4 Ways to Get Back into the Routine of Going to Church Regularly after the Summer

Anytime you are seeking to create a new habit, you need a plan! Come up with some if/then statements that will help you troubleshoot problems that could prevent you from making it to church. 

Examples could be: If we don’t wake up on time, then we won’t make it to morning services. 

You have identified one potential barrier to making it to Sunday services now, so you can make a plan for how to overcome this barrier. Some solutions could be planning to attend a later service if your church offers multiple service times, setting an alarm so you don’t oversleep, and avoiding late-night Saturday events so you can wake up in a timely manner. 

Another example could be: If I don’t have time to feed everyone breakfast before church, then my family will not enjoy morning services. 

A hungry family can make getting out the door on Sunday morning challenging! Plan to prep some easy food options before church. There is nothing wrong with eating muffins in the car on the way! 

Another barrier could be: If our weekend is too busy, then we need to miss Sunday services so we can rest. 

Protecting our weekends from being overscheduled is vital to us successfully making it to church. When we are running all weekend from one event, sport, party, and errand to the next, we don’t leave any time for rest and recovery. We can so easily talk ourselves out of attending church when we are just plain exhausted. 

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Habit formation is all about practice! There is going to be a hard season that you have to push through, in which the habit of going to church is going to feel very taxing because you are pushing yourself to do something new. Once church becomes a solid part of your weekend routine, getting there will feel so much easier!

Remember, while in the practice stage, the goal is not perfection, just persistence. There may be some missed weeks and late arrivals, but this is to be expected. There are always bumps on the journey towards starting something new. 

Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

We focus on the prize, which is regular connection with other believers, time spent being taught God’s word, worshiping in God’s presence, and finding ways to encourage others. There really is nothing like church; truly, this practice is irreplaceable. Harvard researchers have even proved that there are physical and mental health benefits of regular church attendance. Those who attended church reduced their mortality by 20 to 30 percent over a 15-year period! Being in community with other believers is good for our minds and bodies. Being committed to the practice of attending church really does pay off in the long run. 

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Church attendance is not just about checking off a box in order to appear more spiritual. It’s a pillar of true faith and something that God calls his followers to do. When Jesus left this Earth, he intended for the church to be the hub in which his followers would gather and then disperse to share the good news with the ends of the Earth. 

Matthew 16:18 says, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus commissioned Peter with the great calling to build the early church because God had a plan for this institution. The church matters deeply to Jesus. As tough as it can be to live in community with other believers, it’s a pillar of our faith that we are asked to lean into. 

Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

A part of our duty as Christians is to care for the church. One fundamental way we show care for God’s church is by faithfully attending services. Additionally, we should be committed to praying for our local church and its leaders, serving the church, and contributing to our churches so they are well-funded. The church can’t exist without us! You are vital to the health and well-being of the local church. 

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Weekend services are just one part of a weekly day of rest and reflection. We gather to renew our spirits and to encourage our souls. When we are too busy to engage with church, we are failing to observe God’s command for Sabbath rest. Our souls are not designed for 24/7 activity. We need intentional times that we pause in God’s presence. 

Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”

Sunday’s or whatever day you go to church is for the Lord! That means not saving all your chores for Sunday so you don’t have time to pause and praise. We also have to avoid scheduling sports, meetings, parties, and other commitments on Sundays. Block out Sundays on that planner so no one steals that special time from you and your family. We protect this day, this time, not because we are bound to strict rules but because we know how desperately our souls need the spiritual strength and connection that the church offers. 

Sundays should be about more than church; they should be about time spent with family and friends, restful activities, and soul-nourishing practices. Enjoy waking a little slower, walking to move your body, sharing food with friends and loved ones, creating in a way that nourishes your soul, and entering into Sunday as a special day of rest. Embrace a day of sabbath. Your mind, body, soul, and those who live around you will thank you.

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