Will one service strengthen our faith? Sure! Will a morning service feed our souls with spiritual milk? Absolutely! But a second service, whereby Christ and his glories are set before us, provides even more food to fatten the sheep. In addition, the evening service gives more opportunity to hear the “whole counsel of God.” More Scripture will be read, more texts expounded, and thereby the believer’s exposure to the sweetness of Christ in all the word will be greater.

Early in our marriage, my wife and I were invited to an extended family gathering on a Sunday evening. We indicated that we go to worship on Sunday night, to which a cousin replied incredulously, “Do you have to go twice?” I believe that question is a snapshot of the thinking across the evangelical landscape including the PCA. If my Presbytery were taken as a sample, only 20% of the congregations have regular evening worship.

While abandoning the evening service has become the norm, one must ask, “Is this best?” Elders have the responsibility and privilege of shepherding the souls of the saints to glory. Paul tells us that our abounding love filled with knowledge and discernment should “approve what is excellent” or “what are the superior things” that we might be filled with the fruit of righteousness (Phil 1:9-11). So, is evening worship best for the church?

To answer this question, we need to understand what is so special about corporate worship that two services would be better than one? The Scriptures teach that the Lord is specially present when his people gather (Matt. 18:20). We are the temple of His dwelling (1 Cor. 3:16). As we worship, Jesus himself is leading us in song (Heb. 2:11-12). Jesus himself is speaking to us through the preacher (Rom. 10:14-17; Eph. 2:17). On top of that, in worship we are uniquely entering the Jerusalem above, mingling our voices with the angelic host and the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and drawing near to Jesus (Heb. 12:22-24). Hence, the Psalmist was right to say “a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps 84:10). It is in the courts of the Lord, near to his presence, that he “bestows favor” and withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly (Ps 84:11).

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