Public Assemblies
Good evening. Tonight we are going to take a look at another aspect of having a closer walk with God. Last week, we looked at the Blessings and Responsibilities of being a Christian. One of the blessings as well as one of the important responsibilities for the Christian is the practice of regularly assembling together with other Christians in public worship with one another.
What is the purpose or the importance of meeting together?
Well, the purpose of getting together for “church” is 3 fold.
- To express praise and devotion to God.
- To encourage our brothers and sisters in their walk with Christ.
- To receive the same kind of encouragement ourselves.
Now, as we take a look at meeting together, what are the activities that take place when we meet together?
Well, first off, there is prayer. When we are together, what do, can, and should we pray for?
Well, we have several examples of group prayer in the early church. Acts 12:5 and verse 12 says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him… When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
There is also great value in prayer. In James 5:16 it tells us that, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
So, we can pray for any concerns as a group of fellow believers when we come together.
Secondly, we get together and we sing. The emphasis is on praising God. In Colossians 3:16 it says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
We need to concentrate on engaging the mind and the heart, and not just the mouth. Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in just singing the words, that we fail to understand what it is that we are singing. In I Corinthians 14:15 it says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.”
When we come together for times of worship through singing, we need to make sure that we are fully in it. It is the whole idea of understanding what it is that we are singing and saying.
Another major event that should occur when we get together is that we focus our attention on the word of God. When we get together for “church,” we should never neglect the teaching and preaching of God’s word. In I Peter 2:2 it says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…”
What does that verse mean?
As we look at the importance of God’s word, we learn that it is necessary for spiritual life and growth. Matthew 4:4 says, “Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”””
What we learn from these verses is that real life comes from a relationship with God. And knowledge comes form the word of God? If we want to grow and advance in life, then we need to fill ourselves with the word of God.
We also meet with one another in order to share in the Lord’s Supper together. What scriptures do you know about communion?
How do other churches do communion that you know of?
Is their way wrong, is our way wrong, or what is it?
Well, the early church set the pattern for taking the Lord’s Supper. Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.”
When taking the Lord’s Supper, it should always be done appropriately and seriously. In I Corinthians 11:27-30 it says, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”
And finally, the one thing that we fail to see the importance of sometimes is that we also come together and take up a collection or an offering. Why is that so important?
Well, it is to be done in a systematic manner. I Corinthians 16:1-2 says, “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
It is also to be done cheerfully. II Corinthians 9:6-7 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
God’s law is interested in our attitude, our hearts, our motives, and out reasons. Not how much we give! We should obey out of love, and not out of fear of the law.
So, how do we get the most out of the times that we meet together?
In order to get the most out of every time that we meet together, other than the obvious of being here, there are a few things to keep in mind. We need to always keep in mind who is present.
1. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are there. Hebrews 10:24-25 says that, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
2. Visitors who will look for Christ in us are there. John 13:34-35 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
3. And most important of all, the Lord is there. Matthew 18:20 tells us that, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Above all, we have to understand that we get out of it what we are willing to put into it!!!
How do you prepare for services?
Do you ever pray for or about our services?
Do you plan to take part in them?
Do we have the attitude of “service” or do we go in with the attitude of “serve us”?
Do we look for entertainment, or enrichment?
Do we really look at this as an opportunity to worship and praise God?
Now, before we close this evening, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?
Well, if there is nothing else, just keep in mind that neglecting to meet together in public assemblies is detrimental, in other words, it will kill our growth in Christ and it will greatly affect our walk with God.
Let’s Pray! |
