With one accord...

First of all, why even get together at all with others when it just seems so much easier to stay at home? After all, the scriptures do say “where two or more are gathered, there I am”. So why do we get together?

Matthew 18:18-20

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 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.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Here is the full passage that was quoted above. Notice the context here. Each of the preceding verses referred to making a decision or judgment and coming to an agreement. Yahshua was saying that when they make these decisions, he is in their midst. He made have said this to remind them that he would be watching and hoped that his own presence would guide their decisions.

So this has nothing to do with getting together on the Sabbath. Then what scriptures do mention getting together?

Luke 4:15-16

15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Discussion Questions:

1. Does this mean we should be going to a synagogue instead of a church?

2. Why did Yahshua stand up to read?

Acts 2:1-2

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Hebrews 10:23-25

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

1 Corinthians 11:17-18

17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Notice that none of these passages mention a synagogue. What should we meet in? Do you think there is any requirements for the type of building we use?

To speak or not to speak...

Once we are gathered together, why does the worship service include studies and sermons? Why do only men lead the sermons and studies during the service?

2 Timothy 2:15-16

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto Elohim, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more unrighteousness.

Romans 2:20-24

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou Elohim?
24 For the name of Elohim is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Titus 2:1-6

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of Elohim be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

1 Timothy 2:11-12

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

2 Peter 2:1

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Discussion Questions:

1. Since we gather together for studies, does this mean we don't have to study at home? Does the passage from 2 Timothy mention where the study must be?

2. In the passage from Romans, it mentions a person preaching one thing but doing the opposite. What word is usually used to describe this type of person? (Hint: Matthew 7:3-5)

3. So why does our congregation allow men and women to speak up even during a sermon? How is it related to the passage from 2 Peter?

And we worship...

Worship can be done in many ways. Sometimes it is in prayer, sometimes in song, or just speaking of the blessings he has given us. However, when we come together, it is to lift up each other. Song does this best and so we sing hymns to bring our thoughts around to Yahweh.

1 Corinthians 14:26

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Colossians 3:16

16 Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to Yahweh.

Matthew 26:30

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is there any requirements to sing at church?

2. Are hymns a form of teaching? In what way do hymns “lift us up”?

And then we end in prayer...

So we start the service with an opening prayer asking for Yahweh to guide us. Then we end the service with a prayer thanking him for the knowledge and understanding he has given us through the speakers.

Acts 4:31

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of Elohim with boldness.

Acts 12:12

12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Discussion Questions:

1. Many times, the closing prayer asks for protection through the coming week. Although it is something we usually pray for ourselves, why does the closing prayer include that sometimes?