Although there is no direct New Testament command requiring Christians to attend formal Sabbath services in a church building, Jesus Christ and His apostles consistently observed the practice of gathering for worship and instruction on the Sabbath. Their custom was to enter the synagogue or Temple on that day, as shown in multiple accounts where Christ taught in Capernaum, Nazareth, and other locations, and where Paul regularly reasoned from the Scriptures in synagogues on successive Sabbaths. As the early church developed, its members found themselves unwelcome in those Jewish settings and therefore assembled instead in private homes, rented rooms, or outdoor sites for Sabbath worship and additional Bible studies. The author of Hebrews conveys God's explicit instruction that believers must not forsake assembling together, underscoring the necessity of regular fellowship for spiritual welfare. This requirement is reinforced by the command in Leviticus 23:3 that the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest and a holy convocation, meaning a sacred assembly for instruction and fellowship. Distances and responsibilities may limit such gatherings to the Sabbath itself, when work is forbidden, yet valid exemptions exist for severe chronic illness preventing travel or attendance, temporary contagious illness, and excessive distance from the nearest congregation. In all other circumstances the biblical pattern and direct statements establish that attendance at Sabbath worship services remains obligatory whenever physically possible.

The church is defined as an assembly of believers who have been called by God. The word church refers to a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation or assembly. This assembly is mentioned in both Old and New Testament examples where the children of Israel are described as the assembly of God. In the New Testament the term explodes after the giving of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost as God calls people into His church. Those who are called come together and assemble in doctrine and fellowship. The writer of Hebrews commands them not to forsake the assembling of themselves together but to exhort one another and so much more as the Day approaches. The church is therefore the called out assembly of God's people who are led by the example of Jesus Christ. They follow the teachings from God's Word and strive to overcome sin and this world as He prepares them for the positions and roles that await when Christ returns.

Christians are commanded to assemble together on a weekly basis as a support system where they receive and give encouragement, admonishment, and nurturing through interactions, conversations, and sermons. This assembly fulfills the expectation in Hebrews 10:23-25 to hold fast to hope while stirring up love and good works by exhorting one another, especially as the Day approaches. Those who prefer remaining separate miss the spirit present in the congregation, which God places individuals within according to His will so they may both minister and be ministered to. The practice connects directly to the broader call to develop the character of encouragement modeled by Barnabas, as the gathering provides the setting where believers strengthen one another, share God's comfort, and grow in humility and unity of purpose, ensuring the gift of encouragement is stewarded for the benefit of all.