This is a question that I have heard people ask (not just here) many times. This question usually comes as a result of church leaders making Christians feel as if they are unfaithful to Jesus if they do not attend. I want to be careful how I answer this question because I don’t want to convey the wrong ideas.
The simple answer to the above question is “no.” The Bible doesn’t have a mandate for Christians to attend a mid-week Bible study. With that said, I do believe there is tremendous value to attending the mid- week Bible study. Here are a few things that come from our mid-week Bible studies:
1. Growing in our Knowledge.
Peter commanded the Christians in 2 Peter 3:18 to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” One of the greatest ways to carry out this verse is to sit in a room with other Christians, study the Bible, and discuss the things we read in the Bible. The setting of our mid-week studies enables us to dig much deeper into the Bible than in any other setting. It is truly a place to grow in our knowledge.
2. Encouragement.
It is no doubt that life can be challenging at times. One of the best remedies for that is to spend time with other Christians in the middle of the week. In Hebrews 10:25 the writer said, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” the point of this passage was to charge Christians to come together for the purpose of encouraging each other. Our mid-week studies are a place of mutual encouragement where we pray together, study together, and sing together.
3. Growing in our Faith.
This is the natural consequence of the first two things. The more a person learns about Jesus, the more that person’s faith in Him will grow. The more a Christian is surrounded by other Christians, the more their Godly influence will help that person to grow. Our mid- week study is a place to grow in your faith in Jesus as you learn about Him, and walk side by side with other faithful Christians.
To circle back to the question above: “Do I have to attend a mid-week Bible Study?” Again, the answer is no. However, when you see the benefits of attending, it should help us to at least consider attending if we can. I know how excited I am after a Sunday morning service. I believe the mid-week assembly can be just as exciting for those who attend. Will you join us on Wednesday nights to grow in our faith together?
-Kolton Ballance