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What would it feel like to walk into a church service in 150 A.D. the early Christian Justin Martyr tells us, and his description might feel both familiar and foreign to us today. The first thing Justin observes is that when Christians gather to one place, it's on the day called Sunday. Today we can forget what a huge change it was for Sunday worship to replace the Sabbath gathering with which had been observed on Saturday. This change shows how significant Christ's resurrection was for the early Christians, even rearranging their weekly rhythm. But the place that Christians gathered on Sundays wasn't a temple or a large building. At this time in history, worship happened largely in homes. Second century church was typically house church. For example, in the Martyrdom of Justin, he is recorded as noting that Christians don't all meet in the same place. And historians note that in Rome, where Justin lives, there may have already been around 20 meeting places by the end of the first century. This accords with the New Testament, which speaks regularly of house churches. Now, as you walk into this house church, what actually happens during the gathering? Justin describes five basic Scripture, sermon, prayer, Eucharist and giving. First, he writes, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. Then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. The memoirs of the apostles is very likely referring to the Gospels. This shows that prior to the finalization of the New Testament canon, the both Old Testament and New Testament are used side by side in worship. After the scripture reading, a homily or sermon is given by the president, a term referencing the leader of this church, what in other contexts would be called a bishop or sometimes an overseer or elder. The sermon is not just information but an exhortation to imitate Christ. People are being called out of themselves onto the sacred path of discipleship. This leads to a communal response from the people. Justin writes, then we all rise together and pray. Now, singing may have been included along with prayer at this point, since we know from other accounts at this time that Christian gathering also included singing. This leads to the climactic part of worship, the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist. Justin writes, when. When our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen. The phrase according to his ability suggests that the president's prayer is not a fixed script. Rather, he is extemporizing. Moreover, the people continue to participate during this prayer saying amen. After this, the bread and wine are distributed to those present and to those who are absent. A portion is sent by the deacons. This practice highlights a strong sense of communal belonging. And that belonging is expressed not merely through sharing the Eucharist, but through meeting other needs as well. Because Justin notes that those who are well to do provide for the needy, whether orphans and widows, the sick, prisoners or foreigners. So in the second century, caring for the vulnerable was a part of the worship gathering. Christian gatherings involved not just the vertical hearing from God and then responding to God, but also the horizontal serving each other. What I hope you feel is two features of Justin's account, belonging and sacredness. Just picture yourself in a dimly lit living room somewhere in Italy in 155 A.D. you're with a few dozen other Christians, maybe a merchant, an innkeeper, several slaves, several widows, perhaps some who have just left the synagogue and are paying a real price to simply attend. But in all this diversity, all are one in Christ. Everyone participates and everyone belongs because their identity in Christ is stronger than anything that separates them. The actual service is relatively simple, but everything that happens is sacred. God is present, speaking through His Word, bestowing grace through the bread and the wine. In the eyes of the world, nothing important is happening. But actually this is the in breaking of the kingdom of heaven on earth, a community is being shaped and a new reality is being unleashed that that will change history. This gathering is sacred to God. Friends Church today might look different from this in the external circumstances, but we worship the same Jesus. What if people today experienced Jesus so profoundly in our worship gatherings that they walked away knowing two things with this is sacred and I belong here.