Gathering Of The Saints

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25 

Have you ever thought about the importance of meeting with God’s people?  

Guess what - it’s important. Terms often used are faith, family, community, church, small group, gathering, and ekklesia (the greek); all point to the importance of God’s people meeting together. But why - why is the Gathering of the Saints* important?  

*(Saint = someone born again into God’s kingdom and saved by Christ. Not referring to the Roman Catholic version of a saint.) 

Humanity was created to be in community. One of the worst things any human can experience is isolation. Isolation is a severe form of punishment in our prison systems. It’s the killer of marriages, jobs, and most any form of organization. And the forms of isolation vary. It’s possible to be surrounded physically by a crowd of people and yet, still be isolated. There is physical isolation, emotional isolation, spiritual isolation, cultural isolation, and possibly others. And in the end, there are two options for the outcome of our lives; either we’re together with God, for the rest of eternity in community with Him; or we isolate ourselves from God rejecting everything of His presence, being granted the utmost desire of our hearts apart from God - in Hell. 

The passage above from the writer of Hebrews is often the flagship of thought when we look at the gathering of God’s people from Scripture. Here, the people of God are encouraged - if not commanded - to meet together. It’s a focal point in how we can experience what we were ultimately made to do and be - Worshipers of God. 

There are many ways Christians gather. The most commonly exercised is the gathering of the Church on Sunday mornings. While there are many differences for Christians in gatherings across the world, most would agree on these core values for their gathering:  

• Preaching God’s Word 

• Reading God’s Word 

• Prayer 

• Singing 

• Sacred elements or sacraments 

While the Gathering of the Saints on a Sunday morning is very important, we must acknowledge that we do a lot of “receiving” on Sunday mornings. We receive the preaching of God’s Word, we receive musical leadership from the musicians, we’re instructed in personal prayer time, we receive prayer, and we receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper/Communion. But it’s often outside of the corporate gathering where we step into our role of the Priesthood of the Saints - where we give. 

Peter writes in 1 Peter chapter 2: 

“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” - vs5 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” - vs9 

Now, it’s important to remember that a priest was chosen by God in Scripture, not self-appointed. They were chosen with a purpose to serve God with their lives by offering sacrifices. A sacrifice is something that has to be given and it is costly. In Romans 1:12 Paul writes that as we are in Christ our bodies are now as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” 

So, as a believer chosen by God and invited into HIS kingdom, what does my role in the Priesthood of the Saints have to do with the Gathering of the Saints? As we go through our day, we must be mindful that our entire being is now a spiritual act of worship. This affects how we parent, how we work at our job, how we lead our household, the quality of our friendships, the way we spend our time, the way we think, how we recreate, and how we use (or don’t use) our voice of the Gospel to those around us. 

When we hang out with friends who are also believers - that is a gathering of the saints. When you see other believers meeting for coffee or over dinner - that is a gathering of the saints. When we serve with other believers in our community - that is a gathering of the saints. When your kids play on the same teams and you as supporting parents attend their games and gather on the sidelines - that is a gathering of the saints. Whether it’s an official church sanctioned gathering or just the normal rhythms of life, when God’s people meet together, it is the Gathering of the Saints.  

So, I ask, what do our conversations look like on the sidelines of our kid’s game? Are we stepping into our role in the royal priesthood of God? Has the Gospel enveloped us that morning so much that it can’t help but flow out of us to the people around in conversation or in acts of service? What do our conversations look like when we’re gathered together to watch our favorite sports team? Are we worshippers of God in those moments with our words and our actions? How do we speak to our spouse or our kids throughout the day? Does the Gospel saturate those times like in the Sunday gathering of God’s people? The Gospel doesn’t change from Sunday to Monday.  

To finish, in John 13:34-35 he quotes Jesus where he says: 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

The authority of God’s Word moves beyond the gathering on Sunday mornings. Our lives in Christ are meant to reveal great love for God and for one another as we Gather. And it is with great joy that the Kingdom of God is revealed in the Gathering of the Saints on any day of the week. 

God, while thinking and praying through this topic I’m convicted and challenged. I pray that as a church we would be called to obedience to your Word and that your people would be empowered and joyous because of the work of Christ in our day to day. As we gather together may we not ignore you but give you all glory and honor in our moments together.  

Because of Jesus. Amen