Assembly Required: Embracing Community in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Forsake Not the Assembly—The Necessity of Gathering Together

God calls His people not to neglect assembling together, for it is in the gathering of believers that spiritual growth, encouragement, and accountability take place. Just as a product out of the box requires assembly to function as intended, so too do believers need the community of faith to be built up and made whole. Coming together is not just a ritual, but a vital part of God’s design for His church, where each person is shaped and strengthened for His purpose. [01:42]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: When was the last time you truly invested yourself in the gathering of believers, not just by showing up, but by seeking to encourage and build up someone else in the assembly?

Day 2: In the House or Of the House—Belonging Versus Attending

There is a difference between simply being present in the church and truly belonging to it; God desires that His people not only be in the house but of the house, connected, related, and invested in the life of the body. Being “of” the church means you are recognized as part of the family, contributing and sharing in its mission, rather than just occupying a seat. This belonging is marked by visible evidence of Christ in your life and a deep connection to the people and purpose of God’s kingdom. [04:41]

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

Reflection: In what ways can you move from simply attending church to truly belonging and being recognized as part of the body of Christ?

Day 3: The Resident Homeless—Contributing Versus Consuming

Some people dwell in the house of God but contribute nothing to its life, expecting the benefits of community without any investment; God calls His people to be contributors, not just consumers. Just as a roommate who never pays bills or helps out is a burden, so too is a believer who only takes from the church without giving back. True membership in God’s house means serving, giving, and participating in the work and well-being of the community, not just receiving its blessings. [07:00]

1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (ESV)
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can contribute to the life of your church this week, rather than just receiving from it?

Day 4: Gratitude as Motivation—Serving Because God Has Been Good

The motivation for gathering and serving in the church should not be obligation or self-importance, but gratitude for all that God has done—His salvation, deliverance, and healing. When believers come together with thankful hearts, their service and worship become acts of love and appreciation, not attempts to earn favor or recognition. Let your presence and participation in the church be a response to God’s goodness, not a favor you think you are doing for Him. [05:36]

Psalm 100:2-4 (ESV)
"Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"

Reflection: How can you intentionally express your gratitude to God through your service and attitude in the church this week?

Day 5: Invested and Faithful—Getting With God’s Program

God calls His people to move beyond passive attendance and to become invested, faithful participants in the life and mission of the church; if something is lacking or confusing, He invites you to stay, ask questions, and help make it better. Rather than criticizing from the sidelines or remaining uninvolved, step in, commit, and be part of the solution, trusting that God will use your faithfulness to build up His house. [09:37]

James 1:22 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: What is one area in your church where you have noticed a need or gap—how can you take a step this week to get involved and help address it?

Sermon Summary

So often, we approach our spiritual lives thinking we are already “put together,” but the truth is, each of us is still in need of assembly. Just like a product that comes with a label reading “some assembly required,” our walk with God is a continual process of being shaped, refined, and connected. When we gather together, it’s not because we have arrived, but because we recognize our need for God and for one another. The call to “forsake not the assembly” is not just about showing up; it’s about coming with a heart ready to be assembled, to be worked on, and to grow in community.

There’s a temptation to believe that we can do faith on our own, that we don’t need the church or the people in it. But God’s design is for us to be part of His body, not just as individuals, but as a collective, a church that He will one day present without spot or wrinkle. The difference between being “in” the house and being “of” the house is crucial. Being “in” means being present, surrounded by others, but being “of” means belonging, being connected, and contributing to the life of the body. God calls us not just to attend, but to belong, to relate, and to invest ourselves in His kingdom.

