The Church
Nehemiah 8:1-8;
Hebrews 12:18-29
But you have come...to the church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven."
(Hebrews 12:22-23)
What exactly is a church? We may associate the word "church" with buildings and steeples and stained glass. "That's my church," we say as we show our friends around our new neighborhood. But a closer study of the Scriptures will press us to reconsider what we mean by church.
The Greek word most commonly translated "church" in the NT is ekklesia, which means "gathering" or "assembly." In common, first-century use, it referred to a group of people called out from their everyday activities for a civic meeting or for soldiers in battle. So, first and foremost, the church is a gathering of people! This has profound implications for the way we view our lives as Christians. If the church is a gathering, then belonging to a church means much more than just having our name on a list. It means we will regularly be part of God's gathered people. We will make every effort to gather for worship (not Internet "church"). We will gather for fellowship and encouragement. And we will ultimately be gathered into one when Christ returns.
INSIGHT
Are you part of God's gathered people? Give thanks that God doesn't allow us to do life on our own.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Ezekiel 17-18
Psalm 139
Philippians 3-4
Nehemiah 8:1-8;
1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
Footnotes:
a. Nehemiah 8:8 Or God, translating it
Hebrews 12:18-29
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 You have not come to a physical mountain,[a] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."[b] 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."[c]
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."[d] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
b. Hebrews 12:20 Exod 19:13.
c. Hebrews 12:21 Deut 9:19.
d. Hebrews 12:26 Hag 2:6.
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