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What Does it Mean to Gather Around Jesus Christ?

This post is an attempt to explain the details of why and how to gather around Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ set up the church as he did for specific reasons. He never set up church for us to give sermons in perpetuity. And to listen to one another preach sermons week in week out, he never intended there be hierarchy. Or a clergy and laity with large idle audiences being led around like sheep. But that is exactly what we see today especially in the US, and that is what many of us were brought up in.

God is restoring his church and teaching us to gather around him once again. How we gather matters greatly to God and to us, whether we realize it or not.

The Holy Spirit specifically was sent for the purpose of growing the kingdom of God, and for helping us to live by God’s life. (read John 14:26)

When we gather as God intended like what we read about in the New Testament, many things we strive for and struggle to make happen as Christians, just happen naturally. Like the development of elders, pastors, teachers (Ephesians 4:11-15) and even evangelism (read 1 Cor 14:25-26).

I think there are five pillars to gathering around Jesus Christ. Many traditions have been added to Christian meetings through the centuries, most of these began in the third century AD in Rome. All of these traditions, how and why they started are wonderfully researched and detailed in the book Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna.

It is Gods purpose to plant churches, to plant the body of Christ wherever the people are willing, gatherings of people who gather around him. To make him head, gatherings which he himself can lead through the Holy Spirit, gatherings which have basis and a pattern seen in the New Testament. Not in tradition from Rome or Europe.

Five Pillars to Gathering Around Jesus Christ:

  1. Jesus Christ is the central focus of every gathering, the purpose for gathering is to make him Lord of the meeting. The meeting’s are for him, not for us. This is what “gather together in my name” means. We do not gather for ourselves, we do not gather to get our needs met, we gather to display him, to express him and to hear from him. We don’t gather to hear great eloquent sermons or masses from great men or women, we don’t gather around a church vision that we agree to. We don’t gather to sing worship songs, we don’t even gather to study bible topics. He personally is our Lord, we gather at his feet through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, just like the apostles did (Mark 2:2-3), and just like the early church did (Acts 2:46-47).Pastors, teachers, evangelists and all of the gifts mentioned in Corintians and Ephesians rise up naturally over time from among us when we gather around him. But these ministry gifts are intended to help us all to mature, elders will be established to provide guidance to the young ones and to new disciples, they are not authority figures to lead our meetings or our lives. New disciples are trained in functioning in the meetings, and in living by God’s life.
  2. Every Member Functioning: Jesus speaks directly through every member by the Holy Spirit. He does not speak through a gifted clergy, that is tradition. We do not need go-betweens. Every member should be gradually taught and expected to “function” in every meeting, expected to bring and contribute something spiritually to the other members (1Cor 14:26, 31, Eph 5:18b-21). No one person has authority over the others, hierarchy does not belong in the gatherings and in body of Jesus Christ (Matt 20:25-26). Decisions are made together, sharing is done together and openly.
  3. The gathering of believers is the house of God: The location and timing of the meetings is irrelevant, God does not dwell in houses made by man, he dwells in temples made with living stones (1 Peter 2), we are the living stones and he wants to build us together to make a house for him in every town and city on earth. We can have these meetings anywhere and at any time.
  4. Seek ye first the kingdom of God:  We seek Jesus Christ together in the meetings, and in our lives all week as we break, we learn to share our lives together and live by the life of Jesus Christ. That is the premise for this body and for our meetings, we seek him diligently then share him when we get together. We let him speak through us, all of our gifts are allowed to be expressed and displayed taking turns one by one.
  5. Iron Sharpens Iron: Friction between personalities and between members is normal and healthy and causes us to grow. That getting on one another’s nerves which we see happen any time people get close is God sharpening and polishing us. We should not flee that friction and stop meeting or see it as a sign of failure.  The temple stones in Solomon’s temple were individually sanded with friction and they were held together by friction alone, this is God’s intention for us, it helps us to surrender, to die to the old man and learn how to not get our way.

If you have been hurt at church or just realize it is not for you anymore, and gathering like this sounds like something you crave or need in your life, Christian or not, please contact Adam Collier by commenting below or through email collierak@me.com.

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Scripture References for above:

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Ephesians 4:11-15 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love we re to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ, …

1 Corinthians 14:24-25  But if all prophecy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account y all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,

Mark 2:2-3 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.

Acts 2:46-47 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Ephesians 5:18b-21 but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks….be subject to one another in the fear of Christ

1 Corinthians 14:26, 31 What is the outcome then, brenthren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.  …31 For you can all prophecy one by one, so that all may learn and

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How to Resist Temptation to Sin

Something occurred to me recently when studying the account of Jesus Christ in the garden of gethsemane. I can find no better display and teaching about resisting sin than this passage.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

He Found them Sleeping

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly [is] ready, but the flesh [is] weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

Mark 14:32-42

Jesus was entering into tremendous temptation to deviate from the path of his Father. Imagine if he had never even took his three friends and went into prayer. Imagine if he ignored the gravity of his situation and simply avoided the coming betrayal. How easy it would have been for him to simply disappear that night? Knowing full well what was coming, as is evidenced by his extreme heaviness and stress, in Luke 22:44 it says And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He could have slipped away and re-considered his plans. Delay the will of his father as long as he wanted. It was in fact within his freedom and power to delay and to avoid.

But, He was in prayer and he was seeking the will of father. He was not in avoid and delay mode at the time of his biggest temptation to sin. He was in prayer and he was actively seeking his father.

The best resistance to sin is the pursuit of God.

This is what we learn directly from Jesus. His victory over sin was not determination and will power. It was in seeking first the kingdom of God, in pursuing the will of the father. This is our only effective way to resist sin (Matt 6:33). Also notice how during the time of his biggest struggle with sin, Jesus taught his disciples how to resist sin and Satan. When he returned to find them sleeping.

