The Main Ingredient for Church Growth -- interesting study!

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Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#21
Feb 7, 2015
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#21
jennymae said:
Scripture indicates that the contemporary religious structure when Christ was here in the flesh, was contrary to His teachings on several issues. He was, and I'm using the past tense for pedagogical reasons, hence this is about the period He was amongst us in person, acting notoriously radical, and, was harshly criticizing the conservatives of that time.

As for semantics, what I believe we need to focus on, is His Grace and not so much for whether He was conservative or not. As somebody's pointed out, the Gospel is key.
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But isn't "His Grace' directly reflected in how we approach the daily situations of our lives..... whether from a conservative, traditional reaction, or from a specific view for WWJD in this circumstance?
 
Desdichado

Desdichado

Senior Member
#22
Feb 9, 2014
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#22
I think you all are trying to find a point of disagreement when the OP when there really isn't anything to substantively argue about.
 
Desdichado

Desdichado

Senior Member
#23
Feb 9, 2014
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#23
Unless you think modern liberal theology is the bees knees. Which, knowing the respondents so far, is not something you all are trying to assert.
 
J

jennymae

Guest
#24
#24
Willie-T said:
But isn't "His Grace' directly reflected in how we approach the daily situations of our lives..... whether from a conservative, traditional reaction, or from a specific view for WWJD in this circumstance?
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Yes, I agree with that.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#25
Feb 7, 2015
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#25
What is "The Gospel" to most of you? Is it the story of Jesus getting killed and then raised from the dead, or is it the way He lived His life? Or is it something else? And if you cop out and say, "all of those", could you please explain that as a person fresh off the streets, sitting in your congregation would be encouraged to apply that to their lives?
 
Desdichado

Desdichado

Senior Member
#26
Feb 9, 2014
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#26
Who is this addressed towards?

Willie-T said:
What is "The Gospel" to most of you? Is it the story of Jesus getting killed and then raised from the dead, or is it the way He lived His life. Or is it something else? And if you cop out and say, "all of those", could you please explain that as a person fresh off the streets, sitting in your congregation would be encouraged to apply that to their lives?
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J

jennymae

Guest
#27
#27
Willie-T said:
What is "The Gospel" to most of you? Is it the story of Jesus getting killed and then raised from the dead, or is it the way He lived His life? Or is it something else? And if you cop out and say, "all of those", could you please explain that as a person fresh off the streets, sitting in your congregation would be encouraged to apply that to their lives?
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It's Jesus getting killed and raised from the dead.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#29
Feb 7, 2015
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#29
Willie-T said:
What is "The Gospel" to most of you? Is it the story of Jesus getting killed and then raised from the dead, or is it the way He lived His life? Or is it something else? And if you cop out and say, "all of those", could you please explain that as a person fresh off the streets, sitting in your congregation would be encouraged to apply that to their lives?
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Desdichado said:
Who is this addressed towards?
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"Most of you." I guess that would include you.
 
J

jennymae

Guest
#30
#30
Willie-T said:
You think we should do as Jesus did? In everything? Are you sure you would be up to doing that?
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I'm not up to doing anything He did. I'm just a sinner, lost in sin without Him.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#33
Feb 7, 2015
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#33
Desdichado said:
I think you're shadowboxing at the moment. But carry on.
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No, I want to know what the idea most here have when they use the well-worn phrase, "Preach the Gospel." I happen to think all is included, but I also think the life He led before the few days of the cross speaks more to exactly what He went through and offered in trade for us.
 
J

jennymae

Guest
#34
#34
Willie-T said:
No, I want to know what the idea most here have when they use the well-worn phrase, "Preach the Gospel." I happen to think all is included, but I also think the life He led before the few days of the cross speaks more to exactly what He went through and offered in trade for us.
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What's important is that He's our Savior. He carried the burden of all our sins.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#35
Feb 7, 2015
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#35
jennymae said:
What's important is that He's our Savior. He carried the burden of all our sins.
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Why not arrive as a full-grown man just a few weeks, months, or years before the crucifixion? I mean, He was really known by relatively few people for the vast amount of His life. His whole ministry was only 3 years in duration.
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#36
May 17, 2013
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#36
Willie-T said:
"Most of you." I guess that would include you.
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Willie-T said:
I'm not talking about miracles and such. I am talking about everyday life.
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Willie-T said:
No, I want to know what the idea most here have when they use the well-worn phrase, "Preach the Gospel." I happen to think all is included, but I also think the life He led before the few days of the cross speaks more to exactly what He went through and offered in trade for us.
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How does the bible describe the gospel?

1 Cor 15:1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

The blood of Christ makes the atonement for our sins. Our witness for Christ is what He as done for us. Again He has forgiven all our sins. Jesus did not make us better He made us perfect before the Father in heaven. Jesus restored us and made us faultless to stand before the throne.

How will men see Jesus in us? By the way we walk, talk and rejoice in what Christ did for us. If we have peace before God they will see that peace and understand.

While there is a social element to the gospel the gospel is about forgiveness of sin. The gospel is not about religion but Christ the Lamb of God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#37
Feb 7, 2015
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#37
Were we saved because someone died? Or were we saved because God chose to be born as a baby, live (very silently) as a human being amidst other human beings as neighbors for an entire lifetime... and THEN willingly surrendered himself to all the torture we deserved (but that He never deserved) to show us a love far beyond merely showing up to be killed?

What are we really telling anyone if we just spout out that a guy got killed and then got raised? The world is full of stories of people getting killed to save other people. What makes just saying that anything special? They have to hear about, and understand just who this man WAS, and how He lived, what He endured His whole lifetime. THAT is what makes His death special to us. All men die. So what? How does condensing the story of His life to such a common statement mean anything to someone who doesn't know Jesus, and His sacrificial life, from Adam's housecat?
 
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notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#38
May 17, 2013
15,050
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#38
Willie-T said:
Were we saved because someone died? Or were we saved because God chose to be born as a baby, live (very silently) as a human being amidst other human beings as neighbors for an entire lifetime... and THEN willingly surrendered himself to all the torture we deserved (but that He never deserved) to show us a love far beyond merely showing up to be killed?

What are we really telling anyone if we just spout out that a guy got killed and then got raised? The world is full of stories of people getting killed to save other people. What makes just saying that anything special? They have to hear about, and understand just who this man WAS, and how He lived, what He endured His whole lifetime. THAT is what makes His death special to us. All men die. So what? How does condensing the story of His life to such a common statement mean anything to someone who doesn't know Jesus, and His sacrificial life, from Adam's housecat?
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All you need to do is tell them what Jesus did for you. That is what ye shall be witnesses unto Me in Acts 1 is all about. Believers are not out to create theological doctrines to give to the lost but to testify of the saving grace of God. Giving a reason for the hope that lieth within them.

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The gospel is simple and even a child can comprehend it.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
J

jennymae

Guest
#39
#39
"And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain" (1 Cor. 15:14).

I believe that the death and resurrection of Christ is the important part in Christianity.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#40
Feb 7, 2015
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#40
notuptome said:
All you need to do is tell them what Jesus did for you. That is what ye shall be witnesses unto Me in Acts 1 is all about. Believers are not out to create theological doctrines to give to the lost but to testify of the saving grace of God. Giving a reason for the hope that lieth within them.

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The gospel is simple and even a child can comprehend it.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
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Jesus told them that when they had no idea of His coming sacrifice. None, whatsoever. All they knew of His life when they received that great commission was how He lived it, and the kind of person He was. I suspect they preached far more of that great part of Him than merely saying that some guy came along, and decided He would die for you.
 
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