New Believer’s Path · Lesson 4 of 7 · Not Forsaking Our Assembling · about 5 min
Must I go to church every week?
Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 · WEB
More than a hundred years ago, in a village near Huozhou in Shanxi, a few believers wanted a place to meet, so they asked a well-to-do family to lend them a cave room in their courtyard, promising to repair it for the owner. The lady of the house was a widow who at first would not even speak to the missionaries; she simply thought that repairing it could do no harm, and agreed.
Every evening the believers read the Bible and prayed together in the cave room. Out of curiosity she sat within earshot with her spinning. She did not understand much, but the words ‘Heavenly Father’ kept coming up, which puzzled and intrigued her: if it was really the Father in heaven they worshiped, they ought to be in the best room. In the end her own guest hall became the village chapel, and she herself put down her spinning and joined them.
Source: Mildred Cable, The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's (1917), chapter 16 (retold)
The first three lessons were between you and God alone. But faith has never been a solo matter.
Some people say, ‘I can read the Bible and pray at home; why do I have to go to church?’ The Bible’s answer is direct: “not forsaking our own assembling together.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Faith is not a solo matter. We need to “consider how to provoke one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25)—and that takes other people being there.
This is how the first church lived: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Listening to the word together, eating together, praying together. The church is not a building but a group of people who care for one another. Jesus promised, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Walking into a church for the first time is bound to feel nervous. You can arrive a little early, sit at the back, and leave when it ends—that’s fine. If a church nearby gives you doubts, ask the person who led you to faith, or write to us. You could also start with a home group: fewer people, and easier to speak up.
This week: go to a church this Lord’s Day, or join a small group once. Just once; you don’t have to decide about the future. When you go, just remember one person’s name.
“Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own ___ together”
What did the first church do together?
This Lord’s Day, go to a church or join a small group once.
Just this one thing, so small you cannot fail. Write it down and it goes into your Rule of Life card.
Added to your Rule of Life card. Tap each day you do it this week: