![[Graphic of gather for worship]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/gather_for_worship.jpg)
| Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. |
| —Acts 2:41-47 |
Are you one of those individuals who especially has fun when you meet with your friends? Oh, it’s okay to do things by yourself. Sometimes, it’s truly enjoyable just to be by yourself and do what you want to do without anyone else being around. But, I am willing to suggest that the most fun you have takes place when you gather with other people and you all undertake an activity together. There is something energizing to listen to what other people say, to observe what they do, to laugh together, to see the world through the eyes of your friends. Even someone like me, a dedicated introvert who often feels uncomfortable in social gatherings, experiences some vicarious positive vibrations on those rare occasions when I participate in some activity with my friends.
When we do get together with other people, we also notice how much more fun it is when we engage in some activity that involves all of those present at the same time. It may be sort of fun to be in a room with our friends where each person is doing his or her own thing. But, the really fun times occur when all of the people present gather around and do something that includes every, single person. There is a bonding that takes place. A shared experience produces a sense of oneness that generally cannot be achieved in any other way.
There is just something about being together, doing the same thing, at the same time, for the same purpose, that brings a great deal of joy and excitement. All of our differences seem to take a backseat when we participate in a shared activity.
In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, found in the Acts 2:41-47, the Bible tells us that the early church was just like the situation I’ve been describing. There is no doubt that each one of the early Christians set aside time to be alone with the Lord for prayer and meditation. During those times alone, each Christian was able to concentrate on what God was doing in his or her life, and express praise and thanksgiving to God in prayer for who He is and for what He has done for that one.
But, the really exciting times came when the Christians would all gather together. As a group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christians had a special bond with each other that made their times together exciting, spiritually electric, and very fulfilling.
The Bible teaches us that this is exactly what God intends for His people. He intends for them to have the greatest sense of joy, the greatest effectiveness in doing His work, and the greatest expression of His Power within them, when they gather together and devote themselves to a single purpose.
That is really what the Sunday worship service at our churches should be all about. We experience the excitement of His Presence in our midst. And, we want to have the joy of the fellowship that we can have with each other. Each one of us is a part of this gathering at our churches. The fact that each of us is present for worship helps everyone else experience the kind of joy that God wants all of us to experience when we gather together to worship Him.
The next time we consider substituting some other activity for our time of worshipping God together, let’s remember that when we do so we affect ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We belong together. We should revere the time that God has given us to gather in His presence for worship, praise, and prayer. Above all else, we should value the relationships formed during this special time.
