What is the meaning of the word church? The word church is ekklesia in Greek. Ek means “to come out,” while klesia means “to congregate or to gather.” Thus, ekklesia means the gathering of those who have been called out. God is not only after some called out ones; He wants the called out ones to gather together. If all the called out ones are separated from one another, we will not have the church; the church will not be produced. (p. 179)

After we have believed in the Lord there is a basic need we must take care of, that is, to come together with other children of God. We should never have the strange thought that we can be “self-taught” Christians. Christianity is not built on just individuals but also on the assembling together. (p. 179)

All the ministries ordained by God operate through the meeting and are for the meeting. If a person rarely meets with others, he will have little opportunity to realize the functioning of the body. (p. 180; 1 Corinthians 14)

Deuteronomy 32:30 says, “How shall one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, were it not that their Rock sold them, and Jehovah delivered them up?” According to man, if one can chase a thousand, two should be able to chase only two thousand. But God says two can chase ten thousand, which is eight thousand more. A person who does not know the Body and who does not care about meeting together will lose the eight thousand. Therefore, we need to learn to receive corporate grace. (p. 181; Deuteronomy 32:30)

The Lord's presence with an individual and His presence in the meeting are two different things. Some only know the Lord's presence as individuals. But this knowledge is insufficient. The more compelling and powerful presence is experienced only in the meeting; we cannot experience such a presence individually. (p. 182)

It is a spontaneous thing for God's children to function in mutuality when they come together. We do not know how this mutuality in the Body works in the meeting, but we know that this mutuality is a fact. When one stands up, others see the light. When another stands up, others feel the Lord's presence. One opens his mouth to pray and others touch God. Another speaks a few words and others feel the supply of life. (p. 182)

The first principle in the Bible concerning meetings is that all meetings are conducted in the Lord's name. Matthew 18:20 says, “Gathered into My name,” which can also be translated as, “Gathered under My name.” This means to be under the Lord's authority. The Lord is the center, and everyone is drawn to Him. We do not go to a meeting to visit certain saints, nor do we go because we are attracted by certain brothers or sisters. We go to the meeting to be gathered together with other saints under the Lord's name. (p. 182; Matthew 18:20)

The second principle of meeting is that its goal should be for the building up of others. In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul told us that the basic principle of meeting is to build up others, not ourselves. Everything in the meeting should be for the purpose of building up others, not ourselves. Hence, we must consider others when we meet. It is not how much we say, but whether or not what we say builds up others. Whether or not we can ask questions in the meeting, whether we preach or sing a hymn, is determined by the same principle. (p. 184; 1 Corinthians 14)