Building the Church By Building  Each Other

This is a slight revision of this sermon.

What was it like going to church in the first century? A scholar, Robert Banks has written a fictional story called “Going To Church In The First Century”. It is way too long to read but it goes something like this.

Publius, a visitor to Rome, was staying with acquaintances who went each week to a meal in the home of a Jewish couple, Aquila and Prisca. Visitors were welcome so Publius accompanied them. They set out about mid-afternoon. Publius knew that Jews were not very hospitable to non-Jews but this couple apparently had adopted a new way of looking at the world.

Publius learned that his friends had also got caught up in this new way of looking at things and they loved these regular meetings in Aquila and Prisca’s home. Publius was a little nervous about attending but he was greeted very warmly – somewhat more warmly than he was used to.

They talked with their hosts, discovering things about each other’s background and were interrupted a little later by more guests arriving – a family consisting of a grandmother, her son and his wife and their four children. A little later a distinguished-looking man arrive with a companion in a simple tunic. The second man was the first man’s slave but they were both greeted with the same affection and honour.

Aquila announced that he had heard that two more guests were on their way but that they might now move to the dining room. Publius asked his friend if the meeting was about to start, only to be told that it had started the minute they entered the door.

Everyone, including the slave, reclined around the table. Publius was given a place of honour.

More guests arrived: a Jewish couple and their two daughters, and two ex-slaves. One had been given his freedom. The other had been dismissed by his master and left to fend for himself. He was able to do that only because of some government assistance and the support of this group. Each person brought some contribution to the meal. Another slave had not yet arrived. His master was not compassionate. Aquila made sure some of the meal was kept for him.

Before the meal, Aquila took bread and, breaking it, reminded the guests that their god had given his only son to die for them. This son of god had shared a similar meal with his followers and said that just as they need bread to survive physically, they need him in order to live life fully. Aquila claimed that this person had died but come to life again. Publius couldn’t believe his ears but Aquila said that this allowed this son of god to share his life with anyone, anywhere. It was as if a bit of him was living in each of them. As they shared this meal, they would experience him directly, and through their fellowship.

Aquila prayed briefly. Publius was surprised that the prayer was made up on the spot and spoken in a normal voice. This was not like the elaborate religious rituals he had experienced.

The meal began. There was an enquiry about the grandmother’s health and she replied that she had been much better since the group had prayed last week. Publius was asked if, in his travels, he had heard about the healings taking place in the East. He said he had but was sceptical.

There was then a sometimes heated discussion about whether Christians should seek professional medical help or rely on the prayers of the community.

Between courses, a letter was read from a former member of the group who had moved away. The group asked for their love to be conveyed back to him. The slave who had been delayed appeared at the door, full of apologies and asked if it would be alright if a fellow slave joined them for the meal. This second slave had been told about the Lord many times and the previous night had come to believe and had been baptised. He was enthusiastically welcomed into the group.

The distinguished man and his slave then said they had something they would like discussed. The man wanted to set the slave free but the slave felt called to continue serving his master. What should they do? The group asked questions and debated it. There were pros and cons. Prisca remembered that their friend Paul had written something about this situation. They got his letter and read the appropriate section. That influenced the discussion and gave the slave more to think about.

Then one of the young girls sang a song she had made up about the different things God had made. Everybody applauded loudly. Conversations in small group followed. Publius reflected on how unreligious this all seemed. There wasn’t even a priest or all the ritual trappings. In general conversation, the distinguished man told Publius how he had got involved in this group.

At the end of the meal, they refilled their cups and spoke of how the wine reminded them of Jesus’ death and how it was His death that had bound them together and would mean that they would share fellowship again one day when they again sat at His table.

After the meal had been cleared away, people prayed, sang songs, talked about God. They welcomed the slave who had been converted the previous evening and laid their hands on him and prayed. One person recited scripture. Another told a story from the Jewish Bible. Aquila taught about spiritual gifts, saying that they were God-given resources for growth in every aspect of life and that was why it was so important for everyone to discover and learn how to use his/her spiritual gifts.

