It's estimated that there are over half a billion practicing Christians in the world. But the church wouldn't even exist today if it hadn't been for a small group of disciples who were sold out to Christ. The things of God were not a part-time interest or a convenience-based commitment to those early Christians, but their highest priority.
They took church seriously. "The believers met together in the Temple every day. Is once a week your limit? Are you a hit and miss churchgoer? So what drew them? Their encounter with Jesus transformed their priorities that, "Everyday they continued to meet" (Acts 2:46 NIV). They hungered to gather in the presence of the Lord, believing His promise, "Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matt. 18:20 NLT). Taking God seriously requires regular involvement with other Christians, experiencing this unique aspect of His presence, hearing His Word together, and encouraging one another (Heb. 10:25). You need that special dimension of fellowship with God that happens only when His family gathers together with Him.
