The New Testament forbids the forsaking of “the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). The early church in Corinth, though in error on many points, still knew enough of God’s will to come together each week for worship services. Paul reports they “come together” for the purpose of worship (1 Corinthians 11:18). This same apostle tarried seven days in Troas, until the Lord’s Day when he met with the saints of that city in worship (Acts 20:7).
These regular first-day-of-the-week services were important to the early disciples. In their worship, in accordance with heaven’s authority, the first century saints prayed (Acts 2:42; 6:4-6; 13:3), shared in the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29), gave freely of their means as they had been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 9:6,7), were instructed in the Lord’s will (Acts 2:43; Acts 20:7), and sang (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12). These expressions of Christian worship were not optional, neither were they left open to substitution or alteration; they were divinely approved and authorized.
Moreover, early writers and historians of the first few centuries A.D. serve to corroborate the inspired record of early Christian worship. Pliny the Younger, the proconsul of Bithynia and Pontus during the latter part of the first century, wrote a revealing letter concerning the Christians and their worship and sent it to Emperor Trajan. A portion of the letter reads, “They were in the habit of meeting on a fixed day . . . when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ as to a god.” Justin Martyr, in his First Apology written near the beginning of the second century wrote, “On Sunday a meeting is held of all who live in the cities and villages: they rise together and send up prayers.” He continued by describing their observance of the Lord’s Supper, accompanied by prayers.
Our worship services each first day of the week are not the result of human design; they are not the product of mere modern tradition. Our assembling together may be traced back to the authority of Christ and to the time of the apostles and early disciples.