Thread by @2runtherace

What Is The Biblical Pattern For Church?

I was listening to a local Christian radio station this morning on my way to run an errand, and I heard a song about the church being like a hospital for sick people.

The song said that if we really accepted all people, like those in sin, our churches would be full!

It sounds good doesn’t it, and it appeals to our desire not to exclude anyone in the name of love, non judgment, and tolerance, but is it Biblical?

The early church set a pattern for the gathering of the saints of God; or those who were saved. Paul speaks a lot about the church service.

The gathering of the church was a time for the Holy Spirit to move upon the body of gathered believers for edification, and instruction, so they would be equipped to go out into the lost world, among those in need of the great Physician!

It was also a time to remember what the LORD has done for them by observing the LORD’s supper!

1 Corinthians 11:17-20
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the LORD’S supper.

Sin among the church was not to be tolerated, but rather exposed, and rebuked!

1 Corinthians 5:1-7
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

In the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our LORD Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

Revelation 2:20-23
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Since we are told not to forsake or neglect meeting together, let’s talk about where the church met and should meet now!

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The early church met in homes, but contrary to popular opinion, the church is not contained within any four walls! We are the church, and wherever we gather in His Name, He says He is there!

Matthew 18:19-20
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.

You can have church in a building, in your home, or online! You can have church at the mailbox, or in the grocery line!

Recently I shared that I had church at our neighborhood mailbox. I’d like to share that again in case you missed it!

My neighbor has lost a great deal of his vision, to the point he can’t work or drive safely, so he stays alone inside his home most of the time listening to the news and online, or television preachers.

This particular morning he was discouraged by all that’s happening in the world, and by his loss of vision!

Here are a few things my neighbor and I talked about during “church”!

We talked about Psalm 2, and how we can have peace because we know the LORD is in control!

Psalm 2:1-5
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.

Though evil and darkness are covering the earth as Isaiah 60 describes, when He says enough is enough, the LORD will stop it!

Isaiah 60:2
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.

We talked about how we can lose our vision, but no one can take away our spiritual vision. They one day take away our Bibles, they can even end our physical lives, but they can never take His Spirit from us, or His Word hidden in our hearts! And, they can’t take our soul!

Psalm 119:11
Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

We talked about how important it is that He is our vision; that our eyes are on Him! That when it looks like the world is falling apart, it’s falling into place according to His purpose and plan!

2 Chronicles 20:12
O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee.

We talked about why He delays His return; so that all that will, will be saved!

2 Peter 3:9
The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We talked about the importance of sharing our faith, and the hope available to others through Jesus sacrifice for us!

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We talked about being lights in this dark world!

Philippians 2:15-16
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

We talked about encouraging one another! Encouragement is so important, and even more so as the day of His return approaches!

We talked about overcoming to the end! You can’t be an overcomer, if we’ve never overcome the trials in our lives!

Revelation 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.

John 9:4
I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

In Revelation we read even more about what the LORD says to the churches about being an overcomer!

Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

As an aside — Do you know that when we speak to one another about the LORD, or even think about Him, He loves it so much, He writes our words in a book?That’s pretty amazing to me!

Malachi 3:16-17
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His Name.

And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

So remember as you talk about what the church is for, or where the church meets; and as you go about your day — Remember what the Word of God says, and remember — We are the church!

Look for opportunities to have church wherever you find yourself, and do so, all the more as you see the day of the LORD approaching!
#EyesOnHim

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