The gathering is central to the church’s calling & witness in the world. It is not optional or peripheral. It is the place where the people of God are formed as the family of God & filled w His Spirit so that we can be sent back into the world to reflect God’s love & wisdom.

For all who wonder why the emphasis on preaching, teaching, the Lord’s Table, etc as opposed to neighborhood walks, service projects, justice marches etc...All those are good and right, but reflect on Paul’s ecclesiology and how he says the church is renewed by the Spirit:

I think a case can be made that the practices of renewing the Spirit’s presence as the church are:
1. Preaching (“speak to each other...”)
2. Music/Singing
3. Eucharist (Greek “eucharisteo” for “giving thanks”)
4. Fellowship (“submit to one another”)