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Post by John on Aug 19, 2019 16:35:50 GMT -5
Many of us have issues with the modern church. Here are things I want you to think about. First, do you agree with me that to build a church pleasing to God, it must be according to Biblical order? If so, using the Bible as a blueprint, what would this church be like? What would the services be like, the offices, everything? You are forgetting everything you know about churches you have visited and starting from scratch with the Bible as your only guide.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 19, 2019 17:39:26 GMT -5
Near as I can tell, the apostolic Christians had a system like we have here. They were an extended family who checked in on each other daily, shared new songs and revelations as things occurred to them, prophesied over each other, and kept each other from drifting. They shared meals in each other’s houses probably more than once a week. Communion likely wasn’t a tiny cracker with a sip of juice; it was probably part of dinner. Since there was so much persecution, they would have been secretive, and strangers would not have been invited without being vetted. They seem to have done their evangelizing out in public. They were told to study Scripture for the purpose of improving their conduct. They were told to avoid fruitless arguments, and instead learn how to work as a team until they were strong enough to win spiritual battles.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 19, 2019 17:58:57 GMT -5
I don’t believe the purpose of pastors/elders was to do all the talking. The whole purpose of discipling is to raise up Christians to walk in a calling, operate in gifts, and advance the kingdom. I think elders were mostly there to supervise the group, organize the meetings, confront people in sin, and account for the money. Pastors were told to feed the flock for the purpose of maturing them. The goal was to everyone in the group built up to a spiritual adult with gifts in operation.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Aug 19, 2019 18:04:13 GMT -5
I agree that any church pleasing to God would be based on the Bible. I think too many churches today are not willing to look to the Bible as their standard and instead look to growth and popularity models.
When I think of a Bible based church, I think of a group of believers that do a lot of corporate prayer for God to move among them. I think that relying on prayer both individually and as a church would strengthen the community.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 19, 2019 18:06:46 GMT -5
To me, the most disastrous change was when church service became an evangelistic outreach event. It’s like joining a basketball team that never actually plays any basketball. Every meeting is another sales pitch on why basketball is cool just in case someone in the crowd hasn’t heard yet.
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Post by frienduff on Aug 19, 2019 19:01:59 GMT -5
That's right my friends , and let the LORD be praised . Their is no order if the church keeps not the original pattern in all things . Thus let us keep exhorting daily and Lord willing in time some might even be meeting in person . Hands up and rejoice in the LORD . In person will always be best . Can you imagine if we had our own tiny meeting place in person . prayers and all , and all things TO HONOR THE LORD .
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Post by John on Aug 19, 2019 19:37:44 GMT -5
That's right my friends , and let the LORD be praised . Their is no order if the church keeps not the original pattern in all things . Thus let us keep exhorting daily and Lord willing in time some might even be meeting in person . Hands up and rejoice in the LORD . In person will always be best . Can you imagine if we had our own tiny meeting place in person . prayers and all , and all things TO HONOR THE LORD . I agree. That would be wonderful if it was possible to do.
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Post by frienduff on Aug 20, 2019 6:52:28 GMT -5
That's right my friends , and let the LORD be praised . Their is no order if the church keeps not the original pattern in all things . Thus let us keep exhorting daily and Lord willing in time some might even be meeting in person . Hands up and rejoice in the LORD . In person will always be best . Can you imagine if we had our own tiny meeting place in person . prayers and all , and all things TO HONOR THE LORD . I agree. That would be wonderful if it was possible to do.
