Gathering: Finding the Church Beyond the Walls

Total Time: ~3 hours
Focus: To understand the true, biblical nature of “the church” as a living organism of people, not a building or institution, and to explore the grace-based purpose of our gathering together as a family.

🧱 Session 1 — The Definition of a Gathering (60 mins)

Theme: Jesus provides the simple, profound definition of a true spiritual gathering, which is modeled by the first believers not as a formal program, but as a shared life.

📖 Reading

Matthew 18:15–20
Acts 2:42–47

📖 Key Passages

• Matthew 18:20:
  “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

• Acts 2:42:
  “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

• Acts 2:44–45:
  “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”

📚 Theological Framework: Presence, Not Place

Jesus radically redefines the location of sacred space. It is no longer a temple made of stone. The “holy place” is now any place where two or three of His followers gather in His name. His presence is what consecrates the gathering, not the building, the day of the week, or the formality of the service. The first church lived this out in a dynamic, daily fellowship that flowed through their homes and lives.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 18:20, what are the only two essential components for a gathering to be considered a “church”? How does this challenge our modern ideas about what is required?
2. The first believers in Acts shared their lives and possessions with radical generosity. What does this show about the effect of the Gospel on their relationship to both people and things?
3. The early church was devoted to four key things (doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, prayers). How do these four pillars create a balanced and healthy spiritual family?

🧱 Session 2 — The Body of the Gathering (60 mins)

Theme: The gathering of believers is described not as an organization with a hierarchy, but as a living body where every single member is unique, essential, and gifted by the Spirit to serve the others.

📖 Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12–27
Ephesians 4:11–16

📖 Key Passages

• 1 Corinthians 12:12:
  “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

• 1 Corinthians 12:21, 27:
  “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you… Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

• Ephesians 4:15–16:
  “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth… maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

🔍 Key Concepts

• Interdependence:
  Paul’s core message is that there are no “unimportant” members of the church. Unlike a human organization where some people are spectators, in Christ’s body, every part is vital to the health of the whole.

• Equipping, Not Performing:
  The role of leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers) is not to “do all the ministry” for an audience. Their role is to equip all the other members to do the work of ministry themselves, so that the whole body grows strong by every part doing its share.

🗣️ Discussion Questions

1. How does the “Body” metaphor completely change the common idea of church being a place where you “go and watch” a service?
2. Paul says the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” Why is it sometimes difficult for us to recognize our need for other believers?
3. According to Ephesians 4, what is the goal of the gathering? How does every member play a part in “building up the body in love”?

🧱 Session 3 — The Purpose of the Gathering (60 mins)

Theme: The primary purpose for gathering is not to fulfill a religious duty, but to mutually encourage one another in our faith, stir one another up to love, and remind each other of the hope we have in Christ.

📖 Reading

Hebrews 10:19–25
Colossians 3:12–17

📖 Key Passages

• Hebrews 10:23–25:
  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”

• Colossians 3:13:
  “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

• Colossians 3:16:
  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another… singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

🧠 Reflection & Application

• The author of Hebrews says the reason to meet is to “provoke” or “stir up” one another to love and good works. How can a community best encourage these things in its members?
• The passage says we should forgive others “even as Christ forgave you.” How does remembering the infinite grace we have received change our motivation for extending grace to others? Is it a work, or an overflow?
• The Colossians passage paints a picture of a gathering filled with mutual teaching and joyful, grace-filled singing. How does this compare to your own experience of “church”? What elements could bring more of this joyful reality into your fellowship?

✝️ Final Encouragement: The Family Reunion

The gathering of the saints is not meant to be a solemn, dutiful religious observance. It is a family reunion. It is a weekly (or daily) embassy meeting for ambassadors living in a foreign land—a place to be encouraged, to be reminded of our true home, to have our wounds tended to, and to be re-equipped for our mission in the world. It is a workshop for grace, a hospital for sinners, and the most tangible expression of God’s family on earth. It is not a building, but a body. And its only required entrance fee is faith in the one who makes us all one.