There are those who are “resident homeless”—present in the house but not truly part of it. Like a roommate who lives in a home but contributes nothing, some come to church expecting to receive without ever giving back. They want the benefits of community without the responsibility of participation. But God desires more for us. He wants us to move from being passive recipients to active participants, from being consumers to contributors. This means investing our time, our gifts, and our hearts into the life of the church, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for all God has done for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual growth is a process of continual assembly. None of us are fully put together; we all have areas that need work, healing, and connection. Coming together as a church is an act of humility, acknowledging our need for God and for each other in the journey of faith. [01:42]
2. There is a profound difference between being “in” the house and being “of” the house. Being “in” is about proximity, but being “of” is about belonging, connection, and identity. God calls us to move beyond mere attendance and to embrace a deep sense of belonging and responsibility within His family. [04:41]
3. Treating God and His church as if we are doing Him a favor by showing up reveals a misunderstanding of grace. Our presence is not a gift to God, but a response to His goodness and mercy toward us. True worship flows from gratitude, not obligation or entitlement. [05:36]
4. The “resident homeless” mindset is spiritually dangerous. It is possible to be present in the community of faith but contribute nothing, expecting to receive without giving. God calls us to examine our hearts and move from passive consumption to active participation in the life of the church. [07:00]
5. Investing in the church means more than just showing up; it means serving, giving, and being faithful even when things are not perfect. If we see something lacking, God invites us to help fix it, to ask questions, and to stay committed. Our investment is a reflection of our love for God and His people. [09:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - The Need for Assembly
[01:42] - “Some Assembly Required” in Our Spiritual Lives
[02:31] - Resident Homeless: In the House but Not of the House
[03:21] - The Difference Between “In” and “Of”
[04:41] - Belonging to the Body of Christ
[05:36] - Misunderstanding Our Role in God’s House
[07:00] - The Resident Homeless Mindset
[08:07] - Contributing to the House of God
[09:37] - Moving from Passive to Active Participation
[10:10] - Investing in the Kingdom
[10:45] - Faithfulness and Commitment
[11:20] - Closing Reflections

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) — > And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) — > Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 10:24-25, what are believers encouraged to do when they gather together?
In Ephesians 5:25-27, what is Christ’s goal for the church, and how does He accomplish it?
The sermon describes the difference between being “in” the house and being “of” the house. What does each term mean, according to the pastor? [03:21]
What are some characteristics of a “resident homeless” Christian as described in the sermon? [07:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the author of Hebrews warns against neglecting to meet together? What might be the consequences for individuals and the church if this is ignored?
The sermon says that spiritual growth is a process of “assembly.” What does it mean for someone to come to church with the attitude that “some assembly is required”? [01:42]
The pastor talks about the difference between being present in church and truly belonging. Why is it important to move from just attending to actually being connected and contributing? [04:41]
How does treating church attendance as “doing God a favor” reveal a misunderstanding of grace, according to the sermon? [05:36]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine whether we are just “in” the house or truly “of” the house. In your own church life, do you see yourself as more of a participant or a bystander? What is one step you could take to move toward deeper belonging? [04:41]
The idea of “resident homeless” Christians is described as being present but not contributing. Are there areas in your church where you have been more of a consumer than a contributor? What is one way you could start giving back? [07:00]
The pastor says that coming together is an act of humility, admitting we all need work and connection. Is there a part of your life where you have resisted being “assembled” or shaped by God and others? What would it look like to open up in that area? [01:42]
When you see something lacking or imperfect in your church, do you tend to criticize, withdraw, or get involved? How could you respond differently next time you notice a need? [09:37]
The sermon warns against treating church as a place where we expect to receive without giving. What motivates you to serve or give in your church? How can you shift your motivation from obligation to gratitude? [05:36]
Think about a time when you felt disconnected from church. What helped you reconnect, or what could have helped? How can you help others move from being “resident homeless” to truly belonging?
The pastor encourages faithfulness and commitment, even when things aren’t perfect. What is one commitment you can make this month to invest in your church community, even if it feels inconvenient or challenging? [09:37]

Sermon Clips

Forsake not the assembly. And the word assembly struck me because we all find ourselves in the need of needing to be assembled. Have you ever bought something from the store and you thought that when you bought it and you took it out of the box, it was already put together? Only to your dismay that when you took it out of the box, there was a label that says some assembly required. You thought I paid my money. I went to the store. I even brought it to my house. And now I've taken it out of the box and there's still more work for me to do.

