Is Corporate Worship Important or Necessary?

[Elijah674]

Re: What is your church like?

Thers no mention of AUTHORITY in the KJV or Greek.

Tell me does you're pastor have authority over you Mike? If he does then he is going against Jesus' direct teachings. Or do you deny that?



You're wrong friend. Hebrews does NOT specify the location or the method of assembling. How many times do I have to say that?

If you don't think the forums are real then what are you doing here?

If I assemble with Christians in the market or the library or on a street corner or in my place of business (which I frequently do) would that be ok? Or must I go to 'church'?

The problem with all of this is, what does the bottom/line of God's WORD REQUIRE? Rev. 18:4 finds 'some' not calling the Rev. 17:1-5 'c'ristians it seems?? (and surely, these are only a few)

Ask yourself, If they are Christians, then is there not a problem with the Rev. 'INSPIRED' 18:4 verse! And if Christ IS NOT IN THEIR CHURCH'S, who is??? And if Christ is in these ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH (mother + DAUGHTERS) church's Why CALL THEM OUT??

--Elijah

PS: And the issue is not are there some few ignorant 'saints' still there, for if that were not so, we would not have the INSPIRED CALL TO COME OUT. But these church's are all what Inspiration say's that they are, IN FALSE DOCTRINE! And when we fellowship and are in membership with them, we are a PARTAKER of her sins as the verse Documents!

 

[Mike]

Re: What is your church like?

If you don't think the forums are real then what are you doing here?

If I assemble with Christians in the market or the library or on a street corner or in my place of business (which I frequently do) would that be ok? Or must I go to 'church'?

I'm not going to get in an endless debate with you on this, because it never resolves itself. I just wanted to make a point, and it's made.

I never said this forum isn't "real". I said it can't replace an assembly of believers. And to your next point, it doesn't have to happen in a building that's a church. The first Christians gathered in homes, but they gathered specifically to support one another and for the purpose of worship and reading the Word. I don't believe meeting with someone on a street corner or the kitchen at an office to chat would be in the spirit of Hebrews 10. Personally, I go to church not only to be fed, but to be a source of encouragement to those I worship with. I meet in a mens accountability group every 2 weeks, because if I'm sitting in a room with other Christian men, it's harder to be dishonest if someone asks me how I'm doing with a given area of my walk. It's much easier to live a separate life while typing this or that in a forum.

I'm done here. You are sounding indignant toward something that we are called to do, whether you want to admit it or not.

 

[stovebolts]

Re: What is your church like?

Strangelove,

I'm not so sure I like your church. I mean, it doesn't edify and sounds like it's full of weed pickers. You see, weed pickers are the ones in the church that point out things that are wrong with everyone else, but they never look at themselves. Churches like the one you attend normally don't last long.. they just kinda dwindle and fade away into the woodwork. IMO, it's sad because people get turned off by weed pickers...

The church I go to is a church of Christ and we might seem a bit conservative compared to some other denominations. We meet together on the first day of the week, just like they did in the first century and as part of the visible body of Christ, we partake in the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7). Actually, I really look forward each week to participating in this tradition by way of Apostolic example.

We hold two services each Sunday and in between we have Bible Studies. I've been honored to teach the Adult Bible class and we've been moving through Exodus this past year. Can you believe we took three weeks on the Alter in Exodus 27? Anyway, there was some disagreement when we talked about Pharaoh's heart being hardened by God, and even some more disagreement when it came to "an eye for an eye", but somehow we've managed to muddle our way through it as a family would.

Our worship service is very uplifting and we have some beautiful singers and for the most part we sing beautiful songs (Colossians 3:16)! Oh, did I mention we don't use musical instruments in our corporate worship? It's not that our particular eldership or congregation believes it's wrong to have musical instruments in our worship or anything like that, but wow, you should hear us sing a four part harmony! Absolutely beautiful! (John 4:24).

A lot of our members are active in the community or within the church. We host a weekly soup kitchen and we even took names and delivered turkeys and all the fixings for people in need within our community and it didn't matter that most of them didn't go to our church, but we saw a need and tried to fill it.

