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True Worship (4). When and Why We Need to Assemble. When We Assemble. We need to assemble We ought to anticipate opportunities – Psa. 122:1, Isaiah 2:2-3 Hebrews 10:24-25, 26-31. The First Day of the Week. Jesus arose on that day – Matt. 28:1, Mk. 16:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1
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True Worship (4) When and Why We Need to Assemble
When We Assemble • We need to assemble • We ought to anticipate opportunities – Psa. 122:1, Isaiah 2:2-3 • Hebrews 10:24-25, 26-31
The First Day of the Week • Jesus arose on that day – Matt. 28:1, Mk. 16:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1 • The church began that day – Acts 2:1Pentecost(Feast of harvest, Feast of weeks) – Sunday! • – cf. Leviticus 23:15-16
The First Day of the Week • On Pentecost - Sunday (Acts 2) • The Apostles baptized with H.S. Acts 2:1-4 (Joel 2:28-32) • The 1st gospel sermon proclaimed Jesus seated in heaven (2:22-36) • 3000 were baptized (2:41) • The Lord began adding to the church those who were saved (2:47)
The First Day of the Week • We worship • Acts 20:7 – Lord’s Supper • 1 Corinthians 16:2 - giving • These acts show we MUST assemble on the first day of the week
The First Day of the Week • Every Sunday? • YES! • There is nothing in scripture to distinguish one Sunday over another. • The previous texts imply they assembled regularly (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:18, 20) • Paul waited 7 days (Acts 20:6-7) • An Example - The Sabbath was weekly
What about other assemblies? • Discussing such is a challenge! • There is no direct command about other services. • Does that make them optional? • Is there anything in scripture to LIMIT our assembling to once a week?
What about other assemblies? • Consider again Hebrews 10:25 - “not forsaking the ASSEMBLING” Frequency not mentioned. • Gal. 6:9, Titus 2:14, Is it a good work? • Acts 2:42, 46
What about other assemblies? • We ought to WANT to be with our brethren to encourage them and be encouraged! • Heb. 10:24-25, Consider one another, exhort one another (cf. 3:13) • 1 Thess. 5:11, Comfort each other. We NEED each other!
What about other assemblies? • Typically, when one asks – the problem is not the assembly, but deeper issues of priority • If one seeks permission to AVOID such, I ask, WHY? • Matt. 6:33
What about other assemblies? • Will people not make it to heaven because they intentionally miss Bible study on Wednesday nights! • Maybe not! • But some WILL NOT make it to heaven because He is not the priority – a lack of attendance could be a symptom!
Why We Assemble! • Because it is commandedHebrews 10:25 • Is it a command or a privilege? Psa. 95:1-7 • Why not view it as both?
Why We Assemble! • Because God is worthy of our praise • Psalm 18:3, Heb. 13:15
Why We Assemble! • To edify one another • to build up, to strengthen, make more able – spiritual in scripture! • 1 Cor. 14:12, 26 • We need to edify each other – Eph. 4:16 • When we worship God as instructed, we are built up!
Why We Assemble! • To be a good example • The world needs to see us putting God first. Devotion, sacrifice, etc. • That is demonstrated in assembling • 1 Corinthians 11:26, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death – to one another and the world.
Assembling to Worship God is important How important is it to you?