Rest in the beauty of the LORD . IF it be of the will of GOD that this occur , then remember what seems not possible or impossible for man , IS NOT so with GOD . I just take rest in that . If it be the Lords will that we do gather , REST ASSURED we will . For now keep feasting on the bible daily and let us be here always exhorting one another . For truly these be the days of great evil and it will only worsen until the DAY of the LORD . Hands up butero . If it be that this is the will of the LORD then it will come to pass . And let all pay attention to their dreams as well . For even paul had a dream , that most today would probably not know the significance of or write it off. But he simply dreamed that a man was in madeconia and asking for help . Just that simple dream , YET they knew and perceived it meant GO TO MACEDONIA and preach the gospel . Our dreams often hold more meaning than we realize . SO pay attention and ask for understanding of those dreams . The LORD works the same as He DID back then . SO rest in the beauty and bask in the ambience of the LORD . For if it be the will of GOD that some of us meet , then it will happen and if not , then it wont .
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Post by frienduff on Aug 20, 2019 6:56:11 GMT -5
T minus eight days and a wake up . Next Thursday IS the twenty ninth . Oh its a sneaking up , and HOW we love our sister so .
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Post by frienduff on Aug 20, 2019 6:57:24 GMT -5
A sushi cake without the candles , lest we want fried fish . Every day IN THE LORD is a day to PRAISE THE LORD and even in death and for all eternity , OH PRAISE THE LORD .
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777
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Post by 777 on Aug 22, 2019 17:25:25 GMT -5
Many of us have issues with the modern church. Here are things I want you to think about. First, do you agree with me that to build a church pleasing to God, it must be according to Biblical order? If so, using the Bible as a blueprint, what would this church be like? What would the services be like, the offices, everything? You are forgetting everything you know about churches you have visited and starting from scratch with the Bible as your only guide.
I would imagine it would be a lot different from what we have today. For one thing, one person wouldn't dominate the church. Everyone with a gift would be allowed to use it. I don't think there would be strict time limits on services, like an hour and everyone goes home. It looks like the meetings back then were very long.
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Post by frienduff on Aug 23, 2019 11:12:56 GMT -5
OH my triple sevens , right you are . They would be warning out against the great apostacy they warned was coming. Benny hinn , the pope and thousands upon thousands of leaders would be , being warned against . For that which leads the flocks , HAS INDEED let them all astray . BUT JESUS , NOW the sheep Follow HIM and not the voice of strangers . THEY ON the right path. but few and far between these are .
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Post by frienduff on Aug 23, 2019 11:15:53 GMT -5
The world and churches are being prepared for the largest party ever . and the saints are going to be the pinatas . Expose it all and point only to JESUS and no matter if we end up dead and bleeding on the streets , TO THE LORD be all glory and to the Lord be all praise .
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Cletus
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Post by Cletus on Aug 23, 2019 22:01:58 GMT -5
each member seeks The LORD so when we do come together you have a song or a word, which also means everyone gets to speak. at the church i am going to now the pastor has a lot of the time where he will ask questions or if someone has something to share and he will walk to them and give them the mic. anyone can speak. at times you can just speak up. anyone can speak up in prayer at certain times. there is order though. during the sermon its not always open mic time. sometimes... but its led by Gods Spirit. when its not open mic time everyone knows and just listens. this is one thing i really enjoy about my church. everyone is equal. no one is above anyone or like someone is more important.
also anyone on the worship team can mention a song and they do it. there are songs the practice but if The Spirit is moving at a certain time and say there is prayer or something else going on anyone of them may announce a song and it just flows with the whole service.
this is a function of the church. we each have a part and whether we have a word thats a scripture or its a prophetic word or a prayer or a song... one lady last sunday during prayer time prayed a short prayer and then she began to sing. the rest of us joined in. we all have a part and if its just one person doing a majority of it where does that leave the rest of us?
there can be one of those service outline papers they pass out at the door... but the minds and hearts of all need to be willing and ready to yield the service to God and let Him lead the service in His own church and make whatever changes He wants to the outline... and i do not mean not brick and mortar church... but living stones church.
churches that do not have this are missing out on a richness of his presence and leading. some churches may not be able to have operation like this as there may not be enough mature believers to do this. they may need one person to do a lot of it.
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Post by John on Aug 23, 2019 22:26:29 GMT -5
Cletus, does your church record their services?
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