As far as corporate hierarchy, just like the first century church, we are autonomous from other churches. But we have a body of Elders that over see the congregation and they appoint deacons to manage the tasks that need to be done, such as day to day maintenance or ministries.. Just like they did in the first century (Acts 6, 1 and 2nd Timothy) so you see, we don't line up to one man for direction (Pope or Preacher, let alone a board that over see's many churches) but rather a local body of elders oversees our congregation, and they are not accountable to other churches, only Christ.... just like they did it in the first century. Heck, we figure if it was good enough for the first church, it should be good enough for us right?

Anyway, I remember a time when we had some weed pickers in our congregation and boy, did we loose a lot of good members. They simply went to other churches that would let them express their talents for Christ in a productive way and our church got smaller and smaller and we did less and les as the weed pickers took over. But the elders took a stand and made what I believe were the right choices and the weed pickers were asked to go to other churches where they may have felt more at home. We still call them our brothers and we wish them the very best. Most of all we are thankful that they have decided to remain in the faith and our doors are always open to them if they want to come back and be a part of what we're doing for the Lord.

So there ya go and I hope everyone has enjoyed this little snapshot of the church I attend each week.

p.s. Mike, I've learned to turn my phone on Vibrate for Wednesday worship and bible study. It was so funny when you called. Our Wed teacher looked at me, smirked and said, "Turn that thing off", anyone else and he would have ignored it . Ahhh, I love him, and I"m thankful we have such a great relationship

 

[handy]

Re: What is your church like?

Well, now that the holiday is over, the driveway is plowed, mom's gone home and Steve and the kids are at work/school, I'll guess I'll jump into the discussion:

Thers no mention of AUTHORITY in the KJV or Greek.

KJV:Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule<sup class="strongs"></sup> 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.

Rule and submit...what would those words mean?
Rule is translated from hegeomai meaning to go before as in the sense of a ruler or leader, to rule, command, have authority over such as in a prince, governor or chief.

Submit is translated from hypeiko, and is used in the sense of resisting no longer and yielding in combat. Metaphorically it means to yield to authority.

Seems pretty clear cut to me that this is referring to those in godly authority over others within the church. Paul referred to bishops, Timothy was the first ordained bishop of the church at Ephesus, 'smatter of fact. Now, we get the word bishop from episkope which has an interesting definition in Strongs:
1) investigation, inspection, visitation
a) that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad*


yet, most of the time it is translated "bishop" by the KJV, it is in reference to a person who holds oversight in the church, which nicely fits in with the reference in Hebrews about those who rule over us needing to give account to God for our souls.


So, Doc....if this doesn't mean that which most of the church (and most translations of the Bible including the KJV) thinks it means, tell us, what do you think the writer of Hebrews was speaking of when he exhorted us to submit to those who rule over us?


What exactly is the office of bishop, the one that Paul said was "good work", if it is not an overseer of the church, one in authority that others need to submit to?


Also, if one's church is just associating with other Christians on-line, in the market, library or one's place of business, when and how do you follow Christ's commandment to take the bread and wine and do so in remembrance of Him?







* Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

The problem with all of this is, what does the bottom/line of God's WORD REQUIRE? Rev. 18:4 finds 'some' not calling the Rev. 17:1-5 'c'ristians it seems?? (and surely, these are only a few)

Ask yourself, If they are Christians, then is there not a problem with the Rev. 'INSPIRED' 18:4 verse! And if Christ IS NOT IN THEIR CHURCH'S, who is??? And if Christ is in these ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH (mother + DAUGHTERS) church's Why CALL THEM OUT??

--Elijah

PS: And the issue is not are there some few ignorant 'saints' still there, for if that were not so, we would not have the INSPIRED CALL TO COME OUT. But these church's are all what Inspiration say's that they are, IN FALSE DOCTRINE! And when we fellowship and are in membership with them, we are a PARTAKER of her sins as the verse Documents!

Uhm....I think Elijahs agreeing with me there?

Although you can never be too sure with Elijah.

 

[Chris]

Re: What is your church like?

​

[/FONT]


I say to the church buildings and apostate false teachers....I don't need you!

