“why do you or i need to go to church?” “ can’t we just have it at home?”

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““Why do you or I need to Why do you or I need to go to church?” “Can’t we go to church?” “Can’t we just have it at home?”just have it at home?”

God is seeking God is seeking true worshipers, true worshipers, John 4:21-24John 4:21-24


Why should I attend the Why should I attend the worship assemblies of worship assemblies of

the church?the church?• In the Old Testament God wanted In the Old Testament God wanted

Israel to go to His assigned place, Israel to go to His assigned place, Lev 17:1-9; Deut 12:5-14 Lev 17:1-9; Deut 12:5-14 •Not Not “in every place that you see”“in every place that you see”

but where God chose but where God chose (2 Chrn (2 Chrn 7:12)7:12)

•God’s arrangement respected,God’s arrangement respected, Lev Lev 10:1-210:1-2


•NT examples of the church NT examples of the church assembling for worship, assembling for worship, Acts Acts 2:42, 46; 5:12; 20:7; 1 Cor 16:22:42, 46; 5:12; 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2•Follow these worthy examples,Follow these worthy examples, 1 1

Cor 4:16-17; Phil 4:9Cor 4:16-17; Phil 4:9•One who wants to be like the NT One who wants to be like the NT

Christians assembles with the Christians assembles with the local church local church


the church?the church?


• In NT, Christians “came together” In NT, Christians “came together” (Heb 10:25)(Heb 10:25)•To break bread,To break bread, Acts 20:7-8Acts 20:7-8•To worship “as a church”,To worship “as a church”, 1 Cor 11:181 Cor 11:18• In one place (L Supper),In one place (L Supper), 1 Cor 11:20, 1 Cor 11:20,

33-3433-34•For edification,For edification, 1 Cor 14:23, 261 Cor 14:23, 26•For learning,For learning, Acts 14:27Acts 14:27•To discipline a sinner among them,To discipline a sinner among them, 1 1

Cor 5:4-5Cor 5:4-5




•Christ expects His body to Christ expects His body to come togethercome together•Christians are Christians are oneone body in Christ, body in Christ,

Rom 12:5Rom 12:5•To edify the body of Christ, To edify the body of Christ, 1 Cor 1 Cor

14:26; Eph 4:11-1614:26; Eph 4:11-16•Helps keep unity in the body of Helps keep unity in the body of

Christ, Christ, Eph 4:3;Eph 4:3; 1 Cor 12:25-1 Cor 12:25-2727




•There are some things Christ expects There are some things Christ expects of us that cannot be done “at home” of us that cannot be done “at home” (privately)(privately)•Encouraging one another when we Encouraging one another when we

worship together worship together (Heb 10:24; 1 Cor (Heb 10:24; 1 Cor 14:26)14:26)

•Speaking to one another in song, Speaking to one another in song, Eph Eph 5:195:19

•Praying with one another, Praying with one another, 1 Cor 14:15-171 Cor 14:15-17




•There are some things Christ There are some things Christ expects of us that cannot be done expects of us that cannot be done “at home” (privately)“at home” (privately)•Giving on 1Giving on 1stst day of the week, day of the week, 1 Cor 1 Cor

16:1-216:1-2•Assembled teaching of God’s word, Assembled teaching of God’s word,

ActsActs 20:7 (14:26); 1 Ths 5:27; Col 4:1620:7 (14:26); 1 Ths 5:27; Col 4:16•Coming together to eat the Lord’s Coming together to eat the Lord’s

Supper, Supper, 1 Cor 11:20-22, 33-341 Cor 11:20-22, 33-34




What about Matthew 18:20 What about Matthew 18:20 and other assemblies on the and other assemblies on the

Lord’s Day?Lord’s Day?• Issue is notIssue is not: Whether individual : Whether individual

Christians may gather together Christians may gather together to pray, sing, study the Bible to pray, sing, study the Bible and worshipand worship

• IssueIssue: God wants individuals to : God wants individuals to “come together as a church” to “come together as a church” to worship worship (1 Cor (1 Cor 11:17-18, 20)11:17-18, 20)


•ContextContext: Addressing private sin : Addressing private sin and apostolic authority and apostolic authority • Individuals are not the church, Individuals are not the church, 18:16-18:16-

1717•The church is not “two or three”, The church is not “two or three”,

18:1718:17•Apostles would agree with heaven Apostles would agree with heaven

and thus have fellowship with Christ, and thus have fellowship with Christ, 18:18-2018:18-20


Lord’s Day?Lord’s Day?


• When we act together, under the When we act together, under the authority of Christ, He is with us authority of Christ, He is with us (1 (1 Jno 1:7; 3:24; Jno 14:23)Jno 1:7; 3:24; Jno 14:23)

• Does not teachDoes not teach: Whatever 2 or 3 : Whatever 2 or 3 decide, Christ will agree with themdecide, Christ will agree with them

• Does not teachDoes not teach: Whenever 2 or 3 : Whenever 2 or 3 Christians gather it constitutes a Christians gather it constitutes a local church at worshiplocal church at worship


Lord’s Day?Lord’s Day?


• We are under commandment not to We are under commandment not to forsake the assembling of ourselves forsake the assembling of ourselves together, together, Heb 10:24-25Heb 10:24-25•Moral obligation before GodMoral obligation before God•Question to ponderQuestion to ponder: If everyone : If everyone

attended and participated in the attended and participated in the assemblies the way I do, would assemblies the way I do, would this church have regular worship this church have regular worship services?services?




I was glad when they said to I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psa 122:1of the Lord.” Psa 122:1

If you are not If you are not glad to glad to assemble to assemble to worship, why worship, why not? not? 2 Cor 13:52 Cor 13:5

“why do you or i need to go to church?” “ can’t we just have it at home?”

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