Regarding “how to do church”…
Priorities:
Number one priority: that the word of God is accurately taught.
Number two priority: the personal holiness, faith and love of the assembly members. (Which flows from accurately understanding the word of God)
Number three priority: that the pattern for church gatherings as shown in 1 Cor. 14 and elsewhere in the NT is followed. (And the pattern has a direct bearing on the maturity and spiritual growth of the assembly members)
I believe this is the order of priority as far as I can see in scripture.
My point being…
The method of doing church is very important, but it’s not the top priority.
Ian Vincent 
December 2, 2021 at 2:29 am
Continued…
“…Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Cor. 14:26b)
Edification means to be spiritually nourished, strengthened in your faith.
This is the purpose of church.
The only way this can happen is that people hear or be taught what the Holy Spirit deems they need to be taught at that moment.
God knows the need, and the Holy Spirit directs according to that need.
If there is true empowering and empowerment going on, in love, then a church can’t be too far wrong.
Of course, how this is evaluated is often subjective.
And, as well, people can grow spiritually even if there is no edifying church near them, by walking with the Lord and being taught His truth by the Spirit and Word, and also by access to the body of Christ elsewhere, and historically, through books.
December 2, 2021 at 2:39 am
The most basic guideline for “doing” church is, do the needful. Obviously. Things should proceed according to the spiritual need of those present. If people are scripturally illiterate, or misguided, then, singing for a long time is not the pressing need. They can go home and sing all night if they want to.
The elders need to be sensitive to what the real needs are.
Tradition should not cancel out the real needs being addressed.
That is, the real needs as defined by scripture, and not necessarily the perceived needs.
Look at Rev. 3, the Laodicean church. Jesus revealed what they needed.
December 2, 2021 at 2:39 am
Continued
Is the purpose of church the strengthening of believers or the glory of God?
Both.
Two sides of the same coin.