The Worshiping Community

MEMORY VERSE: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” —John 4:24

MATTHEW 18:19, 20

THE first scripture of the lesson emphasizes that great crowd of believers are not essential in order to enjoy the Lord’s blessings when meeting together. Here the minimum—two or three—is mentioned, and the assurance given that even if such a small number are gathered in the Lord’s name they can expect his presence to be with them; and while the expression “and that to bless” is not in the text, surely the implication is there that the Lord’s presence would be for the purpose of pouring out a blessing.

Too much emphasis cannot be put on the fact that it is only if the Lord’s people meet in his name that they can expect his blessing. If the brethren be agreed on what they should seek in the way of blessings from the Lord, Jesus assures us that they shall receive that blessing. Obviously, however, such requests, as well as all the petitions of the Lord’s people to the throne of heavenly grace, must be in harmony with the Lord’s will. We cannot assume that the Lord will change his ways simply to honor the requests of his people, whether of two or three, or of many.

JOHN 4:24

This is our memory verse. The context relates a conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. She was greatly impressed with the Master’s way of teaching. She said to him, “I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain [Mount Gerizim, in Samaria]; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”—vss. 19,20

Jesus explained that the time was coming when men would worship God neither in Jerusalem nor in the mount of Samaria. “God is a Spirit,” he said, “and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (vs. 24) What Jesus is doing here is emphasizing that God is not looking for worship which is centered in a shrine, a church building, a cathedral, a temple, or a synagogue.

At best these are merely convenient places for the Lord’s people to assemble, but the same people could assemble in an open field, or individually in their own homes, or under the open sky, and pour out their hearts to God and he would hear them as readily as in their buildings and formal places of worship. God is a Spirit, invisible to human eyes, and true prayers to him originate in the heart, and are based upon faith in his promises; and they must be in harmony with the truth of his Word to be heard and favorably answered.

ACTS 2:41-47

“About three thousand souls” accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented to them by Peter on the day of Pentecost, and these were all baptized—immersed in water, that is—which was a symbol of their true baptism into the body of Christ. In the last verse of the lesson we are informed “that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This is not the work of man. If the Lord does not build the house they labor in vain who build it.

We read concerning those first disciples that “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.” What a blessed fellowship this must have been! The apostles’ doctrine was the Gospel of Christ. Paul later spoke of the Gospel of Christ as “the power of God unto salvation.”—Rom. 1:16

“And in the breaking of bread.” Evidently this was not the breaking of bread such as is practiced at the Memorial Supper, but a good fellowship that is enhanced by eating together. It was this first group of Christians which had all things in common, selling all that they had and establishing a common treasury. Then each one received a portion according to his needs.

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart “ (vs. 46) We are not to assume that these believers called at every house, but rather, visited the homes of the believers.

QUESTIONS

How large does a congregation have to be in order to be blessed by the Lord?

How do we worship in spirit and in truth?

What is “the apostles’ doctrine”?

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