Yeah dude the thing about this its not all bout us as individuals the idea of congregational get together seems to be present in the new testament a lot.

when we are judged we will be judged for how we used our spiritual gifts and what we did with them just like the parable with the talents. wen we fellowship with others we allow them the opportunity to use their gifts to serve us in turn we have the opportunity to reciprocate. collectivly as a congregation you can also assist in community outreach and support missionary efforts as well as community events.It isn't all about what we ourselves can recieve from the teaching its how how you can contribute.

cheers
chris

 

[stovebolts]

Re: What is your church like?

You make an excellent point Chris. Our congregation is a tad over 200 between 2 services and even though that sounds big, it's hard to find enough people with like interests to do things... like running (I love to run).

I don't really know how I would fair in a 'mega' church, and I think I flip flop with the pro's and cons. I mean, there are so man members in a mega church that they can have programs going each day of the week... all you have to do is plug in. Or if you want to start a ministry, bam, all of a sudden it's like you have all these people that are ready to be a part of it and you can have a big impact on the community with like minded people.

On the flip side, I personally know most of the members of our church, and there's a connection that you make on an individual basis that's fantastic.. oh, and it reduces "clicks" from forming.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

I'm not going to get in an endless debate with you on this, because it never resolves itself. I just wanted to make a point, and it's made.

It's a pity you just want to make a point and then leave because this is a great place where Christians can assemble and really speak their mind freely. You get you're say, then I get mine. Very civil. No peer pressure. No authority. No order.

I never said this forum isn't "real". I said it can't replace an assembly of believers. And to your next point, it doesn't have to happen in a building that's a church. The first Christians gathered in homes, but they gathered specifically to support one another and for the purpose of worship and reading the Word.

It is an assembly of believers. No matter how much you don't want it to be...it is. We support eachother here. We read and study the Word here.

If you mean by the word worship as in pray.....we are told to do that in private. I've said that a few times already on the boards and no one wants to touch the issue with a barge pole. Is that becasue you are all so used to praying together in the holy building?

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners​

of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.​

Does anyone want to actually acknowledge these verses, spoken by our own Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

I had some guy and his wife in my shop a few months ago. We got chatting and I found out they were Christian. Talked for a while about how great it was to come to the love of Christ. And then before they left he grabs my hand, she grabs the other and they started praying aloud. I cant tell you how awkward I felt. It just felt wrong.

My prayers are between me and God.

I don't believe meeting with someone on a street corner or the kitchen at an office to chat would be in the spirit of Hebrews 10. Personally, I go to church not only to be fed, but to be a source of encouragement to those I worship with.

I believe it's perfectly in line with Hebrews 10. Tell me, do you think Jesus knew about the internet?

I meet in a mens accountability group every 2 weeks, because if I'm sitting in a room with other Christian men, it's harder to be dishonest if someone asks me how I'm doing with a given area of my walk. It's much easier to live a separate life while typing this or that in a forum.

Ah so you think I'm constantly lying to you? You think I'm leading some kind of seperate life? I'm not genuine? Oh thanks a lot Mike. Cheers Brother. Do you know what....people can lie in real life too mate. It's called wearing a mask.

And guess what is also really hard to do when your face to face in you're accountability group. STRONGLY DISAGREE with people. Specially when you have you're group leader watching on.

I'm done here. You are sounding indignant toward something that we are called to do, whether you want to admit it or not.

I fully admit that I may sound indignant. Sorry.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Strangelove,

I'm not so sure I like your church. I mean, it doesn't edify and sounds like it's full of weed pickers. You see, weed pickers are the ones in the church that point out things that are wrong with everyone else, but they never look at themselves. Churches like the one you attend normally don't last long.. they just kinda dwindle and fade away into the woodwork. IMO, it's sad because people get turned off by weed pickers...

I like to see myself as more of a truth seeder, than a weed picker.

I edify people when I agree with them. Thats what you get from me when you're right. When I disagree...no edification. Fair? I've noticed everyone else is exactly the same.

When people agree they are all..'wise words brother, God bless you' etc etc.

When they disagree......nothing. Thats how it works.

Thats life.

 

[handy]

Re: What is your church like?

If you mean by the word worship as in pray.....we are told to do that in private. I've said that a few times already on the boards and no one wants to touch the issue with a barge pole. Is that becasue you are all so used to praying together in the holy building?

