Someone inquires, “Where is the authority for the church coming together for Bible study on Wednesday night?” First, “Wednesday night” is not the real issue underlying the question, because some congregations opt to have Bible classes for the local church on another day of the week, such as on Thursday. In addition, by whatever authority a church comes together for Bible classes on Sunday is materially the same as for the congregation having Bible classes on a weeknight. Therefore, the heart of the question is, “Where is the authority for the church coming together for Bible classes?” If by chance, Bible classes are not what are meant by reference to “meeting on Wednesday night,” then the crux of the inquiry pertains to a congregation coming together on another day besides Sunday, irrespective of the time of day (or night).
When is it wrong to study the Bible? When is it wrong to study the Bible with fellow Christians? Why would it be wrong to study the Bible specifically with others of our own maturity level? We are commanded to study of the Word of God. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Church leaders, elders in particular, have a responsibility to feed their respective congregations with spiritual nourishment. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Since the details of how God expects elders to accomplish that task are not stipulated or otherwise indicated, church leaders may exercise their own discretion on how to accomplish “feeding the church.”
As members of a congregation that has opted to “feed the church” through the use of Bible classes (i.e., Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc.), we are obligated to follow the instructions of the elders to come together for that purpose. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). Therefore, summarized, the authority for meeting on Wednesday night for Bible study relates to (1) the responsibility of church leaders to “feed the church” and (2) the responsibility of church members to comply with the efforts of church leaders to “feed the church.”
