四：因為我們彼此交接而從中獲得鼓勵
獨木不成林。孤掌難鳴。單紗不成線。同樣的道理，一個基督徒單獨存在，很難變成成熟的基督徒，又很難保持他與耶穌基督的關係。身為基督徒的我需要跟別的基督徒交往而從中獲得信心和鼓勵。我需要見到基督徒的微笑，聽到他們的聲音，感覺到他們對我的關懷和愛心。星期天基督徒聚會，不只是為了敬拜天上的神而已。不是。基督徒聚會也是為了與其他的基督徒打成一片，彼此交接，互相關懷，而從中得到他獨自一個人無法得到的。
聖經舊約傳道書有一句話說：“兩個人總比一個人好，因為兩個人效益更好！ 如果其中一個人跌倒了，他們同伴可以扶他起來；如果孤身一人就糟了，他跌倒了，不會有人扶他起來。兩個人睡在一起都能暖和，一個人獨睡又怎麼能暖和？ 一個人可能受人欺壓，兩個人就能保衛自己，三股擰成的繩子不容易斷”（傳道書4:9-12新譯本）。
把這句話用在基督徒聚會上，意思是一個基督徒，不跟別的基督徒往來，他就會失去一種力量，叫做合力和協力(synergy)，是幾個人在一起才有的共同作用。是一個人沒有辦法產生的力量。這又是基督徒時常強調的靈性上的力量。這種力量會幫助他在耶穌裡面長大。如果基督徒不跟別的基督徒聚會，他就失去這些。
哥林多城的基督徒聚會，但是他們不團結，所以他們也得不着這種祝福。他們分派，分彼此，分階級。他們沒有愛心。他們的罪孽包括告弟兄狀，看不起貧窮姐妹，犯姦淫，參與偶像敬拜。所以，主日聚會對他們無益。難怪使徒保羅勸他們說：“弟兄們，我憑着我們主耶穌基督的名，勸你們大家要同心，在你們中間不要分黨，只要在同一的心思、同一的意念上團結起來”（哥林多前書1:10新譯本）。一個團結的教會才會讓個個基督徒從聚會當中得到鼓勵、勸勉和安慰。
基督徒不但要聚會與別的基督徒團結，他還要積極的與其他的弟兄姐妹交往，才會獲得聚會當中的屬靈力量。聚會時，要歡歡喜喜的唱詩歌，要迫迫切切的禱告，要積極的聆聽傳道人講道，要高高興興的奉獻金錢，要用心靈吃主餐，回想思考我們有沒有辜負耶穌在十字架上為我們所付的代價。
在周圍的基督徒跟您一樣積極的聚會做禮拜，讓那種屬靈的“合力”和“協力”產生，那麼，大家就彼此從中獲得造就和鼓勵。
同時，您知道聚完會以後，他們要跟您一樣面對生命上各種挑戰。他們跟您一樣有一本難念的經，受撒旦魔鬼的試探，面對工作上的苦處和社交方面的不公平。他們跟您一樣面對生老病死的問題。他們跟您一樣家庭有經濟問題，家人生病，孩子要參加聯考等等。但是您跟他一同向天上的真神表示讚美和感謝，向這位神禱告祈求幫助和安慰，而服侍這位神。因此，您和他都從敬拜聚會過程中獲得儀器無法測量的力量。
但願您也要參加每周主日的聚會。敬拜神，造就跟您一塊兒聚會的信徒，而自己從中也獲得信心、鼓勵、幫助、快樂、安慰和希望。
Why Christians Attend Worship Every Sunday
04: For Fellowship and Encouragement
By Edward Short
One tree doesn’t make a forest. It takes two hands to clap. A single thread does not a garment make. Similar logic suggests that it’s difficult for a Christian, who is all by himself, to be on fire for the Lord and to maintain a close relationship with Jesus Christ. I, as a Christian, need personal contact with other Christians and the encouragement that such contact gives. I need to see the smiles of other Christians and hear their voices; I need to feel their love and concern for me. When Christians assemble on Sundays, the purpose is not only to worship, but also to fellowship with other Christians, to merge themselves together as one, and to receive the encouragement from such fellowship that it would be very difficult for a single individual to get by himself.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament tells us that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (4:9-12, NRSV).
Let’s apply this Scripture to Christians and the worship assembly. If a Christian doesn’t have fellowship with other Christians, he looses a strength that we term “synergism.” Synergism is a kind of energy that comes when several people pool their strengths; the total is greater than the sum of what each individual brings to the situation. So it is with the “spiritual strength” of which Christians often speak—a strength which can help a Christian grow in Jesus Christ. If a Christian doesn’t assemble with other Christians he looses an opportunity for this type of spiritual growth.
The Christians in ancient Corinth assembled, but they weren’t united, so they were unable to obtain the spiritual blessing that they could have otherwise. They were factious, divisive and discriminatory. They lacked love. Their sins included taking other Christians to court, and looking down on the poor. Some committed adultery and some were idolatrous. Because of their divisive spirit and their other sins, the Lord’s Day assembly did them no good. No wonder that the apostle Paul admonished them, “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NRSV). A united church allows individual Christians to receive encouragement and comfort from the assembly.
A Christian not only assemblies to unite with other Christians, he also should be very positive in his relationships with the other Christians, since this is what produces spiritual growth. When he worships, he should sing joyfully, pray fervently, and listen to the sermon with a positive attitude. He should contribute his money cheerfully, and partake of the Lord’s Supper with a thankful heart. When one worships, he should think deeply about whether or not he has failed to live up to the sacrifice that Jesus made for him on the cross.
If the other Christians who are in the assembly also worship with this same positive attitude, then “synergy” develops, and each person receives encouragement and spiritual blessings from the experience.
Again, everyone knows that after the service is over, everyone present will go into society and face similar challenges of life. Like you, they too live in the state of Hard Knocks. They’re tempted by Satan, have problems at work, and face unfair practices in society. Like you, they too face illness, old age and death. They too have economic woes; too much month is left at the end of the money. Their children want to go to test into a good college, as do yours. In spite of all the problems of life, all present bow before God’s throne of grace in praise and thanksgiving. Everyone prays to God for help and comfort, and expresses their desire to serve him. A strange thing happens as consequence—you and everyone present receives spiritual strength from this worship experience—a strength that scientific instrumentation cannot measure.
I hope you’ll want to participate in worship each Lord’s Day. Worship God and encourage other believers who are present, and in the process you yourself will receive strength, encouragement, help, peace, comfort and hope.