“And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly [is] ready, but the flesh [is] weak.”

Watching and praying, was the way that Jesus kept to the will of the father, it was THE way he avoided sin. It was the way that he did not succomb to the weakness of the flesh.

While in pursuit of the will of the Father, the will of God is applied to the follower. This is the way to resist sin. This is the way to live a pure life, a life that is cleansed from all unrighteounsess. “How does a young man cleanse his way? by taking head to every word of God.” (Psalm 119:9)

When and if we struggle with sin what do we find ourselves doing? When we are walking into temptation, do we allow God to lead us into watching and praying? Or anything but? Do our feet quickly enter our temptations? Do we avoid the seeking of Jesus Christ? Do we ignore for a time the will of the father? Are we “falling asleep” like the disciples did that night?, when we should be watching and praying? And discerning what the will of the Lord is? I admit I certainly have.

Watch, Pray, Discern to Submit

Watch, pray, discern and take heed to every will of the father so that we can cooperate with it!

Seeking Jesus Christ is an assignment, it is a major occasion of the life, it is protection for our spiritual lives. It is not optional for the serious Jesus follower, it is something to do that should replace a huge number of things in our lives. It is the way to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Seeking Jesus Christ is THE WAY to say “no” to sin and “yes” to the will of God. When tempted dont try to exercise the will power, instead vigoursly seek Jesus Chirst in prayer and in pursuit of his will.

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All Christian Gospels Merge in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ

It is nice to think that “the gospel” is a fixed, well-defined message, which is easily summarized in 5 minutes or less. A message essentially about getting into heaven. If it could be that then those who preach it are free to dance around it and point people to it when they are ready. Like it is a final convincing sales call, or a tool with which to close sermons or homilies.

This is Not So At All !

This may even seem to be the case in the New Testament. But I think this is because the New Testament is mostly letters from apostles written to the people who had embraced their particular gospel. And these letters were apostles who were still discipling and helping particular groups of Christians.

At the time there were dozens of other gospels circulating about God. Just like today. However, the apostles from the New Testament had their’s given to them by Jesus Christ himself.

That gospel has since been scrambled today, and the versions of Christian gospels are many today, even in evangelical churches. Of varying accuracy and fidelity to that of the New Testament. But I believe that we are gradually finding our way back to that original story of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

The Christian Gospel is not fixed, even across “evangelical” churches.

When we hear the word the gospel, we should think of a preachers entire message, taken as a whole over time. Not just the theology of Salvation (Soteriology), the “ABCs”, or the “Romans road” to heaven.

In truth, a preahcers entire message is their gospel, spoken and unspoken. Also, any Christian who reaches out, his/her entire message is their gospel. Some gospels we here in churches today, I believe, compared to that of the apostles gospels are trash. Some are partially true, and some are great. We can measure them by the standard that is Jesus Christ himself. Without him, without truth itself, anything is valid, pick what you like to hear.

A gospel is not only communicated with what is taught or preach, but it is also how preachers behave in Christian meetings, and even in private. What happens in Christian gatherings meetings, who is allowed to dominate. Who is told to sit down, who is told to give, what words to repeat to their pew-neighbor. All of that comprises a Christian gospel, it is a message, sometimes spoken with words, sometimes spoken with acts, sometimes spoken by what is left out. About God and about Jesus Christ himself and about his kingdom.

And the particular gospel that we do embrace early on, often makes our Christian lives.

  • If its money centered, so will we be money-centered and will measure others, our own, and everyone’s spirituality by money issues.
  • If it is church-centered so will we be church centered judging others accordingly. With little depth beyond our church situation of the moment. Sometimes with our groups altogether backsliding as a team, drifting away from the Lord. Accepting whatever is taught without question, like loyal groupies.
  • If its legalistic, obesessed with sin, and in blocking sinners, so will we be legalistic, judging all the sinners and libertine Christians harshly.
  • If it is libertine and indifferent toward sin so will we be, judging all the legalist Christians harshly.
  • If it is making the world a better place for poor old God, then that’s our focus and often our obsession.

But if it can be Jesus Christ

BUT if it can be Jesus Christ, if we can handle him, if we can accept Him. If it is the story of Jesus Christ since before the foundation of the world. If it is the story of Jesus Christ starting a new humanity (his ecclesia) and his new creation. If it is the story of the kingdom of God.

Then our gospel is founded on a real spiritual rock. And we judge everything and every one by him alone, (not money, not church, not sin). And we become able to spiritually understand and handle anything that comes our way because he is the increasing and gradual summation and center of the entire universe.

And other Christians become precious sources of Him, they are not competition. They are not just someone to try to disciple and lead around. And extract a salary from. They are not someone to gather around ourselves and make a part of our church kingdom. What we think of other Christians is a good measure of the particular gospel that we have embraced.

The gospel of the kingdom begins before creation (Eph 1, John 17.) explaining WHY God created us and everything else.

It continues with the creation event (how we got here.)

The fall of man and the nefarious spiritual powers affecting us and the world system.

The selection of Abraham and his Hebrew descendants.

The coming of the messiah the perfect human, the new Adam intended to get humanity back on track to the original intent, the eternal purpose, his enduring resolve.

It includes the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ, killing off the old humanity from Adam & Eve and starting a fresh and new humanity.

And the new humanity the beginning of the new creation. The body of Jesus Christ sitting (for now) within the midst of the old creation which is in decline and is experiencing eviction from the earth.

This gospel story, thrills and excites me, it has changed my life and it continues to do so. I trust it will you as well.

A great book on teh gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ according to the Apostle Peter.

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