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.​

Does anyone want to actually acknowledge these verses, spoken by our own Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

I had some guy and his wife in my shop a few months ago. We got chatting and I found out they were Christian. Talked for a while about how great it was to come to the love of Christ. And then before they left he grabs my hand, she grabs the other and they started praying aloud. I cant tell you how awkward I felt. It just felt wrong.

My prayers are between me and God.

I acknowledge what Jesus said about prayer, but I also believe that He didn't mean for us to take this as the only way to pray...the admonition was about praying hypocritically, not that we must never pray corporately or with each other:

James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.



How can we fulfill this commandment to call for the elders of the church and be anointed with oil and have them pray over us, if we are to never pray anywhere but alone, inside a closet?

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

KJV:Hebrews 13:17 Obey<SUP></SUP> them that have the rule<SUP class=strongs></SUP> over you<SUP></SUP>, and submit yourselves: for<SUP></SUP> they watch for<SUP></SUP> your souls, as they that must give account<SUP></SUP>, that<SUP></SUP> they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that<SUP></SUP> [is] unprofitable for you.

Rule and submit...what would those words mean?
Rule is translated from hegeomai meaning to go before as in the sense of a ruler or leader, to rule, command, have authority over such as in a prince, governor or chief.

It just means chief. Leader. Great person in you're community. It's not about AUTHORITY. I dont know where you get that word from. The chief is supposed to be the SERVANT and MINISTER to the people. Well....a Christian chief is supposed to do that anyway. NOT to have authority over them. I'll post the verses again.

20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes
of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great
exercise authority upon them.

20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister;

20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.​

So how do you reconcile you're interpretation of Heb 13:17 with this?

This is Jesus telling us how it's gonna be. It's quite clear. Our chiefs and great men and leaders are to have NO AUTHORITY OVER US. Why? Because the Lord knew that wolves can steal into a community and profess great knowledge of scripture but yet be compromised and corrupted and attempt to corrupt the flock. The few must never be able to have authority over the many. Thats the message.

Submit is translated from hypeiko, and is used in the sense of resisting no longer and yielding in combat. Metaphorically it means to yield to authority.

I got this in my concordance:

hypeiko - to retire, withdraw, submit.

submit, yield
From hupo and eiko (to yield, be "weak"); to surrender -- submit self.

Thats all I got. Nothing about AUTHORITY. It doesnt mean do everything they say. Thats what authority means. To follow their orders.

Seems pretty clear cut to me that this is referring to those in godly authority over others within the church.

But Jesus has said that there is to be no authority coming from our chiefs to us. Do you disagree with Christ? There is no godly authority by anyone other than God.

Paul referred to bishops, Timothy was the first ordained bishop of the church at Ephesus, 'smatter of fact. Now, we get the word bishop from episkope which has an interesting definition in Strongs:
1) investigation, inspection, visitation
a) that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad*

yet, most of the time it is translated "bishop" by the KJV, it is in reference to a person who holds oversight in the church, which nicely fits in with the reference in Hebrews about those who rule over us needing to give account to God for our souls.

We can have whatever names for people you like and assign them any job in the world but the fact remains that they are not to hold authority over others. It's simple.

So, Doc....if this doesn't mean that which most of the church (and most translations of the Bible including the KJV) thinks it means, tell us, what do you think the writer of Hebrews was speaking of when he exhorted us to submit to those who rule over us?

I think it means don't argue with them. Withdraw, submit and yield the win to them who are chiefs. Don't make a scene.

If your chiefs views dont line up exactly with you'rs, just yield the point to him and move on. Even chiefs make mistakes sometimes. But theres no need to show them up in front of everyone. He needs to be left to give account to God with joy not with the grief of having people disagreeing with him over minor things.

Thats what I think it means. It's got NADA to do with authority over others.

What exactly is the office of bishop, the one that Paul said was "good work", if it is not an overseer of the church, one in authority that others need to submit to?

Well just ask yourself what are all the Bishops jobs APART from the authority side of things. Make a list of all the Bishops jobs....then cross out anything to do with him having authority over anyone...and voila!...your left with what I think his job actually is.

Also, if one's church is just associating with other Christians on-line, in the market, library or one's place of business, when and how do you follow Christ's commandment to take the bread and wine and do so in remembrance of Him?

Sorry wheres the commandment? This is a new one to me. Whats this about a commandment to take bread and wine?

