Sadly, we western Christians have inherited a corrupted and deformed form of church that’s predominantly practiced now. Going to church usually consists of entering a building, engaging in short casual conversations, and passively observing a “service” that’s conducted by an elite few. If that’s the case for you, I heartily pity you, and hope that you’ll search the Scriptures, your church, and maybe this webisite, so you can come to the conviction that a truly biblical church is one in which all are encouraged to actively contribute some service to the body.

Nevertheless, even in slightly more biblical churches, we can often get into a ritualistic routine where what matters is not the growth of our brethren in Christ, but the corporate activities we participate in. So this is my encourgement to you, brother or sister, that you make this last Sunday of 2025 the best church Sunday of the year, and of your life.

With that end in view, let me just remind you of the purposes and responsibilities that the Lord has given to His saints in their weekly gatherings:

1) The breaking of bread and the Lord’s Supper.

According to Acts 20:7, the New Testament Christians gathered “on the first day of the week . . . to break bread” (NASB). The fact that this refers to the Lord’s Supper is confirmed by Paul’s description of the Corinthians’ meetings on “the first day of week” when they “come together as a church” “to eat the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11 NASB). Further, Luke records in Acts 2:42 that the first Christians in Jerusalem “continually devoted themselves to the . . . breaking of bread”. So, one of the main activities that our first Christian forefathers met together for was the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. And this supper was enjoyed in the context of a meal.

The question is, are you eager to enjoy a meal with your brethren like family, and to remember the Lord’s death together in the breaking of bread, and the drinking of the cup?

2. Devotion to one another in brotherly love

Obviously, the motivation behind our meeting together ought to be genuine and fervent brotherly, or familial, love. We ought to feel the same love for our brethren that we’d have for dear natural relations. The church assemby (redundant, since “church” means assembly) that embraces us as a believer in our God and Savior Jesus Christ ought to be to us as a beloved family to whom we’re devoted at whatever cost.

But what this means is that you earnestly want to promote the spiritual and eternal welfare and good of your brothers and sisters. And this means that you’re actively looking for opportunities to meet their needs, and encourage them in their service of the Lord. Are you eager and ready to do this? This is why we’re the household of God.

3. The building up of the body of Christ

The third purpose for our weekly gatherings logically follows from our brotherly devotion. If we’re truly pursuing the best eternal interests of ou brethren, then we’re going to be aiming at their “building up,” or growth in Christlikeness. Each member of Christ’s body has been uniquely and supernaturally gifted with some set of abilities that allows them to serve the needs of the family of God. Do you know what you’re good at for serving the brethren, and are you prepared and preparing to use your gifts to encourage the faith, love, and hope of the brethren in your congregation?

4. Praying to and praising God

Acts 2:42 also states that the first members of Christ’s body were devoting themselves to “the prayers”. In their early stage, this consisted of following the Jewish custom of going to the temple three times a day to pray to God, but the principle still applies. In the Bible, “praying” doesn’t just mean requesting things from God, but generally talking to Him with praises, thanks, honors, as well as petitions. Thus, devoting ourselves to the prayers includes our devotion to praising God in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16).

In fact, one of the results of letting Christ’s teaching “dwell richly within” us is that we’ll participate in the singing of songs of praise, thanksgiving, and adoration to our wonderful God. In addition, our devotion to praying to God includes our privilege and duty to pray on behalf of our brethren, so that the Lord will more quickly meet their needs, and He’ll receive more thanksgiving for His answer.

So, are you eager and ready to pray with and for your brethren, and to join your voice with theirs in joyful songs of praise? This is one of the essential privileges of the saints gathered.

5. Learning from the Scriptures to obey the Lord

Finally, one of the most obvious responsibilities of the weekly gathering of the saints is to read, teach, and study the holy Scriptures to learn how to become better imitators of Jesus, and representatives of God on earth. So, is your church devoted to the deep, concentrated, and systematic group reading and study of the Scriptures by the guidance of gifted Bible readers and teachers? Are you eager and ready to learn what God has done and said in the events and writings of the Scriptures? Are you ready to work together with your brethren to understand and apply them to your everyday lives and individual circumstances?

And finally, are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary to either learn to live from the excellencies and goodness of your brethren, or to pour your wisdom and life into the heart of a less mature Christian? This is called discipleship, and its the main way that we grow in Christlikeness, as we learn from our brethren how to imitate Christ as we imitate them. Make this last Sunday, whether it be your last on earth or no, the best Resurrection Day for your church fellowship ever. The weekly gathering is the most heavenly activity we’ll do on this earth, and will have the most effect on the rest of your week, as well as the rest of the weeks of those you influence. So seek the highest good of the body, for your greatest joy and fulfillment, for the highest and most glory to our heavenly Father and Lord Jesus.