The Assembly of Saints

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God as prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."  I Corinthians 16:2.  The first day of each week is the time of coming together to worship God.  At this gathering, we sing, pray, study, observe the Lord's Supper, and give.  The purpose for which Paul was gathering this money from various churches was to help the poor in Jerusalem because of the famine.  Acts 11:28-30.  The reason for our coming together is to edify one another.  Strength and courage are required for living the Christian life because of the adversary that we face.  This strength comes from one another who are engaged in the same struggles of life and who are seeking to serve the risen Savior.  This assembly also promotes the growth of faith.  Faith must be fed and nurtured.  The faith of others helps our own faith.  The knowledge gained from studying together builds faith.  At the assemble, we learn to love one another and feel compassion for one another.  All who are gathered together are of one mind in the Lord and we are gathered together in the presence of the God who loves us and the Savior who saves us.  There is no grander experience in life than the assembly of saints upon the first day of the week who are worshipping God and loving each other.