Gather

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Not Neglecting to meet together

How Should We Gather

There is a question circulating among Christians today as to what gathering of Christians should look like. “Should we meet in large buildings?” “Should we meet in homes?” “Should we start a commune?” That last one was a joke. Please here me, that was a joke. Often times we go straight to and start “home church, home church, home church.” We blow right past the first part of verse 46 and get to the “breaking bread in their homes” part. Let’s take a look at

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Traditional or Home Church?

Acts 2:46 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

The answer to the question “home church” or “larger assembly” is clear. The meeting together involves both and here is why.

It is clear, the Hebrew nation, the people were chosen by God to ultimately usher in the savior of the world. When it comes to understanding what it means to be set apart, we look no further than the Jewish people. Sure, they had issues, we can certainly learn from their mistakes as well. When it comes to gathering, praying, studying the Word of God, and making offerings we can learn a great deal. They’re instructed not to neglect meeting together despite the persecution they are going through, we are talking about state sanctioned persecution, Rome was not a friend to followers of “the way” in the AD 60’s. What did their gatherings look like? In we read that “day by day they went to temple and broke bread together in homes.” What about in Rome? The temple was in Jerusalem, there was only one temple

Let us examine the language used by the writer of Hebrews.

Greek word used for “meet” is “episynagoge” (epay-soo-nau-goo-way) which means meeting; assembling.

The word used for “meet” is “episynagoge” (epay-soo-naug-oo-way) which means meeting; assembling. This is also where they get the word for “synagogue.” The Jewish people would gather at their local synagogues for communal meals, court (), to collect and distribute charity (), worship, reading and interpreting the Torah and the Prophets (), and prayer. When Jews in the first century accepted Christ as their messiah, they continued to meet at their local synagogues for worship, fellowship, and expounding on the word of God. The disciples would go to local synagogues when they entered towns and present their case for Jesus as the Messiah and perform miracles. They would look at the writing of the Prophets and tell them how Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. Today Judaism and Christianity are viewed as disconnected religions, Judaism worships God but does recognize Jesus as the promised one. Christianity recognizes Jesus as the messiah. The first century followers of Christ, who were predominantly Jewish, recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise they had been waiting for and continued to meet gather the same way they always had at the synagogues and even at the Temple.

Jesus taught in syngogues and performed many miracles there. ()

The disciples worshipped him and were continually in the temple blessing God.

The disciples worshipped him and were continually in the temple blessing God. ()

Paul preached Jesus in the Synagogue; 13:5;14-15, 43;14.1; 17.1-9, 18.19,26; 22.19 (Paul went to synagogues to find followers before conversion.

Paul preached Jesus in the Synagogue; ()

24.10-21 Paul still worshipped in the temple and presented offerings at the temple. 20:16 “…for he was hastening gto be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost”. [1] 2:1 When fthe day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place[2]

Paul still worshipped in the temple and presented offerings at the temple. ()

26.11 Paul again searched for followers of the way in synagogues.

Paul again searched for followers of the way in synagogues. ()

Synagogue always referred to a place where they gathered. The root word of “episynagoge” (epay-soo-naug-oo-way) is “ago” which means lead and bring. As the followers of Christ grew in size they began referring to their gatherings as Ekklesia, another Greek word meaning ‘to assemble” most likely to identify themselves as followers Christ so they would not be confused with Jews who denied Jesus as the Christ. They continued to assemble, not just in homes but places designated as a place of assembly. The point being, from the first century to present day we have been called to not neglect to meet together. This assembly took place in designated places like the synagogues and in homes. Now I know that felt more like class work than a sermon. But I’m not done.

Why Do We Gather?

Why should we continue to gather today the same way they did in the first century? Let’s go back the

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

Even in one the darkest times in the history of the church, the gathering of the body of Christ the writer makes it clear…

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Even in one the darkest times in the history of the church, the gathering of the body of Christ the writer makes it clear…

Take an unwavering stance holding fast, confessing that Jesus Christ is our hope, Jesus is our Lord and His promises endure forever. He is faithful to see us through to the end.

In your darkest hour consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, NOT neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some. Why? So you can encourage one another.

So in our gatherings in these places designated for worship and in your homes or wherever else you may gather we are to

HOLD FAST, CONFESS OUR HOPE IN JESUS

STIR ONE ANOTHER TO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

At Spring Creek Fellowship we believe gathering here weekly is biblical and part of the fabric of our faith. The greater body gathering weekly here in this place to do those things, coming, expecting to encounter God through our confession of the hope we have in Jesus. Encountering God in the singing of praises to Him, coming under the reading of the Holy Scriptures and expounding on them just like our first century did. Expecting the Holy Spirit to move. We also believe that we accomplish even more in spurring one another on to love and good works in our Missional Communities. These groups gather in homes and other venues to build one another up and encouraging one another. They were never meant to take the place of this gathering here on Sunday mornings.

By no means do I believe that we do it exactly the way they did it back then. Our culture is different, our history is different but what we do here on Sunday mornings is important and biblical. Your presence here is important. Why? To hold fast to your confession of the hope you have in Jesus, to be spurred and to spur others on to love and good works and encourage and be encouraged. Come on church, don’t you see? As this becomes less and less important to Christians the quieter our confession becomes. Has the church made mistakes? Yes. Have we come a long way in correcting those offenses? Yes. And there’s more work to do.

h ch. 2:1

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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