Why we need to go to church (Part one)

by Steve Case, Youth Specialties
I sat in my office with three students on my couch and one on the spare chair. I had been up this particular Sunday morning since 6:00 because I had so much to do before the service began. It was between the services now and I was going to be assisting with communion in the second service. I was teaching confirmation at noon and still had a few more things to plan before the evening youth group meeting. Just a few short hours ago I was warm in my bed, my hand still on the alarm clock where I punched the "quit that" button. I lay there and listened to the rain and thunder outside and knew a round of kickball that evening was out. Now I sat in my office with my nose buried in a cup of Starbucks, trying to inhale every last bit of caffeine from the sides of the cup. My students are yammering and one of them said, "I don't need to come to church to be religious. I'm spiritual. I don't know why my parents make me come." She turned and looked at me and said, "Would you be here if you didn't HAVE to be here?" more...

So what would you say? Or what do you say when your young people question the need for them to go to church? In part one the writer gives some great reasons for us to consider and pass on.