If you've been around church cultures long enough, you've probably heard this statement, at least once:

"Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is".

It's a slight variation of a passage from Hebrews (Heb 10:25) that is often used as an admonition towards those that neglect gathering together for weekly church service.

Like many other things, western church cultures have adopted, reformatted and perhaps reduced this principle to a rule that encourages a desired outcome - namely church attendance.

While this principle could be used to encourage regular church attendance, I doubt that the author of the passage had our modern practice of a weekly "church service" in mind when he made the statement. He's emphasizing something much more than that.

Here's the backdrop to the statement:

"by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this...

“This is the covenant I will make with them
     after those days, declares the Lord.
I will put My laws in their hearts
     and inscribe them on their minds.”...

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body...

What follows are several "let us" statements:

let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...

Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess...

let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds...

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Heb 10:14-25