The Gathering – Part 1

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV): 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

Learning to Enjoy What God Has Provided 

• Numbers 11:1 (ESV): 1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes.
• Numbers 11:4–6 (ESV): 4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” 

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You 

• James 4:8 (ESV): 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

The Purpose and Definition of Gathering 

• The Gathering is what happens when we assemble to seek God together.  
• We assemble to have an encounter with God. 
• We assemble to see God. 
• Matthew 5:8 (ESV): 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

We Gathered from The Beginning 

• Genesis 3:8 (ESV): 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. . . . 
• Genesis 3:8 (ESV): 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  
• 1 Peter 2:5 (ESV): 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 
• Matthew 18:20 (ESV): 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
• Genesis 2:10–14 (ESV): 10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
• Genesis 3:11 (ESV): 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? . . .
• Genesis 2:25 (ESV): 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. 

How Do We Glorify God?