What is the purpose of church and is there examples in Scripture of actual church service? I don't seem to recall church demonstrated. I heard one person say the closest we have written down is about a century after.
purpose of church service
- Thread starter mikedsjr
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HOLYTHUNDER3
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Church started with Aaron in the old testament. They also had passover festivals where they would read from the Torah.
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Avid
A Pilgrim and a Sojourner...
These are examples of the Church being together, and meeting, but there are not formal services with time set aside for various things, like singing of hymns, &c. Typically, the Church met in homes, certain buildings with chambers large enough to hold the people who came to hear the preaching, and sometimes they would go to synagogues to preach to the Jews.
The idea of owning a dedicated building to hold regular, formal Church services (like we see all over today) seems to have come later. Sadly, other religions adopted the names in the scriptures, called themselves Christian, and persecuted true believers. Now THEY put money into dedicated buildings, and were very formal in their services.
The idea of owning a dedicated building to hold regular, formal Church services (like we see all over today) seems to have come later. Sadly, other religions adopted the names in the scriptures, called themselves Christian, and persecuted true believers. Now THEY put money into dedicated buildings, and were very formal in their services.
Acts 2
1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 4
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5
1 ¶ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
--- &c.---
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 8
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
--- &c.---
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 20
7 ¶ And 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.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
Not sure if this is a satisfactory answer for you, but the Church met, they had times for preaching and the ordinances of God as established by the LORD. Some say there are only two such ordinances, others say there are many. However, we may say that it is ordained of our LORD that there be a Communion service (mentioned in scripture as breaking of bread,) a Baptism service (sometimes called going down into the water,) an Ordination service of some type (referenced as the laying on of hands,) and definite types of Preaching services.1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 4
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5
1 ¶ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
--- &c.---
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 8
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
--- &c.---
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 20
7 ¶ And 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.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
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avid, Thanks for the verses. I agree that church doesn't imply necessarily a building. But we do have to define what happens. Chapter 20 honestly has the most direct look at what Church looks like in all the verses.
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greatdivide, Could you give an example where Scripture says this is the case within church "service"?
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