The question was posed, “How can we get people interested in attending services?” Christianity is a free will religion, (e.g., “Whosoever will” Revelation 22:17). Consequently, we cannot force anyone to take their Christian responsibility to assemble with the saints seriously (Hebrews 10:25).
There are some procedures through which it would be biblically wrong to increase worship attendance. Except for parents regarding dependent children (Ephesians 6:4), it would be wrong to compel people to attend church services; sometimes cultic practices have been used to manipulate every facet of one’s waking moments and conduct, but God does not desire zombies to worship him (“Whosoever will”). It would be wrong to pay people or by their attendance to attend worship services; God expects those who name him as God to be saved by the Gospel (Romans 1:16), obeying that teaching from their hearts (Romans 6:17). It would be wrong to change the message from the Gospel to something more palatable to the hearers in an effort to increase attendance (2 Timothy 4:3-4), since only the Gospel saves (Romans 1:16). It would be wrong to entertain people as a means to solicit their attendance for worship, since worship should be primarily directed toward God rather than the worshipper (John 4:24).
There are some things one can do to encourage others to attend worship services and Bible classes more regularly. First, make sure that you attend every church service that you can attend; nothing undoes the good we hope our words will do than the poor example others see in us. Second, somehow, as opportunities in public classes or privately arise, we and others need to try and impress upon our fellows the spiritual significance of worshipping God in his own appointed way, as well as taking advantage of Bible classes, Gospel meetings, etc. Third, we need to cause our fellows to understand the relationship between worshipping God and studying the Bible versus salvation from sins now and the prospect of spending forever in heaven (1 Corinthians 9:24; Revelation 2:10). Fourth, develop a close relationship or fellowship brethren so that they will desire more to be with brethren (Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 2:17); after all, close fellowship among brethren is the basis by which withdrawal of fellowship (when necessary) is calculated to be effective (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). Fifth, never underestimate the power of prayer to prompt the providence of God in the answer to those prayers (James 5:16).
Concern for the poor attendance of church services that is viewed in others is itself a significant step in the right direction. The mental anxiety one experiences over someone’s forsaking of the assemblies, when transformed to action (e.g., prayer, encouraging attendance challenged persons), may go a long way to solving the problem. At any rate, it is all that we can do for those who refuse to take personal responsibility for worshipping God regularity.