G'night folks. God bless. (oops, did I pray in public there?)

 

[stovebolts]

Re: What is your church like?

I like to see myself as more of a truth seeder, than a weed picker.

I edify people when I agree with them. Thats what you get from me when you're right. When I disagree...no edification. Fair? I've noticed everyone else is exactly the same.

When people agree they are all..'wise words brother, God bless you' etc etc.

When they disagree......nothing. Thats how it works.

Thats life.

Hey, that's the great thing about being Protestant isn't it? If you disagree, just go to a church that you can agree with. Hey, if you can't agree with any of them, become your own pope :biglol

Seriously, it's not about agreeing where true edification comes from. It's about living within a community in harmony even when there are differences. If you can't do that, then I use the term weed picker because while you're picking weeds, you're gonna pull up a few heads of grain... And Jesus told us not to do that. In other words, resist your urge, and leave the weeds alone as long as the crop is growing.

Besides, edification is more than just agreeing with doctrines. When I'm in worship and I hear the voices of so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ singing with their hearts, it just edifies and resonates deep within my soul. I'm one with the Body of believers and I'm part of something bigger than myself. Jesus even said in Mt. 18 that when 2 or more come together in His name, He is present.

I sense you take issue with going to a church building and becoming a member. That's ok, I don't hold that against you, and I don't consider you any less of a Christian for it. But please, many of us are able to give praise and worship our Saviour within these settings. And even though the church isn't perfect doesn't give cause to tear her down.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

I've never been to church in my life. Pre or post Salvation.

You have no call to judge anything about church membership when you reject one thing that God tells us not to neglect.

Therefore everything you say about anything spiritual, I deem pretty much not substantive.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

Accountable to others? Hmmmm....the only time I would say I would be accountable to a Brother in Christ is if I sin against him. If I transgress a brother I must apologise and offer an explanation. You wouldn't be much of a brother if you transgressed you're brethren and didn't confess when confronted. In fact the good thing to do would be to confess you're fault to the victim before anyone has called you on it.

Is that what this cell group session is gonna be about? Let's read on:



Ok um....certainly making a big case for 'accountability'.

God-given purpose of.....?.....?.....? Can you complete the sentence for us Alabaster so I can see what the purpose of the body is accorcing to you're church?

Order and accountability are principles from God’s Word that must be set in place if the body is to accomplish its God-given purpose of proclaiming the Gospel.

 

[Alabaster]

Re: What is your church like?

I agree. And I'm not a lone ranger. I have Christ. I have my elder mentor for edification and advice. And I have the forums for fellowship. I'm independent in that I am accountable only to God. That doesn't make me rebellious. It makes me a Biblical fundamentalist.

Of course you are a 'lone ranger'. If your mentor was worth her salt, she would be teaching you how important it is to get to a house of worship and let the Lord plant you where He wants you to bloom.

So far all I see is a little feel-good club going on...there are hard things we must go through to grow up straight in Christ. Those who reject the church tend to grow up crooked and are not equipped to lead or minister with effectiveness.

The independent spirit is a demonic spirit. We see them outside of churches and doing their darnedest to come against them and we also see them in the church, for which a church that is doing it God's way will send them out.

 

[handy]

Re: What is your church like?

Doc, little short of time right now, so I'll address the issue of church authority later but for now...

you don't think of "do this" as a command?

What is it? A suggestion?

As a parent, when I tell my kids, do this...no matter how softly, it's a command.

 

[jasoncran]

Re: What is your church like?

Hey, that's the great thing about being Protestant isn't it? If you disagree, just go to a church that you can agree with. Hey, if you can't agree with any of them, become your own pope :biglol

Seriously, it's not about agreeing where true edification comes from. It's about living within a community in harmony even when there are differences. If you can't do that, then I use the term weed picker because while you're picking weeds, you're gonna pull up a few heads of grain... And Jesus told us not to do that. In other words, resist your urge, and leave the weeds alone as long as the crop is growing.

Besides, edification is more than just agreeing with doctrines. When I'm in worship and I hear the voices of so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ singing with their hearts, it just edifies and resonates deep within my soul. I'm one with the Body of believers and I'm part of something bigger than myself. Jesus even said in Mt. 18 that when 2 or more come together in His name, He is present.

amen to that. i got blessed sunday just by singing 200 yrs old hymns, and no manifestions of the gifts or normal pentacostal worship.

just me and others singing to God.

