Bible Verses About Church Buildings And Worship

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,

shows temple attendance and house breaking of bread

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

apostolic fellowship, breaking bread, prayers

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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

Paul gathers and breaks bread with disciples

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Shows Jesus breaking bread in a gathered setting

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Shows recognition in breaking bread

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

commands assembling together

What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Old covenant sanctuary background rather than direct Christian practice

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

gives the NT basis for church as house of God

And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

NT image of believers as living stones

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

Temple scene background, not direct early Christian teaching

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

NT line about the whole building growing into a holy temple

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

teaching and preaching in temple and every house

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

house next to synagogue, showing house setting

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Temple worship language, useful background but not decisive for Christian buildings

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

NT line about God dwelling in believers

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

NT line about the temple of God being believers

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.