But God says even in our spiritual life, there is still some assembly required. I don't know about you, but when I come into this place, I'm not put together just yet. There's still things that need to be worked on. There's still things that need to be put together. And so God said we need to come here with an attitude that there's some assembly required. [00:01:09]

Too many of us think that we don't need to be assembled anymore. We feel like we've got it all together. I don't need those hypocritical church folk to come together in order to be a worshiper with the Lord. But my text tells me that God says I'm coming back for my church. So that I can present the church without a spot nor a wrinkle. [00:01:36]

And I don't know about you but I can't do it without the church. Because the church is what God is going to come back when he comes back to redeem his people. And for those who say, I can just come every now and then, God is saying, stop being a homeless Christian. [00:02:10]

There are some Christians who are in the house, but not of the house. There are some who are in the place. But not of the place. Now watch this. I'm not good on a whole lot of grammar. I'm a math boy. I like a lot of analytical stuff. But I had to look up these words in and of. And both of them are prepositions. [00:03:12]

So can I tell you, God is saying we're not just to be in the house where others are surrounding us, but we need to be of the house that we belong and related and connected with something else. Come on here, somebody will understand that because God saved you and me, that now we are of the kingdom of God. [00:04:16]

I don't want to just be in church. But I want to be of the church. I don't want to just come and folks see my face every now and then. But I want folks to come and say that they are of the body of Christ. I see Christ in him. I see Christ in her. I know that they belong to something. [00:04:41]

The problem with resident homeless Christians is that they treat God as if God owes them something. They treat God as though by coming to church, you're doing God a favor. Coming to worship, you're doing God a favor by saying, Lord, look what I've done. My presence is in your house. [00:05:06]

And I've said it before, that church is not like the school system. They want you to come because their dollars are tied to the number of students that are sitting in the chair. But the church said there should be some believers, some folk who don't have to be fined in order to come to church. But they come to church with a mindset of saying that I'm coming because God has been good to me. [00:05:36]

He saved my life. He delivered me from something. He healed my body. And now I want to go and tell God. Thank you. [00:06:08]

A resident homeless is the type, you ever had somebody that lives with you, but they don't pay no bills? Let's look at the characteristic of a resident homeless. One, they dwell in the house, but they contribute nothing to the house. That's the worst type of roommate you can have. Somebody that comes and takes but never gives anything in return. [00:06:26]

They mess up your kitchen and don't want to clean it up. They think you're there to be their maid. And they come in and they mess up your way of living. but they're not being a benefit to the total household and then a resident homeless will try to tell you what to do in your own house. [00:07:10]

Sometimes you just want to bring a hand you say I'm paying the rent I'm paying the light bills when you're laying up sleep under my air conditioning all day while I'm at work, come in, mess up the kitchen, and I got to come clean it in order to cook me something to eat. Then you got the audacity to cook your own meal, but you don't think enough to make nothing for somebody else. [00:07:45]

But the funny thing is, this is how we are with God. God does everything for us, and we come into the house of God, and we contribute nothing to the house. Time is out for the people of God, coming into the house of God, sitting on the floor lazy, and not contributing to the house. [00:08:34]

A resident homeless is one who will come to the church needing benevolence, but has never given in to. You ain't never showed up for nothing, but let a loved one die. You want the pastor, the choir, the deacons. The ushers and everybody to show up on your. [00:09:15]

And then a resident Christian, homeless Christian got the nerve. They ain't joined the church. But coming and trying to tell the church what to do. [00:09:56]

Can I tell you, God says, time is out for the resident homeless Christian. He said, if you're going to get with the program, get yourself invested into the kingdom of God. If you don't like it, get in it and help fix it. If you don't understand it, ask questions. If you don't know what's going on, stay here a little longer and be faithful in order to know how God wants his business to be done. [00:10:08]

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