Sermon by Ps Daniel Khong at the Faith Community Baptist on 12 Jul 2025.
Background:
Why do people gather, whether in church, in conferences, in festivals or other large gathering. While there are commands in Scripture is that we should not stop gathering together, it is not a clear command to do so. However, God did mentioned that we should treat the festivals as sacred.
Question: what is the significance of God's people to congregate?
1. It is a call to gather in unity
It is a reminder that the church of Jesus Christ is not just 1 church but that we belong to something far great. How good and pleasant it is for God's people to live together in unity (Ps 133:1)
2. It's a challenge to disruption our routines
The idea of sacrifice is a evident in all the Jewish festivals. God is insistent on getting his people to gather. Joseph and Mary attend the Passover regularly from Nazareth to Jerusalem (a distance of about 135km on foot) to offer the sacrifice. The greatest disruptor is none other than Jesus - when he called his disciples, when he ask his people to carry their cross and to the rich young ruler to sell everything, give to the poor and follow Him.
3. It's an invitation to encounter God collectively
When Jerusalem was chosen to be the location of the temple, this was where God wanted his presence to be manifested. There is a distinction between omnipresent and manifestation. When people gather together to seek God as a congregation, the spiritual climate changed drastically - there is great anointing right there.
We can encounter God individually, in our own time and by ourselves. But we need to answer the core principles of our faith that attending conferences is something important for our faith, and that we will not miss God's favor in action.