendance.

While these messages are still true, in a post-pandemic world - more Christians than anticipated will need to be re-convinced that it is worth getting into the car each Sunday, just like they used to.