The Narrow Path Ministries

I would like to open a conversation about church attendance with scriptural responses.
Sunday has been established for 1000s of years now where people have been gather together in some sort of building, I’m not saying that Sunday is the only day to do this but it has been this way for along time, is there more to say about this day in scriptures than not? So far that I can see this day, Sunday gives great opportunity for Christians to show the separation from the world that we are different then they are and we hold great hope for all who are curious about our lives, that being the light of Christ of coarse.
Church is also great for the Christian soul as well. In my humble opinion I believe all those who claim to be Christian should at all cost show that they stand for a better future
In all of our lives by show our differences by our life styles, not becoming as the
Non-believers. It is harder and harder to tell the difference anymore between the two.
Attending church alone does not establish this trend but is apart of it and adds to the Christians life as well.

Thank You.

CFChristian

Some references to the first day of the week:

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. KJV

Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. KJV

1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. KJV

But, also consider:

Acts 2:46-47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. KJV

I don't think scripture commands meeting on Sunday but it does indicate a tradition by the early Christians possibly to honor the resurrection being on Sunday. Some traditions can be good even if man-made and this is one of them. We need a day of worship and reflection and fellowship and to be apart from the world. It lifts the spirit and it's a good thing.

Do any of you think that church attendances can be as simple as, lets say if you have a large family that are all Christian would this be satisfactory?
Isn’t church or in better words the assembling of Gods people bigger than just congregating to say hi or sing? There must be better reasons why Paul would assemble together with other saints.

I think that the main reason that Christians gather together (on whatever day) is that they love the brethren. Most Christians do not spend much of their week immersed in Christian fellowship. Like Lot in Sodom, they vex their righteous souls day after day in seeing and hearing the unlawful behavior of those around them. They thirst for companionship with those who share their passion, their values and their objectives.

There is no command in scripture to have weekly meetings, but these have served the needs of many who lack other opportunities to relate with the Christian community. I don't know if, in the early Jerusalem church, they had special meetings on Sundays, as churches elsewhere later did. The first Christians met daily, and Sunday might have been just like any other day.

Early Christian meetings were apparently meals ("love feasts"—Jude 12), like large family gatherings, where they would also take communion. In some gatherings, everyone wanted a chance to say something (1 Cor.14:26), while other meetings (probably imitating the synagogue service) featured a special speaker (Acts 20:7).

Some advantages of regular, public meetings are:

The encouragement of encountering a larger segment of God's kingdom citizenry at one place and at one time than is usually possible;

The visibility of the Christian community to the unbelieving society;

The ability to bring a newly converted friend into a nurturing and discipling setting;

The power of united prayer and worship;

The ability of the whole community to learn the same things together at the same time;

The opportunity for certain gifts of the Spirit to be exercised that have little occasion elsewhere.

Perhaps there are other important reasons as well. It should be pointed out, however, that not all church gatherings provide these benefits, and some gatherings may be more damaging than beneficial (1 Cor.11:17).

where is such a place?

Very nice summary Steve, a couple of things that i would suggest that differ are:
Historically the most common reason for Christians gathering is to ascend to the heavenlies and worship God, fellowshipping with one another was perhaps the greatest additional benefit of that.
While there is no command in Scriptures for regular weekly meetings it was the normative practice of early Christians in Jerusalem and elsewhere. Daily meetings did occur with a preeminence attached to Sundays.
Early Christian meetings were centered around the Eucharist/Communion and the 'family meals' were generally after the worship and communion. Also, noted speakers were more normative than a 'free for all' with everyone commenting.

Hi Xerocracy,
Thanks for your contribution. You may be correct. However, I know of no scripture, nor early Christian writings, that testify to the specifics you raised. Can you provide any references?

I think these verses sum up a main reason for coming together as a church.

Heb 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Todd

I am finding it difficult to find that type of fellowship, its been a hello
and how are you and not much true fellowship.