You really can't worship God and not go to church

I once was shown an illustration about the importance of church attendance.  Pour charcoal in the center of your grill and light them.  After the coals start getting hot, take one and set it off to the side.  Which briquette goes out first: the one by itself our one in the pile? 

I have met many people who say they don't like organized religion or say they can worship God just as well without going to church.  Yet the scriptures say not to forsake the assembling of ourselves so if we don't go to church then we are not obeying God's word.  If we are out of his will we are out of his fellowship.

I have never met anyone who does not attend church who regularly studies the bible, supports missionaries, takes care of widows and the elderly, and does all the functions that are normally done by a God-fearing church.  We need the church to encourage us and to give us support and knowledge.  More can be accomplished by the collective will than any individual can accomplish on their own. 

Attending church does not make one holy, righteous or saved but how will your neighbors know you even believe in God if you never attend church?  You really can't make an effective witness for Christ when you live in disobedience to him. 

How is your prayer life?  Are you finding that your prayers seem to lack power and never receive an answer?  The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much we are told. We are also told that if we have ought against our brother go and forgive him and then come back and pray.  Prayer will not be heard by God if we have unconfessed sin and purposely failing to obey God is a sin. 

Those people who fail to attend church do not keep the Lord's Day holy, do not give their tithes and offerings, do not have an effective prayer life if they have one at all, do not study God's word, do not witness nor support those that do. 

I realize that a person's Christian life is what goes on itside him and not what goes on around him but we must bear fruit or we are of no use to God.  I have never seen a tomato plant, squash, corn nor any other vegatable growing in the wild but always in a garden.   I have never met a person that was actively working for God, growing in faith and knowledge that was not attending church.