Is it scriptural for the Church to have them? Fellowship Halls Is it scriptural for the Church to have them?

Fellowship Halls When you look around the religious world you may notice that our congregation is different than many of the “churches” in our community. We don’t have a kitchen or what is often called a Fellowship Hall. I want us to spend a few moments looking at why we don’t have these facilities. Do we have a scriptural reason for not having them or is it simply our preference?

Fellowship Halls First I want us to understand what our reasons for not having these facilities are not. It is not because we don’t like a good meal and having a good time. It is not because we can’t afford to build a kitchen or a fellowship hall. It is not because we just want to be different. It is not because we don’t believe you can eat or drink in the church building.

Fellowship Halls Our issue is instead with whether or not the church should be involved in the work of providing social activities and entertainment for its members and guests. The New Testament is very plain when it comes to respecting the authority of the scriptures. The Apostle John tells us not to add to or take away from God’s Word.

Fellowship Halls Re 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Fellowship Halls Paul tells us to do all things in the name of (by the authority) Christ. Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. John also tells us we must abide in the doctrine of Christ. 2Jo 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

Fellowship Halls Paul also tells Timothy every good work we can do is taught for us to do in the scriptures. 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If the scriptures equip us for every good work then what kind of works are not contained in the scriptures? Evil!

Fellowship Halls Since the New Testament teaches We are to stick strictly to the Word of God Not add anything to it All good things we are to do are found in it Then we need to ask ourselves is the authority for the Church to build and maintain kitchens and fellowship halls found in the New Testament? If it is then we have a responsibility to build them and put them to use immediately.

Fellowship Halls On the other hand if the authority is not found then we need to reject these facilities as a sinful practice and a misuse of the Lord’s money. Now lets take a look at the things we see the local congregation doing in the Scriptures The local congregation assembled on the 1st day of the week. Ac 20:7 ¶ Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Fellowship Halls Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. They partook of the Lord’s Supper Ac 20:7 ¶ Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…

Fellowship Halls 1Co 11:23 ¶ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Fellowship Halls The local congregation also sang Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, The local congregation also gave on the 1st day of the week 1Co 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Fellowship Halls The local congregation also prayed together Ac 2:42 ¶ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Preaching the Word of God (edification) was also a part of the work of the local congregation. Ac 20:7 ¶ Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Fellowship Halls Ac 20:8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. The KJV says Paul was “long preaching” Not only did the local congregation preach to edify it’s own it also took the Gospel to the lost.

Fellowship Halls Paul commended the Church at Thessalonica for its effectiveness in spreading the Gospel to the world. 1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. We also see where the local congregation was engaged in helping needy saints

Fellowship Halls Ro 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. I can’t think of anything other work the New Testament teaches for the local congregation to be involved in. No where in the work of the Church do we see it providing social activities or entertainment for anyone.

Fellowship Halls The purpose of fellowship halls is for people to get together and socialize while eating. Christians in the New Testament did get together and eat common meals but where this was done is pretty specific. Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, These common meals were eaten in their homes not at church!

Fellowship Halls Paul addresses this same issue with the Church at Corinth. Some had turned the eating of the Lord’s Supper into drunken feast while others in the congregation were going hungry. 1Co 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. They claimed it was for the Lord’s Supper but Paul says what they were doing didn’t even resemble the Lord’s Supper.

Fellowship Halls 1Co 11:21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. Paul tells them they have houses to eat common meals in. This was not to be done at Church.

Fellowship Halls Over the next several verses Paul instructs these Christians in the proper way to partake of the Lord’s Supper. This was to be eaten at Church as a group Listen to his final statement on this matter. 1Co 11:34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. If we want a meal to satisfy our hunger then we need to eat that somewhere besides Church!

Fellowship Halls In light of all we have studied, how does the building and maintaining of kitchens and fellowship halls fit into the work of the Church? Are they necessary in order to carry out any of the work the Church did in the New Testament? Do we read about any examples of New Testament Churches having them? Is the Church commanded to have them?

Fellowship Halls Is there any reference at all to any New Testament Church having kitchens or fellowship halls? The answer is simply, No Since they are not found in the scriptures then wouldn’t they be an addition to the Word of God? Wouldn’t that be a violation of Revelation 22:18 where we are told not to add to God’s Word? Yes, it would.

Fellowship Halls Since they are not found in the doctrine of Christ, wouldn’t that mean those who build these facilities are not remaining in the doctrine of Christ? Wouldn’t that be a violation of 2 John 1:9 where we are told to abide (stay) in the doctrine of Christ? Yes, it would. Since they are not found in God’s Word wouldn’t that mean we cannot do them in the name of Christ (by His authority)?

Fellowship Halls Wouldn’t that be a clear violation of Colossians 3:17 where we are told that everything we say and do must be by the authority of Christ (in His name)? Yes, It would. Why then do we not have a kitchen or fellowship hall here at this congregation? It is because we are striving to: Not to add to or take away from God’s Word Abide in the doctrine of Christ Do only those things Christ has authorized for us to do