We Gather Together

From Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware:

…Christians gather together to worship God in communities of faith. While worship is sometimes private and silent, worship in the Bible also requires the regular gathering of God’s people to do what can only happen when they come together (Acts 2:42). Christians can grow much and encourage others to grow in Christ as they participate in different parts of the worship of God. Meeting together, Christians grow as they participate in singing hymns and songs of praise, as they pray for one another and for needs in many places, as they listen to the reading of God’s Word week by week, and as they hear the Scriptures faithfully taught and preached. God has chosen to use these gatherings of local churches as one of his main ways to encourage his people to be faithful and to teach them more about himself and his ways. No wonder the writer to the Hebrews is grieved that some have made a habit of “neglecting to meet together.” We need what God has planned to bring to his people only as they gather in local churches. The prayer, preaching, teaching, singing, fellowship, encouragement, accountability, and other parts of church worship provide us much that we need for resisting temptation and following Christ. Yes, much is at stake in our regular participation in a strong and faithful local church.

This is the first reason Ware gives for why meeting in a local church is important for the life and well-being of all Christians. I’ll post the second reason on Wednesday. Meanwhile, can you guess what it is?