The purpose of the church meeting is to maintain the culture and tradition of the community and to reinforce the social hierarchy and power structure of the religious institution. The only routine behaviors that are possibly biblical about it is the vague concept of teaching and the vague concept of gathering together. Otherwise most of the predictable ritual of the church service is human-engineered tradition regardless of how elaborate or simplistic it is.

There's no question that a lot of good things are fulfilled in "church services," odd as they may be with compared to any structure shown in the word.

You can see it as an agreed-upon time for worshiping the Lord with the gathering, and hopefully prayer, if nothing else. (meaning, even if there are radical disagreements within a congregation)

I think the purpose for religious liturgy is to make self feel good.

Keeping the institute and the Alpha Male affirmed and fed is the meaning of RELIGION.

The Christian system was established in the Wolderness: it was called the Qahal or synagogue.
It had only one function: to Rest (from religion) to Read the Word and to REHEARSE IT. The intentionw as that people assembled to learn whatever text it is that they believe teaches great values.

Jesus stood up in the synagogue to read a preselected portion and then decently sat down. That allowed discussion or even challenge.

That is how Paul defined the ekklesia / synagogue and it took almost 400 years for preachers and singers to gain a ROLE.

In the synagogue a school boy could read the text and the elder or overseer literally watched him that he did not add any material.  Under the Law of Moses and the national government it was important to learn how the civil law worked.  It was also to protect the weak from the rich.

If a church existed it would be known as a School of the Bible and worship would consist of reading musing the Word: that is how the Campbells defined the church as a way to enable community gatherings devoid of personal diversities which Paul condemned in Romans 15.

Whatever else a church does was always done in earlier society by guilds to primarily look out for the poor and as a mutual aid society.  Thomas Campbell called it a SOCIETY.  It is really hard to keep the SOCIETY separated from the BIBLE SCHOOL.  Paul warned about those in Corinth who jumped into the early churches and demanded pay for their rhetoric or sorcery. 

Paul used the "synagogue" word and it had no praise service or performing roles. His unique worship word meant to give heed or attention to "that which is written." If the church does not teach that which Christ taught it has no right to call itself "Christian."  It is just another religion which is a bad word.

How that question is answered will greatly depend on what is thought to be THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.  In my thinking the church is not so much the means of God doing His work in this world as what it is the fruit of God's work in persons and groups.


I find it significant that through Acts and the epistles there is never a mention of the purpose of Believers assembling to be for "worship".  Worship is fine and a normal part of the life of Faith, yet the account in Acts and the epistles never restricts worship to a particular place and time.  It's also apparent that the assembly of Believers was never said to be for "evangelism."
 
What I do see in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, especially from chapt. 12-14 is that, first of all, Christ is not like the dumb idols by which they used to be led astray, but rather Christ speaks to His people through the various spiritual gifts which He has given to His body for the common good.  (12:1-11) 
 
We all are the body of Christ, and each of us is a member of it with our own particular function--for the common good. (12:12-31) 
 
The operating dynamic of our spiritual functioning is Love.  (chapt. 13)
 
So, we are to eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy.  When we are gathered we are to bring some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction so that all may be edified.  Try to excel in gifts that build up the church.  "When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church."  (chapt. 14)
 
I see that the purpose of the assembly is for hearing from/of the Lord which is for the mutual edification and maturation of the body.  That is certainly one aspect of our "spiritual act of worship".   In this, the gathering of the saints is ALL about Him leading us.  The focus is off any one individual, except HIM.  "Mutual edification" means that all Believers are mutually responsible for speaking and presenting Christ to one another and to the world.  This is not the purview of "specialist".

The Lord's Supper in its simplicity possesses as much mystery as Christ Himself.  The Lord's Supper was central in the meetings.  In it, the Lord is re-membered ("re" - again; "membered" -- parts, thus, the individual "parts" [members of His Body] are brought together again.)
 
 
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example:

Ex 18:20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.



Ex 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?  speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

Ex 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

Ex 30:31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.


Lev 18:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.

Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

tHE LORD SAID TEACH ABOUT HIM AND HIS WAYS. The Lord tell those who sit in Moses seat to speak unto the people.

So does anyone have a response to this simple and yet terribly important question?