Necessity of Gathering

Hebrews 10:19-25

My goal today is not to get you to come to this location.

I have no intention to put anyone in harm’s way.

I am not being cavalier.

I am not seeking to make a political statement. No one has my permission or the permission of Parkwood to use a portion of this sermon for a soundbite. The sermon must be played in its entirety if used.

I am not motivated by money. Parkwood has been extremely generous for the past 7 weeks.

I believe in the autonomy of the local church. Every church will have to come to their own conclusions based on their convictions.

I am seeking to be a faithful follower of Christ and shepherd of the flock of God called Parkwood, along with the Elders who are here present with me this morning.

The purpose of this sermon is to first explain a theology of gathering and second to make application of the teaching of Scripture to our current situation.

Main Idea: The essence of the church and the teachings of Scripture dictate the necessity of the gathering of a local body of believers.

The necessity of gathering is the essence of the church.

Matthew 16:16–18 ESV

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus chose the word church—ekklesia—assembly or gathering. did not use the word synagogue. Instead, he chose ekklesia. ekklesia had a political overtone.

Why would Jesus use a word such as that…hear me carefullly. Has everything to do with Peter’s confession.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” You are the King!

From sermon on Matt. 16...”The One who has come to save His people. “When we say Christ we should think King.” (Bruner, p. 122)

We are the King’s blood bought people. He purchased us with His own blood.

When we gather something unique happens...

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

“in my name” in the name of the King…realizing that He is Lord and Savior. He is the Son of the living God...

Though He promises to never leave us or forsake as his individual people, he is uniquely present when his people gather in his name to acknowledge Him as their King, to worship Hi in spirit and in truth.

Gathering in His name is the essence of who we are are…the church, the ekklesia.

The necessity of gathering is clearly taught in Scripture.

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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.

We cannot gather in his name apart from his blood purchased access, which is new and living. He opened the way. We did nothing to cause it or earn it. We do not need a human priest, we have a great priest over the house of God.

In our culture, many will only see that I have access to the holy places by the blood of Jesus. I can worship HIm at anytime, wherever I am. True…but incomplete. The writer of Hebrews calls the people of God to recognize that they are a part of the body of Christ. “us” “we”

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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.

Original audience—suffering believers who knew it would cost them to meet. The writer lets them know that the cost is much higher in light of living and eternity.

For twenty centuries, most of those who have come to know the true and living God have done so through some form of church ministry. Virtually all Christians have lived out their Christian lives in connection with some form of the church. That is why Hebrews 10:25 admonishes Christians to not give up meeting together; they need the church. It is vitally important to them. (Hammett 12)

What are our core functions when we gather? How do we stir up one another…

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Colossians 3:15–16 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Word centered gatherings…teaching and admonishing(encouraging and warning)

Preaching of the Word

Singing of the Word

The word gathers the church, and so the church gathers for the word. (Leeman, Word Centered Church, 86)

What is the goal of our gathering?

Colossians 3:17 ESV

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The truths we have discussed are timeless and have been heeded by the church since her inception.

How do we seek to apply them to this confusing time related to Covid 19?

So What?

Why did we decide to begin refraining from gathering on March 15?

For the sake of individuals.

For the sake of the congregation. (plan in place for how to minister to Covid patients and for how to minister their families in the event of death.)

For the sake of the community.

Going forward, is our goal/responsibility to mitigate the spread of Covid 19 or to prevent the spread of Covid 19?

Most are living lives of mitigation. Few are living in true isolation.

Our manner of living, going forward and until there is a vaccine, will require living in mitigation.

Can we gather in such a manner as to mitigate the spread of Covid 19?

Social distancing of chairs. (250 or 1/4 of capacity)

Open doors upon entrance and exit, no hard surfaces to touch (exception: bathrooms)

Wearing of masks

Temperatures taken

cleaning between services(if more than 1 is needed)

no childcare (at this point, we do not know how to care for them with social distancing)

In light of current information, if we continue to refrain from providing the opportunity for gathering are we neglecting to meet together?

Today I am addressing the members of Parkwood, not a universal statement to all people everywhere dealing with Covid 19.. If we were in New York City, current information would say continue to refrain.

Repeat question...In light of current information, if we continue to refrain from providing the opportunity for gathering, are we neglecting to meet together?

As to our current situation in this location, our(Elders) answer is yes. If we continue to refrain from providing the opportunity for the church to gather, we are neglecting to meet.

Regularly, people communicate that they are ready to resume.

We encourage GG to beging meeting as soon as you can.

We plan to gather in May for worship. We will not be ready by next Sunday.

Dependent on securing everything that we need to gather with every reasonable measure of mitiigation that we can utilize.

We have been working on this decision for weeks. We have come to this moment prayerfully and soberly. We will continue to proceed in a like manner.

How about the law and Romans 13? Do we(the church) obey the government in matters that are contrary to what is clearly taught in Scripture? We can reasonably cooperate. We cannot unquestionably obey.

As followers of Christ, who are we to obey?

Acts 5:27–29 ESV

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Matthew 22:36–40 ESV

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Martin Luther on the Black Death: “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, He will surely find me, and I have done what He has expected of me, and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person. I shall go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” (Luther’s Works; Vol. 43, pg. 132).

Pray Ephesians 6:10-20

Song

Giving

Survey for the sake of planning.

Do you plan to join us for gathered worship when we resume? (yes and no) anonymous.

How many from your household will participate.

Ready to receive your questions.

END