The Church Gathers

In their book The Deliberate Church, which is a resource for evaluating the ministry, fruitfulness and effectiveness of your church, Mark Dever and Paul Alexander write this warning to the unchurched Christian – “We can’t live the Christian life alone. We are saved individually from our sins, yet we are not saved into a vacuum. We’re saved into a mutually edifying community of believers who are building each other up and spurring each other on to love and good deeds” (pg. 111).

But, when we gather, what should be our aim? Every time a Christian gathering takes place, there are 2 goals that we ought to aspire towards. That is where Hebrews 10:24-25 comes in.

First, we gather to influence – “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (vs. 24).

The word “consider” is a present-tense verb, which suggests an activity that is ongoing. The word means “to give thought” or “to study.” It means “to place your mind carefully upon something.” Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday – we should be scrutinizing something.

Who is the source of this scrutiny? Everyone who will be there on Sunday – or who you think will be there. In other words, when others come to church and interact with us, THEY should be different; THEY should be better. THEY should be read to serve Christ even harder that next week. THEY should be more encouraged, as we will see in a few moments.

Coming to a church gathering should involve pre-meditation. We must prepare before we come if we are going to be in the right place to stir someone else to be better. Stirring someone up takes planning.

We must plan on being there, not give into excuses to be absent, show up early, sit in a strategic location, pray, review the one another’s and get ready to serve everyone else.

Second, we gather to encourage – “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” (vs. 25).

Encouragement is building within someone. As Chuck Swindoll says, “To encourage is to give someone a courage transfusion.”

And this speaking ministry is become more and more vital, as the Lord Jesus’ return gets closer. Every day that passes is another day closer to us being with Him. And every day that passes is another day in which we need encouragement.

What can you say to encourage someone else?

Remind others that God calls us a body (Ephesians 1:22-23), which means there is a diversity of gifts that have different roles and responsibilities and you need ALL of them.

Remind others that God calls us branches (John 15), which means we need one another and need Christ. We were not created to operate on our own.

Remind others that God calls us the bride (Ephesians 5:22-23), which means we are meant to be led, loved and honored by Him and in return we should submit and respect commands like He gives us – like gathering with each other.

Remind others that God calls us a flock (I Peter 5:1-3), which means we there is mutual concern and respect we should have for another, and that becomes more difficult the more absent we are.

Remind others that God calls us a household (I Timothy 3:15), which means there is a designed intimacy we are to share, but we cannot enjoy that design we act more like distant relatives.

Remind others that God calls us a priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-16), which means each of us individually and all of us corporately can approach God directly, which we do on Sundays.

Gathering with the body of Christ is vital for our hearts, for our leadership, for our family, for our witness and reputation, and for our Savior, who bought the church with His blood.