VISION: As We Gather - Steve Parrish

As We Gather

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Psalm 122:1, ESV

Some have reduced the gathering of the church to be a spiritual duty, others an accessory to the Christian life, others an opportunity to refuel to survive another day, and others an option to be selected as need. But we see it as so, so, so much more. We believe that Heaven sees it much differently, and as we do also, our gatherings will take on greater impact in our lives and those who enter the room where we meet with Him!

God’s agenda has always been to meet with his people!!!

  • the garden - 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. Genesis 3:8, ESV

  • the Tent of Meeting - Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Exodus 33:7–11, ESV

  • the Tabernacle - Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:34–38, ESV

  • the Temple - And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. 1 Kings 8:10–11, ESV

  • our Temple, as we gather together with Him!

    • And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17, ESV

    • When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1–4, ESV

As We Gather TOGETHER WITH Him:

  • LIFE IS PRESENT

  • Salvation Comes

  • Miracles Happen

  • The Word Has Power

  • We Lean Into Mission

VisionSteve ParrishSteve ParrishComment