“And let us consider how to stir up one another to reverence and devotion, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but worshiping together, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25?)
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for worship.” (1 Cor 14:26?)
The passages above align closely with how most modern churches operate. So, they must be accurate quotes from the New Testament, right? Given their familiar tone and resemblance to contemporary practices, it’s easy to overlook that these verses have been intentionally misquoted.
New Testament descriptions of church gatherings
In examining the New Testament descriptions of church gatherings, one of the most striking observations is the absence of worship terminology. The New Testament does not say that the primary purpose of the assembly is to worship. In fact, the longest passage in the New Testament that discusses church assemblies emphasizes edification, or being built up. It repeats this seven times (1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12, 17, 26). According to the apostle Paul, everything done in the assembly is meant to promote edification. Edification is the primary purpose of the Christian gathering (v. 26).
Of course, this isn’t to say that the Bible forbids prayers, praise, and expressions of devotion to God in these gatherings. These activities should emerge naturally when believers assemble. However, the New Testament does not point to these as the main aim when believers assemble. Churches place a heavy emphasis on “worship” through music, prayer, and other activities. Regardless, this is not the New Testament’s emphasis.
Objections
For the remainder of this article, the word “worship” will be in quotes. As we’ve learned from our word studies, “worship” does not adequately express the biblical author’s intended ideas. So, when I use “worship,” I’m using it loosely to indicate vertical activities. That is, praise, prayers, and similar expressions of devotion to God.
Personally, I have only encountered two objections to the idea that “worship” is not the main purpose of Christian assemblies. There are no doubt others, but these are the only two I’ve been challenged with. Therefore, I want to address them while acknowledging that other arguments no doubt exist.
Isn’t the focus on being “built up” all about us!
First, someone might ask, “Isn’t it all about us then? Doesn’t this focus on edification put people first, and God second?” The answer to that is no. We are indeed putting God first when we gather according to His commands. When the New Testament speaks of the purpose of church gatherings, it prioritizes mutual edification as God’s will for His people. By coming together in ways that promote spiritual growth, we honor God, not by focusing solely on individual acts of “worship” but by adhering to His instructions for what the gathering should accomplish (Eph. 4:12-16; Heb. 10:24-25).
This focus on edification does not diminish God’s glory; instead, it magnifies it through the transformed lives of His people. When believers equip, encourage, and strengthen each other in their faith, they better reflect Christ in their daily lives and fulfill His mission in the world (Matt. 5:16). Far from being self-centered, being built up within the assembly aligns with God’s purpose for His church: to grow into maturity, unity, and love, all of which bring glory to Him (Eph. 4:15-16).
Doesn’t Acts 13:1-2 describe a church worship service?
A passage cited to support the idea of “worship” during gatherings is Acts 13:1-2. In this text, it appears that the prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch were “worshiping” as they fasted and prayed, preparing to send Barnabas and Saul on their mission. However, there are a couple of issues with this interpretation.
First, some versions translate the Greek word leitourgeo as “worshiping,” but is this translation accurate? If you compare translations (KJV, NKJV, ASV, NASB, HCSB, NET, etc.), most use “serving” or “ministering” instead. Leitourgeo specifically refers to priestly service, not “worship” in the way we commonly think of it today. What service were the five prophets and teachers mentioned in verse 1 performing? The text indicates they were fasting and praying as part of the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul to share the good news with the Gentiles. While we might assume they had gathered for “worship,” the text doesn’t explicitly say that.
Second, there’s an assumption that this was an assembly of the church at Antioch. However, verse 1 simply states that the church had prophets and teachers, naming five of them. It does not suggest that the church assembled for “worship” but rather emphasizes that these individuals engaged in a specific act of service.
Thus, while Acts 13:1-2 highlights an important moment of prayer and fasting, it does not provide evidence that this was a church assembly focused on “worship.” Instead, the passage underscores a specific act of service carried out by a group of leaders, not a model for gatherings of an entire congregation.
Built up or pumped up?
Church services tend to fall into one of two categories. Some are dull and unengaging, failing to edify the congregation, while others have become performance-driven stage shows aimed at entertaining. Ministers in the former group often claim that the assembly is solely about God, stating that if attendees don’t feel enriched, then the attendees have a spiritual problem. Meanwhile, churches in the latter group recognize the boredom and irrelevance that often accompany “worship focused” gatherings and try to compensate with flashy, production-style assemblies. While people might leave feeling “pumped up,” they are rarely “built up.”
Neither approach serves the true purpose of the church assembly. The former does little to inspire spiritual growth, and the latter risks turning the church into a spectacle rather than a place of genuine edification. Both extremes ultimately miss the mark, as neither fosters the type of growth that the New Testament envisions for church gatherings (1 Cor. 14:26).
A true understanding of church gatherings, according to the New Testament, leads us back to the core purpose of edification. When believers gather for the right reasons—focused on mutual encouragement and spiritual growth—they are fulfilling God’s intent for His people. Vertical activities are certainly not forbidden, but it is not the central purpose either. Instead, the New Testament teaches that the goal of believers in the church assembly is building up each other’s faith, which in turn brings glory to God (1 Cor. 12:12-14). When we spiritually nourish each other we fulfill God’s commands and purposes.
The New Testament’s vision for the assembly
In light of this discussion, it’s clear that the New Testament presents a different vision for church gatherings than what we often see today. By emphasizing mutual edification as the central purpose, Scripture calls us to rethink how we approach our assemblies. When we prioritize building one another up, we align with God’s will for His church. We create an environment where spiritual growth flourishes. This approach not only results in the body of Christ being built up but also brings glory to God as His people mature in faith and love.
For additional information, I highly recommend Dr. Tom Wadsworth’s videos on this topic.