What are God's people supposed to do when they gather?
The gatherings in Scripture have a simple, durable shape: the word read and explained, teaching that leads to response, prayer, the Lord's Supper, singing, and mutual encouragement. None of it depends on a production; all of it depends on the word dwelling richly among us. The question to ask of any gathering is not was it impressive, but did we meet the Word.
This question arose from studying Is it right to worship Jesus, or only God? and Why do I need the church?.
Begin by reading
Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
Reading and explaining the word is central
In Nehemiah 8 the returned exiles stand for hours while the law is read aloud, and the Levites 'gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.' Paul's instruction to Timothy is just as unglamorous: 'pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.' The center of gathered worship has never been the talent on stage but the voice reading Scripture to the people of God.
They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.
Understanding turns into joy and sharing
When the people finally understand the words, the governor has to tell them not to mourn, because the day is holy. And then: 'All the people went their way... to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.' Real preaching ends in feasting and generosity, not merely in information. Worship that never reaches the table or the neighbor has stopped short of what the word produces.
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
The first churches had four habits
Luke's summary of the Jerusalem church reads like a checklist that still works: 'They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.' Teaching, community, the Table, and prayer. No building mentioned, no style of music, no program. When we gather around those four, we are doing what the church has done from its first days.
Gathering is for one another, and increasingly so
Hebrews commands us not to forsake assembling, and gives the reason: 'Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works... exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.' Notice who ministers in that sentence: everyone. The gathering is where each believer arrives carrying something for the others, which is also why missing it quietly starves someone else.
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
Continue this trail
Why does the Bible command singing? And what if I don't feel like it?→“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.”What is the Spirit's role when the church gathers?→“What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.”Is all of life worship, or only what happens on Sunday?→“Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.”What will worship be like in the new creation?→“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.”Explore further
Why do I need the church?→The Church trail“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
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