4. It’s the Early Church Model
The Church, this called out assembly of Christ’s people, was born on the day of Pentecost, around 2000 years ago. The day began with the people of Christ gathered together in prayer (Acts 2v1).
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
As more people trusted in Jesus as their Saviour, they continued to gather together (Acts 2v41-47).
…there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes…
We see from this passage that the early church gathered at the temple for daily prayer, but now in the name of Jesus. We also see them gathering together from house to house to learn, pray, eat and fellowship together.
The practice of regular gathering continued. Acts 20v7 shows us that it was the custom of the church to gather together on the first day of the week to break bread and fellowship together around God’s word.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread...
Paul also assumes this custom in 1 Corinthians 16v2.
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper...
From other New Testament passages we can see that the Christians had some level of mutual engagement with one another on a daily or near daily basis (Acts 5v42, Acts 6v1, Acts19v9, Hebrews 3v13).
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5v42)
Their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. (Acts 6v1)
Reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. (Acts 19v9)
Exhort one another every day (Hebrews 3v13)
As we move out of the first generation of Christians we can see this custom of regular gathering continue. Justin Martyr, in his First Apology (1:67), around 150AD, writes:
“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place…Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because…Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.”
This custom of regularly gathering as the gathering, assembling as the assembly, has continued for 2000 years. When we gather together with our brothers and sisters of our local church, we are continuing a beautiful two millennia tradition.
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