Why did the ekklesia gather? Most evangelicals, and indeed Christians of nearly all persuasions, traditionally answer that churches met for worship. Paul’s consistent answer was “to build each other up” (1 Cor 14:26; Eph 4:11-16; Col 3:15-16). The members met to use their personal endowments from the Spirit for the common good. They prayed, read Scripture, encouraged, sang, taught, and prophesised to one another as the Spirit enabled them. Paul never defined ekklesia in terms of a vertical relationship of worship. The meeting was for one another. The gathering was a conversation – a rich, diverse, extended conversation.

– Mark Strom, Reframing Paul