 

[jasoncran]

Re: What is your church like?

Strangelove,

I'm not so sure I like your church. I mean, it doesn't edify and sounds like it's full of weed pickers. You see, weed pickers are the ones in the church that point out things that are wrong with everyone else, but they never look at themselves. Churches like the one you attend normally don't last long.. they just kinda dwindle and fade away into the woodwork. IMO, it's sad because people get turned off by weed pickers...

The church I go to is a church of Christ and we might seem a bit conservative compared to some other denominations. We meet together on the first day of the week, just like they did in the first century and as part of the visible body of Christ, we partake in the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7). Actually, I really look forward each week to participating in this tradition by way of Apostolic example.

We hold two services each Sunday and in between we have Bible Studies. I've been honored to teach the Adult Bible class and we've been moving through Exodus this past year. Can you believe we took three weeks on the Alter in Exodus 27? Anyway, there was some disagreement when we talked about Pharaoh's heart being hardened by God, and even some more disagreement when it came to "an eye for an eye", but somehow we've managed to muddle our way through it as a family would.

Our worship service is very uplifting and we have some beautiful singers and for the most part we sing beautiful songs (Colossians 3:16)! Oh, did I mention we don't use musical instruments in our corporate worship? It's not that our particular eldership or congregation believes it's wrong to have musical instruments in our worship or anything like that, but wow, you should hear us sing a four part harmony! Absolutely beautiful! (John 4:24).

A lot of our members are active in the community or within the church. We host a weekly soup kitchen and we even took names and delivered turkeys and all the fixings for people in need within our community and it didn't matter that most of them didn't go to our church, but we saw a need and tried to fill it.

As far as corporate hierarchy, just like the first century church, we are autonomous from other churches. But we have a body of Elders that over see the congregation and they appoint deacons to manage the tasks that need to be done, such as day to day maintenance or ministries.. Just like they did in the first century (Acts 6, 1 and 2nd Timothy) so you see, we don't line up to one man for direction (Pope or Preacher, let alone a board that over see's many churches) but rather a local body of elders oversees our congregation, and they are not accountable to other churches, only Christ.... just like they did it in the first century. Heck, we figure if it was good enough for the first church, it should be good enough for us right?

Anyway, I remember a time when we had some weed pickers in our congregation and boy, did we loose a lot of good members. They simply went to other churches that would let them express their talents for Christ in a productive way and our church got smaller and smaller and we did less and les as the weed pickers took over. But the elders took a stand and made what I believe were the right choices and the weed pickers were asked to go to other churches where they may have felt more at home. We still call them our brothers and we wish them the very best. Most of all we are thankful that they have decided to remain in the faith and our doors are always open to them if they want to come back and be a part of what we're doing for the Lord.

So there ya go and I hope everyone has enjoyed this little snapshot of the church I attend each week.

p.s. Mike, I've learned to turn my phone on Vibrate for Wednesday worship and bible study. It was so funny when you called. Our Wed teacher looked at me, smirked and said, "Turn that thing off", anyone else and he would have ignored it . Ahhh, I love him, and I"m thankful we have such a great relationship

what. i dont get called? hmmph. j/k i really do enjoy the times we have talked.

we may not agree all the time here but i sense your peacemaker ways. you strive to avoid arguents and try to build others up or walk away.

and agreeable spirit.

 

[Mike]

Thread split off from an existing discussion.

 

[Strangelove]

Re: What is your church like?

Yeah dude the thing about this its not all bout us as individuals the idea of congregational get together seems to be present in the new testament a lot.

when we are judged we will be judged for how we used our spiritual gifts and what we did with them just like the parable with the talents. wen we fellowship with others we allow them the opportunity to use their gifts to serve us in turn we have the opportunity to reciprocate. collectivly as a congregation you can also assist in community outreach and support missionary efforts as well as community events.It isn't all about what we ourselves can recieve from the teaching its how how you can contribute.

cheers
chris

Yup....strike up one more who thinks that forums isn't real fellowship.

It's all a dream eh Chris?