Online Sermons
Lesson #10 - Assembling With One Another
Series: The One-Another WayLESSON #10 – ASSEMBLING WITH ONE ANOTHER
1. What kind of “assembling” is taught in the New Testament?
~ The apostle Paul speaks frequently about the BODY OF CHRIST in reference to the CHURCH.
Eph.5:30 / we are members of HIS BODY cf. Col.1:18 & 24
1Cor.12:12 / for even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the
members of the body, though they are many, are ONE BODY, so also is Christ.
What does Paul mean by “our own assembling together”?
~ In Heb.10:25, Paul admonishes the saints saying, (let us not engage in) forsaking our own assembling together.
- A popular exposition of this phrase is to say that Paul is warning them not to absent themselves from church gatherings.
- A better understanding of this phrase is to read it as a promotion of THE MYSTERY that was being revealed.
i.e., that Jews and Gentiles were being gathered (assembled together) in ONE UNITED GLORIOUS BODY.
Read Eph.2:11-22 thru Eph.3:6
In Eph.3:6, Paul defines this mystery saying, to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and
members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
- This is what Paul refers to as a new and living way inaugurated by Jesus (Heb.10:20).
The church is the new ISRAEL OF GOD (Gal.6:15-16) - - neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but A NEW CREATION.
All are sons of God through faith in Christ - - neither Jew nor Greek; slave nor free; male nor female (Gal.3:26-27).
In a first-century setting where Jesus promised to return to fully establish His kingdom before some
would die (Mt.16:28 & 24:34), His ultimate aim was to GATHER TOGETHER GOD'S ELECT (Mt.24:31).
When Paul wrote Hebrews, many Jews were falling away (Heb.6:5-6) and willfully sinning (Heb.10:26) by returning to
Judaism (which was waxing old and ready to vanish/Heb.8:13). In essence they were spurning the new and living way.
2. What is God's desire for the body of Christ?
~ We are to be both homogenized and united!!
No matter how mixed we are, we will not shine forth as the true body of Christ if we are not united.
- This “mixture” may include a host of variables: ethnicity, nationalism, politics, station in life (occupation), etc.
Read Js.2:1-9
~ Paul became quite animated in writing to the Corinthian church, when he discovered that the manner in which
they were communing in the Lord's Supper gave rise to divisions, which was the polar opposite of its purpose.
cf. 1Cor.11:17-29
- 1Cor.10:16-17, Paul reminds them that the bread and the cup are a sharing in the body of Christ.
3. How important are our “regular” church assemblies?
Worship services … Bible studies … Fellowship meals … etc.
If we are prone to absenteeism, we need to ask ourselves some questions?
WILL GOD BE THERE?
Mt.18:20 / where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.
IS THIS FOR ALL OF US?
The Lord's Supper on the first day of the week (in commemoration of His resurrection) is for all of us!
cf. Mt.26:26-38; Mk.14:22-24 and Lk.22:17-20
Acts 20:7a / And on the first day of the week when we were all gathered together to break bread...
1Cor.16:2 / On the first day of every week let each one of you set aside a sum of money. i.e., an OFFERING
cf. Acts 2:42 & 26 and Acts 5:12b / and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico
CAN I BENEFIT BY THIS MEETING?
WILL MY PRESENCE ENCOURAGE OTHERS?
WILL MY ABSENCE DISCOURAGE OTHERS?
4. Are we only the church when we come together?
~ The church is the body of Christ 24/7 - - every hour of every day.
~ Yet Paul mentions - - ...when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exists among you...
~ We assemble to:
Praise/worship God (Acts 2:47).
Pray (Acts 1:14 and 4:31).
Sing / speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph.5:19 and Col.:3:16).
Share in a meal (Acts 2:46).
Study the Word (Acts 2:2 & 20:7b; 1Cor.14:26).
Give of our means (1Cor.16:1-2).
Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb.10:24).
On deck" Serving one another
