FirstCentury Assemblies of Christians What Were They Like

First-Century Assemblies of Christians What Were They Like?

Individual and Together • First-century Christians did things individually and assembled together • We want to answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the Christian’s assembly • The assemblies of NT Christians often differ radically from today’s assemblies

Where: No Specified Place • In the temple (Acts 2: 46; 5: 42) • In an upper room (Acts 20: 7 -8) • In private homes (Rom. 16: 3, 5; Philm. 2)

Why: For Spiritual Matters • For the Lord’s supper (Acts 2: 42; 20: 7; 1 Cor. 11) • For preaching / teaching (Acts 2: 42; 11: 26; 20: 7) • For a collection (1 Cor. 16: 1 -2) • For singing (1 Cor. 14: 26; Eph. 5: 19)

Why: For Spiritual Matters • For prayer (Acts 2: 42; 4: 31; 12: 5, 12) • For scripture reading (Col. 4: 15 -16; 1 Tim. 4: 13) • For reports about the Lord’s work (Acts 14: 26 -27; 15: 3 -4) • For local church issues and problems (Acts 6: 1 -6; 15: 22)

Why: For Spiritual Matters • For local church discipline (1 Cor. 5: 4 -5) • NT Christians did not assemble together as a local church to engage in social or recreational activities; those kind activities were done individually and outside the assembly (Acts 2: 46; 1 Cor. 11: 22, 34)

What Is NT Pattern? • The pattern for salvation: H-B-R-C-B-LF only • The pattern for worship: P-S-L. S. -C-P only • The pattern for organization: E-D-S-M only • The pattern for assembling: for spiritual matters only

How: Proper Decorum • On a regular basis (Heb. 10: 25) • In an edifying and orderly fashion (1 Cor. 11: 33; 14: 26 -33) • Without discrimination (Jas. 2: 1 -9)

Applications for Today • Proper worship is not dependent upon a proper place, but upon a proper person (Jn. 4: 21 -24) • Let us follow the NT pattern for the purpose of assembling (2 Tim. 1: 13) • Let us remember to behave properly in the assembly (1 Cor. 14: 40)