Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 7/30/2006

Question
I am wondering when and why did Baptists start meeting two times on Sundays and during the week also?  Is is something that is Biblical or is it something that men decided we should do?  

Answer
Hi Emily,

Thanks for this great question.  There are several principles about meeting times that we can see in the Bible.

1.  After calvary, gentiles met on the first day of the week.

Acts 20:7
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 Corinthians 16:2
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  Some christians met every day.

Acts 2:46
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,  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

3.  Paul tells us that any day is good.

Romans 14:5-6
5 One man esteemeth one day above another:  another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

4.  Therefore...  it is Baptist tradition for us to meet 2x sunday and wednesday evening.  It is not a bad one...but it is one that could be changed without doing violation to the Word of God.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don