March 12, 2017 WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED...
WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME...
Matthew 18:20
Some call this the simplest form of a local church, but we certainly agree that it is God's will that there be more than 2 or 3!
This morning I want to speak regarding "GATHERING TOGETHER." Most cowboy churches refer to a meeting as a GATHERING, which is certainly correct as evidenced by this verse, uttered by the Lord Himself. Having 2 or 3 is a good way to get things going to build a church. (remember the church is it's people not a building, the building is just a place too assemble) We certainly thank the ALMIGHTY for blessing us with a building and 4 acre "ranchette" that we can call our church home, but the building and all that goes with it is just that. If there were no people, there would be no church. No soul has ever been saved by a building, no matter how many stained glass windows, padded pews, great architecture, or any thing else ONLY JESUS SAVES! Down in South America we support a mission out in the jungles. The outreach is out in the jungles. Jungles everywhere, poor people, everywhere, never seen stained glass, never sat in an air conditioned building, they meet in several places which is mostly open air, sit on split tree trunks for pews. But where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst and so it is down in the jungles, someone's house in China, and in the Muslim countries. Notice that the Scripture did not say, WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN A BUILDING???? I might add that hundreds have been saved down in the jungles, Praise be to the Lord!
Once monthly, for years we have had church at a local nursing home in Warrenton, Virginia. We call it BROOKSIDE COWBOY CHURCH, (Was OAK SPRINGS) and we meet in the dining area. Over the short number of years we've sang and preached there, many have trusted Christ as Saviour, hundreds as a matter of fact, in their latter years. Where 2 or 3 are gathered...
In my Grandpa's days, he was a preacher man of some repute. He had a hand in a number of churches in and around Hart County, Georgia and Anderson County, SC. He wrote about "BRUSH ARBOR CHURCHES" which is nothing more that a covered by brush gathering place. Someone would donate a piece of ground, the folks in the community went in cleaned the place up, vines, limbs, saplings, and made an arbor. (Most know about a grape arbor,same principle) Split tree trunks to make a place to sit, left a stump for the pulpit and the people CAME, some walked, some in buggies, some in wagons loaded with the young'uns, but they CAME. Where 2 or 3 are gathered together... Most of those BRUSH ARBOR CHURCHES are now buildings and all the modern conveniences, as is this cowboy church. We are so spoiled these days!
Many of the Brethern, speaking of cowboy churches, down in NC, out in the Western USA, meet in barns, many are getting saved, many who have given up on the establishment church. Some of the best preaching this pastor has ever heard was while visiting a cowboy church. Where 2 o 3 are gathered together...
Our Lord is still in the SALVATION BUSINESS, and He is with us when we gather in His name, no matter where.
NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE ENTIRE SERMON, JUST A PREVIEW, THANKS FOR LOOKING! jmb
