Why We Assemble with the Saints

INTRODUCTION.

A.        Assembling with the saints to worship our Father in heaven is one of the many benefits of being a Christian.

1.         We do not grudgingly come together in worship.

2.         We come together with love, joy, gladness, and thanksgiving.

3.         We come together to offer up respect, awe, praise, admiration, and honor to our Creator and Savior.

B.        With this lesson, we will consider four reasons why we assemble together in worship and Bible study.

I.         WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

            A.        We are to seek first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33)

                        1.         We seek first the kingdom of God because we are the servants of God. It is our duty. (Luke 17:6-10)

                        2.         As servants of God, our duty is to fear God and keep His commandments. This should be the sum of our existence. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

                        3.         Since we have chosen to fear God and keep His commandments, we have, therefore, left behind the ways of sin. We have been raised with Christ. We should put our wants and desires upon heavenly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)

            B.        If we are seeking first the kingdom of God, dutifully fearing Him and keeping His commandments, then we know what is important. If we know what is important, then we will assemble with the saints without fail.

II.       WE WORSHIP AND PRAISE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

            A.        God’s followers have always offered up praise and worship.

                        1.         Abel offered an acceptable “offering” to the Lord. (Genesis 4:1-5)

                        2.         Abraham worshiped the Lord.

                                    a.         Genesis 12:7,8 - built an altar in the middle of Bethel and Ai

                                    b.         Genesis 13:1-4 - he returned to the altar and again called upon the name of the Lord

                                    c.         Genesis 22:5-14 - he left the men traveling with him and went to “worship” God.

                        3.         After the establishment of the law of Moses, worshiping God took on an established pattern. The priesthood was given charge of presiding over the worshiping of God. (Exodus 25-31; 35-40)

            B.        Under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, we are to offer up praise and worship.

                        1.         Consider the following examples: Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16

                                    a.         Ephesians 5:19 shows that we can praise and worship God through songs.

                                                (1)       Psalms and hymns are songs of praise, pious (godly) songs.

                                                (2)       Paul also wrote, “(S)inging and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Notice, we are singing to the Lord. The psalms and hymns (songs of praise) are to be sung to the Lord.

                                    b.         Colossians 3:16 teaches that we can praise and worship through songs.

                                                (1)       Again we see psalms and hymns, which are songs of praise, pious songs.

                                                (2)       Paul also wrote, “(S)inging with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Notice, we are to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. The psalms and hymns are to be sung to the Lord.

                        2.         Another example of praise and worship is in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Here we see that when we partake of the Lord’s supper, we are proclaiming His death.

                                    a.         The Greek word translated as “proclaim” is kataggello which means “1) to announce, declare, promulgate, make known 2) to proclaim publicly, publish . . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

                                    b.         This proclaiming or announcing the Lord’s death and its significance is, in and of itself, a form of praise. We give honor to the Lord for the great sacrifice that He made for our sins.

            C.        When we assemble together, we offer up praise and worship unto God. Let us never forsake this responsibility and privilege.

III.      WE COME TOGETHER TO BE EDIFIED.

            A.        We are edified by the teaching of the Word, the sermon or lessons.

                        1.         I Corinthians 14 makes clear the purpose of saints assembling together. The purpose of the assemblies is to edify the church. “Edify” is translated from the Greek word oikodome which means “1) (the act of) building, building up 2) metaph. edifying, edification 2a) the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness.” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

                                    a.         Verse 3 - “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (NKJV) While prophesying was a spiritual gift, it apparently served the same purpose as one who preaches the Gospel without the spiritual gift. What they taught through the spiritual gift of prophecy, we teach through the use of God’s written word.

                                    b.         Verse 12 - “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” (NKJV) Paul reminds the brethren that, not the gift, but the edification of the church was the most important concern.

                                    c.         Verse 26 - “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (NKJV) Again, we see Paul stressing the end result of edification, not the gift. The end results are still the same today. All things are to be done for the edification of the saints.

                        2.         There are other examples showing saints learning God’s word.

                                    a.         Paul told Timothy, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13, NKJV)

                                    b.         Paul also told Timothy, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, NKJV)

                                    c.         In Acts 2:42, we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (NKJV)

                                    d.         In Acts 20:7, we also read, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” (NKJV)

                        3.         Not only were the saints taught the word, but they were also rebuked and corrected when they were wrong.

                                    a.         Paul told Timothy, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” (1 Timothy 5:20, NKJV)

                                    b.         Preachers are to always stand ready to preach the word. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)

                                    c.         All scriptures were given for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instructions in righteousness. All for the purpose of equipping the Christian to properly serve the Lord. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

            B.        We are edified by the songs that we sing. (Colossians 3:16 - admonish one another)

                        1.         Make sure the songs are scriptural.

                        2.         Make sure you listen to the words and apply their messages within your life.

            C.        We are edified by remembering the death of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:17-33)

                        1.         In Corinth, the members of the church had turned the Lord’s supper into a common meal. They were eating to be full, not eating to proclaim the Lord’s death.

                        2.         Because of their perversion of the Lord’s supper, the practice lost its intended meaning and edification. Therefore many were “weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

            D.        When we assemble together, it is with the purpose of being edified or built up and made stronger.

IV.      WE COME TOGETHER TO EDIFY.

            A.        When you assemble with the saints, you have a responsibility to edify your fellow brethren. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

                        1.         Paul wrote, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, . . .” (vs 24)

                                    a.         Paul is not telling you to be stirred up to love and good works. Instead, Paul is telling you to stir up your brethren to love and good works.

                                    b.         In other words, the question is not are you being stirred up to love and good works, but are you stirring up others to love and good works. Or, are you simply a taker or a giver? Paul is telling you to be a giver.

                        2.         Paul wrote, “. . . not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, . . .” (vs 25)

                                    a.         In the first century, they had Christians who would forsake the assembling of the saints, just as we do today.

                                    b.         When you forsake the assembling of the saints, you cannot exhort others.

                                    c.         It is your responsibility to edify your brethren. If you do your part to edify your brethren, then you will be edified and made stronger.

                        3.         Instead of asking, “What will the church do to edify me? What can the church do for me?” Ask yourself, “What can I do to help edify the church? What can I do for the church?”

CONCLUSION.

A.        We assemble with the saints because . . .

1.         We know that serving God is the more important element of your life.

2.         We know the privilege of offering worship and praise to God. We also know that such worship is our duty as a servant of God.

3.         We know that we need weekly edification in order to maintain your faithful life as a Christian. We also realize that other people are counting on us to help edify them in their faith.

B.        If you have been guilty of forsaking the assemblies of the saints, then now is the time to ask God to forgive you. After you ask God to forgive you, follow your repentant change with righteous action by assembling together with the saints.

C.        Remember, we live in a world full of sin and ungodliness. Let us know to where and to whom we can turn for help, strength, and support as we travel together towards eternity in Heaven.

D.        Have the attitude of the psalmist who wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalms 122:1, NKJV)

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Why We Assemble with the Saints - December 5, 2004 - File #: 150 - Attendance

by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK