What the Bible Say About Attending Church

Ephesians 5:25, states that Christ died for the church.
To many, the word "church" is normally thought of as encompassing all believers, but it has a more narrow and specific meaning.
The word translated church is the Greek word "ekklesia" (e la see' ah) meaning "a called out assembly, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation." The verse says that Christ gave Himself for the local assembly of believers. Christ did die for all believers of all ages, but that is not the emphasis here. This stresses that Christ is Head of the local church (Eph. 5:23) and He died for the local congregation! In most places in the New Testament the word "church" refers to a "local" body of believers. Thus, the Bible's emphasis, regarding the church, is that of a 'local' congregation. The local assembly of believers is important to Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, that He would ". . . establish His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it." The word that Christ used is the same word in Ephesians 5:23, 25. Christ set up the local church for believers. Acts 2:41 relates that, at Pentecost, three thousand people were saved and baptized. Verse 47 tells us that these saved people were added to the church daily. Again this is the same word, "ekklesia", meaning these were added "by God" to the local congregation there in Jerusalem.
You cannot separate a believer from the local church. God clearly and always presents a believer as a part of a local church. One example of this truth is found in giving gifts or talents to believers. The gifts or talents that God specially gives to believers are given for the local church. Nowhere does the Bible teach that believers are free agents, working outside the local church.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us that there is a diversity of gifts or talents given to believers to enable them to carry on the work of the Lord. He uses the word "body" in referring to the collective membership of believers. Many ignore the context of these verses and assume that Paul is speaking of a universal body of all living believers, but note that the context of this instruction is about gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 11:18, Paul makes his introductory statement: "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it." Paul is not addressing a "universal" church, but a local congregation of believers! His comments "when ye come together" means the local church. This highlights the importance of gifts or talents being used in one's local church. It shows that the local church is a body made up of many different believers who God has brought together and given special abilities to carry on the work the Lord has given to them collectively, as a church.
Further, note verse 22: "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not" (1 Corinthians 11:22).

In verse 33, he is again talking about when they come together. Clearly he is talking about the local gathering of believers, and he is calling them the "ekklesia", the church. Then in Chapter 12 Paul continues his instruction. There is no break in the thought or progress of his teaching. The chapter divisions, in the Bible, are not in the original Epistle. His thought continues without interruption. Note that he summarizes his teaching by saying: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:28).Clearly Paul is talking about the local church and the local congregation of believers.
I am stressing the point because it is vital for us to understand that Paul is saying that God's intention for believers, after they are saved, is to be part of a local church. Thus, the believer is not a free agent working within or without the local church at his discretion. The ability to serve the Lord and to carry out God's will for the individual is centered in the church. The plan or organized program of God for believers after they are saved is the local church. God gives specific talents to the members of the local church, so the members can carry out God's will (1 Cor. 12:18, 28). The focus is on the church as a collective body, working together to carry out God's plan. Every member of the local body has a job to do, and when everyone uses his God given talent, God's work is accomplished.
Note Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 14:12. "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church." Paul is saying that the believer is to seek to "excel" in the use of the talents God gives him. The word "excel" means to "superabound (in quantity or quality), to be in excess." The believer, then, is to actively be using his gift with great enthusiasm. If one's gift is given for service within the local church, it must be concluded that we are to be vigorously using it in the church. Being unfaithful or apathetic toward the ministry of the church would certainly show that one is not obeying God's clear teaching on this matter. Further, one's God given gift is valid only within its use in the local body of believers.
If this is God's plan, that all believers be a part of and faithful to a local congregation, then clearly, it is abnormal for a believer not to be faithful in attending and serving in a local church. If each member is not enthusiastically doing their share, then the work of the Lord suffers, and they suffer spiritually.