Proper Christian Meetings

Spirit Filled Worship Services

Revival and Evangelistic Services

Edifying Christians, Saving and Calling the Lost.

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Christian gatherings obviously should not be formal and mechanical although they neither should be filled with confusion, and disorder. Christian gatherings should be focused on edifying and blessing each Christian in the assembly as well as also providing an opportunity for the unsaved (which might be present) to learn of God and truth and be saved. Christian gatherings might involve special prayer where all pray together, or where many smaller groups of two or more might pray together. Christian gatherings might involve group study of the Scriptures and doctrine, where anyone can give their thoughts or questions. This group study might involve one large assembly or involve the assembly breaking down into numerous smaller groups. Christian gatherings might involve praise and singing. Christian gatherings might involve one teacher or speaker instructing the whole assembly. Christian gatherings should give opportunity for each one to exercise the gifts and message God has given to each member. Christian gatherings most of all should consist of a group unitedly seeking God, His will and His blessing. cA-1

All Christian meetings should give opportunity for special prayer requests, and opportunity for any brother to share particular concerns that might be pressing upon them. Concerning those evangelistic meeting which are largely focused on inviting sinners to repentance and salvation, such meetings should give special opportunity for those who desire to repent and be saved to show their decision and secondly should give special opportunity for such repenting ones to speak and pray with concerned Christians right at the gathering. cA-2

Christian gatherings should not be so preplanned that there is not freedom to freely focus on whatever situation that might show it's self at the meeting. Although many churches almost know exactly what a meeting will hold and how it will turn out, (because of having their meetings strictly preplanned), such it not proper. When Christians have their activities at their gatherings too preplanned they do not give liberty for the meeting to turn out how God might want it to turn out. God is to lead Christian meetings and Christians are to set things up in the way as to give God the liberty to lead the meeting in His way. Christian gatherings are to consist of much more than merely gatherings which adhere to a preplanned routine of some concise speeches, some longer speeches, some songs, and some prayers, which are to occur at a particular time of a particular day! cA-3

One particular Church which considers herself to be the one and true Church, in their normal Church meetings often do not give any special time for prayer requests, or special time for brethren to share concerns or burdens that might be troubling them. This Church in her evangelistic services also does not make an alter call as to give special opportunity for those who do desire to repent and be saved to come forth and pray with concerned Christians at the meetings. Ministers and concerned ones from this church might visit with repentant individuals at the gathering, but for a few concerned Christians to specially pray with the struggling, repentant, and seeking individual at the gathering would seem strange to their tradition. Various concerned and prayerful individuals among this particular church, at one time desired to have special gatherings focused on prayer requests and having prayers and supplications, yet such never was encouraged by the church authority and for some reason never came to pass. Possibly the church authority did not feel the whole assembly desired such meetings and were afraid to permit a part of their assembly to have prayer meetings lest it would cause somewhat of a division in the assembly. cA-4

Some or many churches in their religious assemblies do not give time and opportunity for small parts of the assembly to pray together, but rather have the tradition that if any prayer is made the whole assembly must pray together with one individual leading the whole assembly in the prayer. This greatly reduces the flexibility in a service and reduces the personal touch particular concerned ones might have for a particular person or situation and greatly reduces the special prayers that can be offered at a meeting. Jesus said "...if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. {20} For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Mat 18:19-20). God hears personal prayers and hears prayers involving two or three. It does not take the whole gathering to create a valid prayer before God. cA-5

Christian gatherings should be arranged to provide both opportunity for concerned ones to pray with new converts, and for concerned ones to pray with Christians who might be encountering difficulties and desire special prayers for themselves. God's house is to be a house of prayer, not a house of politics, tradition, and visitation. cA-6

Christians in the early Church often gathered in houses and were not formal in their gatherings. They prayed fervently and God often showed Himself in wondrous ways. As in Acts chapter four, after the Church prayed the place was shaken wherein they dwelt and they all were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). May we experience such in our services! Although Jesus said "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; {18} They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18), yet many Christians would feel it strange for these kinds of things to happen in their Christian meetings. It rather appears many Christians feel very comfortable in having their meetings under their traditional control and without real fervency or special revelations and inspirations from God in their service. cA-7

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