Image by
"Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Christian fellowship is meant to be face-to-face. Paul outlines that here and admonishes believers not to give up meeting together. No Christian can make it through life on their own. The church of Christ is not only Christ to the world, but we are Christ to each other. If we fail to meet, we fail to love one another as our Lord Jesus commanded. How can we love the brethren if we do not serve them? Pray for them? Weep with them? Rejoice with them? No believer can thrive in their faith apart from the church.
Christ Himself commanded us to go and make disciples and baptize them in His name. This cannot be done separated from the church body. Disciples are made by following the brethren, watching how they live, love, and pray. They learn the ways of Christ, who was Himself surrounded by a company of men. We who follow Jesus must also love the brethren.
