A Question About Assembly Meetings

From: The Christian Shepherd: 1999 By:

• 3 min. read • grade level: 12

Question: What Scriptures and scriptural principles provide guidance for the order and character of assembly meetings?

Answer: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)). This verse gives us the key to guidance as to assembly meetings the Word of God! A summary verse as to such meetings is Acts 2:42⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42): “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Note that gospel efforts, the gospel meeting and outreaches to children and the lost in general are not included. However, these meetings—which are held on individual exercise and responsibility to the Lord (Acts 21:8; 2⁸And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. (Acts 21:8)
⁸And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (Acts 2:8) Tim 4:5)—may meet in the same room where the assembly gathers collectively in the presence of the Lord Jesus.

Primarily, assembly meetings include: (1) the breaking of bread and the prayer meeting, and (2) the reading and ministry meetings (the apostles’ doctrine). For example, Paul in Acts 20:7⁷And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7) “preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow” in the Troas assembly. The apostles’ doctrine and fellowship gives the basis of every assembly meeting.

The details of the order of these meetings are not specifically stated in Scripture but are discerned by believers and guided by the Spirit of God a most important principle for proper assembly conduct. As stated in 1 Corinthians 2:14¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14), “The things of the Spirit of God... are spiritually discerned.”

But such facets as prayer, praise and worship are stated in Scripture: “the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” in Hebrews 13:15¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15) and “offer up spiritual sacrifices” in 1 Peter 2:5⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5). Clear references to singing are given in Ephesians 5:19¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19) and Colossians 3:16¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16), giving guidance as to the use of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” in “teaching and admonishing one another.” Singing in praise to the Lord is stated in Revelation 5:9⁹And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9): “Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain.” These examples are but a few of many such passages.

The breaking of bread meeting, also called the remembrance of the Lord in death, was instituted by the Lord Himself on the night of His betrayal. Though given in the synoptic gospels, it is most fully given in Luke 22:19-20¹⁹And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁰Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19‑20). This passage is quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25²³For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: ²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑25), affording us authority for the present day of grace as to this important meeting.

Guidance as to the day of the week is Acts 20:7⁷And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7): “Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” The order of giving of thanks for the bread and then the cup was instituted by the Lord Himself and restated by Paul. Today, in following the Lord’s pattern, one brother as guided by the Spirit of God gives thanks for both the bread and the cup.

In summary, Scripture itself is our guide for suited Christian conduct in assembly meetings. The guidance of the Spirit of God, using the Word of God, is essential in the expression of scriptural teaching and spiritual emotions in worship and prayer.

P. S. Jacobsen

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