Does the Bible teach Christians to meet together in a group setting for worship, mutual encouragement, and instruction?
The Bible teaches that the believers assembled themselves together.
To be assembled means that the Christians collected themselves together into one place. They created a powerful and effective group to accomplish something by putting themselves together in working order.
We see this grouping together of believers in the following verses. These verses show the importance that early believers attached to being physically together.
The Gospel of John
John 20:19
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
It was one week later on the same day that the believers were assembled together again. Jesus was pleased to be with them again (John 20:26)
The Acts of the Apostles
The Holy Ghost was promised to come upon the assembled believers.
Acts 1:4
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
The Holy Ghost came upon the assembled believers.
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 God with boldness. (This also occurred in Acts 2)
Paul and Barnabas became part of the assembled saints at Antioch to teach the Word of God.
Acts 11:26
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
In Antioch, the Church was gathered together to hear a great report, by Paul and Barnabas, of the work of God among the Gentiles
Acts 14:27
27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
The saints assembled together to discuss a problem and resolve a difficulty.
Acts 15:25
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
The Book of Corinthians
Although the Corinthian believers had many problems, in Paul’s writings to them, they are constantly being referenced as “coming together” or assembling together (I Cor. 11:17; 11:18; 11:20, 33, 34; 14:23, 26).
The Book of Hebrews
Hebrews 10:25
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.
The Bible teaches believers not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. The idea here is to abandon or desert the gathering together. The phrase, “to leave in the lurch,” adequately describes the idea that is being warned against. So many churches in our day have been “left in the lurch” because people have forsaken the assembly of the saints.
The idea of forsaking the assembly is adequately pictured in the life of Demas .
2 Timothy 4:10
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…
Something else captured the attention of Demas and he forsook the Apostle Paul and the work of God.
Going back to the passage in Hebrews, we learn that in the assembly, we are given courage and strength to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (v. 23).
This passage teaches that in the assembly of believers, there is to be an encouragement to love and engage in good works (v. 24). We are to rouse each other up!
Now let’s reason together further for a moment. When you look at how Americans, on a large scale, have forsaken the assembly of believers in the local visible congregation we must ask ourselves a question. What has been made better by our violation of God’s biblical principles and pattern? Be honest!
Are our families better off?
Are our marriages better off?
Are our churches better off?
Are our schools better off?
Is our government better off?
Is our morality better off?
Is our national unity better off?
Tell me, ‘Demas,’ what in this world has captured you and carried you away from the work of God through the local visible assembly of the believers?
Will this excuse hold up on the Day of Judgment when we will be judged by the word which God has spoken?
Repent and make your way back to the congregation.