Bryant Wright explains the threefold purpose church serves in helping Christians grow their faith.

"Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another"—Hebrews 10:24–25.

I love what Billy Graham says: “Being in church no more makes you a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car.” No, going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, and you do not have to go to church to be a Christian, but attending church serves a threefold purpose to help us to grow in our faith.

1.  We can worship with other believers, which inspires us to give our lives to God.

2.  We are provided Christian fellowship to encourage our faith.

3.  We can use our gifts in service and ministry to enrich our faith and the faith of others.

Failure to attend church stunts your spiritual growth. But not only that, not attending church is just plain selfish because it denies your spiritual gifts to fellow believers. Yes, you can worship God out on the lake, or on the golf course, or out hunting in the woods, but doing so only takes from the creation of God. We miss out on the encouragement of others, and they miss out on being encouraged by us.

Although you do not have to be in church to be a Christian, it is certainly the place where you are needed and where the committed Christian wants to be.