The Church Gathered

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

Relevant Scripture: Hebrews 10:19–25 (see also 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 1:3–5; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3; 5:8)

TFB is at a threshold. This year, Academy has been exploring who, what, and how God intends his church to be. This month we begin summarizing what we have discovered, beginning with a look at the church gathered.

As the gathered church, we encourage one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:25). We worship boldly as one, each free to enter God's presence quietly or loudly, peacefully or wildly. We encourage one another to do God's works. Within the context of relationship, we share our lives and our love for Jesus, pointing one another to him and reminding each other who we are in him. We share responsibility, recognizing that life in Jesus is the work of each and all. We meet and encourage one another even when doing so is hard and measure the quality of our gatherings by the love we have expressed for God and one another. We design worship services, business meetings, and small group gatherings that center on Jesus and provide ample opportunity to express love for one another.

The gathered church can have confidence in the blood of Jesus and absolute security in him, our great priest (Hebrews 10:19-21). We know that Jesus' death, resurrection, and glorification have made it possible for us to come boldly before God. We are free to give ourselves to God and one another. We can be ourselves and, when we mess up, we can trust the grace of Jesus and the graciousness of our brothers and sisters.

The gathered church practices bold worship, regular proclamation of the Gospel, and consistent opportunities for mutual discipleship (Hebrews 10:22-24). Bold worship proclaims God's worth and declares love for him as our most important activity. Gospel proclamation focuses our life together on Jesus, without fear or compromise. We commit to theological fidelity and cultural clarity without compromising either. Every meet-up is an opportunity to influence the spiritual development of our brothers and sisters.


Being a Christian is never a solo affair: our gatherings are crucial (Hebrews 10:25)! Whether gathered for worship, service, or learning, the church should always be about helping one another become more and more like Jesus. As siblings in Christ, let us focus on Jesus in personal and corporate worship. Let us commit ourselves to trust God and believe what he says. Let us participate in frequent mutual discipleship. Figuring out what this looks like for us is crucial during this time of transition.