One woman said that she felt prompted by God to give a message to the group about using their spiritual gifts, and one specifically for the slave pondering his freedom, about how God would equip him to serve.

They gathered around the grandmother and again prayed for her complete healing. Various people then prayed about things happening in the lives of other members of the group. After a quite long time of prayer, the meeting was over. It was, by now, quite dark. Some people started to leave. Others continued in conversation and prayer. One family invited Publius for a meal during the week. Aquila and Prisca emphasised that he was welcome any time. By the time they left to walk home, it was quite dark.

READ 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

In 1 Corinthians 14, one concept is repeated over and over again. Paul said that tongues and prophecy are different in one crucial respect. Prophecy edifies the church. In other words, builds up the church; helps people to grow. Tongues edifies only the individual. Paul gives far greater value to prophecy because the whole church is built up. A message spoken in tongues is incomprehensible and of no value to the church… unless it is also interpreted. Paul says that he would like everyone to speak in tongues but, when Christians gather together, it is prophecy that is of value to the church. The test of whether something is appropriate in a gathering is: Does it build up the church?

The purpose of a church gathering is clear; it is to build up the church. The word “edify” is used in v3, v4 (twice), v.5, v.12, v.17, v.26.

1 Corinthians 14:12

Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26

When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:3

Those who prophesy speak to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

Strengthening, encouragement and comfort. Some people need teaching or training or exhortation. Some need encouragement and hope. The distressed or worried need the kindness of someone who understand.

We might think of prophets as people who can foretell the future. In fact, a prophet is someone who speaks words that come from God. He/she is God’s mouth. Sometimes that might be something about the future but often it is God speaking into someone’s life or the life of the church. Isn’t it like God to strengthen one person, encourage another person, comfort yet another and so build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:6

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction.

It is those things that edify that are of value: revelation, knowledge, prophecy, instruction. It is about people building others up. That is why their gatherings were so interactive and involved spiritual gifts.

Their cultural context was different, of course. But it is more than that. They adopted that participatory, interactive, somewhat spontaneous style because the purpose of meeting was to build each other up.

We see exactly the same thing in the few other passages that do talk about “church services”.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says “Do not neglect to meet together as some are in the habit of doing.” But why is meeting important? That passage says, “Spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Encourage one another.” It is all about the building up of God’s people. And it is increasingly urgent.

Colossians 3:16

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Again, it is the building up of the church: teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom. How? Through psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Even the singing is designed to teach and admonish.

However, note one other thing because you might be thinking, “Surely, worshipping God is the main purpose.” The teaching and admonishing is accomplished in the context of singing to God with gratitude in our hearts. Part of it is worship. But also, worship is much wider than singing. We worship God when we obey Him. We demonstrate His worth-ship by dedicating our whole lives to Him. So, when we minister to one another and build up the church, that is worship. That is God-honouring obedience.

Or you might be thinking that church services should be primarily about sharing the gospel. This is where we hope people will hear the gospel. 1 Corinthians 14 deals with that too. Verses 24 and 25 talk about when an unbeliever, or an enquirer, is in the meeting – like Publius in the example above. If people speak, inspired by God and say things that they could not have known by any natural means, and they reveal things about the lives of these visitors, the visitors are going to be blown away. Paul says they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

If they experience what can only be God, because the Christian community’s actions reveal God, they will be convicted. People are not blown away if they come to church and do not experience God. It happens when Christians are ministering to each other in supernatural ways.

Evangelism is not the purpose of the meeting but it is a by-product. The primary purpose is still that Christians meet and build each other up; spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

It can be confusing trying to define the primary purpose of our Christian gatherings, whether they be our Sunday services or Life Groups. But the New Testament repeatedly talks about building the church by building each other. That is why their gatherings we so relational and interactive and participatory. Their purpose determined their methods. If we too prioritised building the church by building one another, what should our gatherings look like?

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