What Is Our Pattern In Gathering Together?

All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are by the Holy Spirit baptized into one body, in which there is no division before God (1 Corinthians 12:13). The believers in the book of Acts expressed this by meeting in the name of the Lord Jesus alone, owning His presence in their midst according to His promise (Matthew 18:20).

They met together often for teaching in the apostles’ doctrine concerning the Christian life (1 Corinthians 14:3), for fellowship (John 1:3), for breaking of bread (Luke 22:19, 20; Acts 20:7) and for prayer (Acts 12:5). They had been given the Holy Spirit to lead them into the truth (John 16:13). It was not only the apostles Paul or Peter who were leading, but many others are mentioned, using their God-given spiritual gifts for this purpose (Ephesians 4:11-12) for the building up of the church.

It is of note that even though both men and women are equal before God (Galatians 3:28), women were assigned a different place in the public meetings of the church (1 Corinthians 14:34). Care was taken to make sure that no wrong teaching (1 John 4:1), or moral laxness was tolerated (1 Corinthians 5:11). Above all the believers were witnesses to all around them, pointing them to Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour (Matthew 5:16).

This is what God’s Word teaches concerning the gathering together of believers unto His name.

If you are visiting with us for the “Breaking of Bread” meeting, we respectfully ask that you refrain from participating until you get to know us, and we get to know you.

What The Bible Teaches

• God has spoken to all mankind in the Bible. The Bible in its entirety is divinely inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

• God is eternal and reveals Himself as three distinct but co-equal persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19)

• God has sent the Holy Spirit into this world to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8)

• All of mankind is lost because of the fall of Adam in the garden, and faces an eternity of separation from God. (Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23)

• God has sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He is the only way of salvation. (John 3:16; Acts 4:12)

• All who recognize and confess their sinful state, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their substitute and personal Saviour are born again, this time into the family of God. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit and become members of the Body of Christ. (Romans 3:21-22; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13)

• The church, the Body of Christ, is the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit. Its members should gather together unto Christ and in His name alone for worship, prayer and teaching of the Word of God. They also have the responsibility to point others to their Saviour. (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 4:4-7,11,13; Hebrews 10:25; 2 Corinthians 5:20)

• The Lord Jesus Christ is alive now in heaven and will return at any moment to take all believers in Him to be with Him forever. Those who reject Him as Saviour will face Him as Judge and be sentenced to eternal punishment. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 20:11-15)