Why do we go to church?

[Mooky]

Its funny how one can have a grasp of some things which can be considered to be quite complex and really fall short on the basics.
Growing up in the church can also leave one with alot of religious baggage so that the gospel is sometimes somewhat veiled....my point....it is only recently that I have had the reason for going o church spelled out for me...and that is to serve and encourages others.For a long time I took it for granted that if you are a christian - that is simply what you do.
What are other reasons are good reasons to go to church?

 

[kenisyes]

To share the gifts God has given you. Your reason and this are the two in Scripture. Notice, there is nothing in Scripture about going to hear a sermon every week.

 

[zone]

Notice, there is nothing in Scripture about going to hear a sermon every week.

Ken, seriously?
first on the list!

Acts 2
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awed came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

honestly, i'd be far less inclined to "go to church" if there was no teaching (sermon included) every week.
service (loving neighbor) doesn't require a weekly assembly.

[i'll qualify that by saying i attended so many non-denoms who offered what they called a sermon every week - one verse with a self-help message or some other narcissistic take-home study attached.
that's why i gave up searching for a church for 2 years.
i found at times the fellowship and service that was attendant with the one-verse-per-week-the-bible-is-all-about-me was about as relevant as the so-called sermon.
the people, awesome and lovely....lack of teaching > not good.]

going to church (for me) is not primarily about music, and certainly is not about jumping around, falling down or any of that.

 

[zone]

during one of many one-on-ones with a baptist minister (who pastored a church i attended for a time), i was expressing my disappointment with the shallow funny stories etc that passed as 'sermons'.......he confided in me that they are told not to 'teach' above a grade six level! that the people can't handle it!

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Its funny how one can have a grasp of some things which can be considered to be quite complex and really fall short on the basics.
Growing up in the church can also leave one with alot of religious baggage so that the gospel is sometimes somewhat veiled....my point....it is only recently that I have had the reason for going o church spelled out for me...and that is to serve and encourages others.For a long time I took it for granted that if you are a christian - that is simply what you do.
What are other reasons are good reasons to go to church?

I would encourage you to first study what the real church is, then compare it with the churches today, and you will clearly see just how far off the mark the church are today, especially what they teach and stand for:


The Church
Ekklēsia is the Greek word used in the New Testament over 116 times, translated in our English Bibles as ‘Church’. The word has NOTHING to do with stone buildings or sacred places of worship. It is a compound word meaning: ‘Ek’: Out from….’Ekklisia’ the called out. Thus the ‘Called out’.

The Greek word most closely related to ‘Church’ is kuriakos, used in 1Cor11:20 & Rev1:10, translated: ‘the Lord’s’ as referring to the Lord ’s Supper and the Lord’s Day. Meaning in the Greek: belonging to the Lord, related to the Lord. This word became associated with places of ‘Christian’ worship around 300AD under Roman Emperor Constantine. Up to that time the true followers of Jesus Christ were meeting in private homes, often in secret at night. WHY? Because in the Roman Empire there could be no private religion! It was against the law and considered conspiratorial to hold secret or private meetings in homes. This is why the Pagans often brought moral charges against the Christians accusing them of incest, cannibalism and unnatural practices.
(meetings in homes: Rom16:5, 1Cor16:19, Col4:15, Phil1:2, Acts2:46)

For those of you in the religious system ignorant of past history, Constantine was the Roman Emperor who granted religious tolerance in the land that brought an end to the bitter persecutions against Christians. This eventually led to the uniting of church and state, bringing the ‘Christian’ religion into great cathedrals of Rome. (considered sacred by the pagans) From that time forward an ‘Official’ religious system existed under the guise of Christianity blending together the idols, pagan beliefs and rituals of Roman culture. Officially you were either a ‘Catholic Christian’ or a ‘heretic’….branded foolish madmen, who should suffer chastisement and divine condemnation.

Essentially this turned the tables against the real Saints of God labeling them dangerous dissenters and has done so every since. The System now had full authority to persecute and legally murder their religious opponents. Thus is your explanation for all the religious blood letting throughout history and for the present religious establishment that exists in our (relatively) free society today.

The ‘Churches’ as they exist in our towns, villages and cities, in which so-called Christians claim to worship the One True God are simply an off-shoot of what happened in ancient Rome when the Pure Doctrine of Jesus Christ was nullified by the teachings of men. This is why the ‘Church’ has absolutely no similarity to the ‘Ekklesia’ of the Bible and also has no desire whatsoever to resemble it. They have their SYSTEM in place that serves the purpose of gathering humanity under a unified pattern of religion where anything goes and people can choose the ‘form’ that suits them best.

The establishment can still maintain a fabricated authority over attendees insisting they must submit to church leadership and remain in fellowship lest they abandon the faith. This enforces the fantasy in the minds of church goers that those who flee the System are angry runagates and devils better off gone rather than stirring up trouble in their midst. In olden times the ‘Church’ exercised domination over the people by the pretense of piety, the place of worship (they controlled) was consecrated of the Lord and dare not be blasphemed or defied. They may not be hunting down dissidents or burning anyone at the stake in our time, but TRY going among them to challenge their false doctrines and expose the sin! You will find out very quickly that non-compliance will NOT be tolerated.

A denominational church will use its entire governing body to see that you’re silenced and cast out of doors if necessary. More independent organizations will muster the governing board against you and see that you’re brought to shame in the eyes of the people. How different is that from excommunication or being branded a heretic by the religious establishment? The illegitimate ‘Church’ System STILL holds great sway over the gullible (professed) Christian public who fear being numbered among the rebellious. God’s greatest Prophets (including John the Baptist) always stood aloof of the religious system and were greatly out-numbered by the dominant forces. Elijah had to stand alone against 450 false prophets of Baal who had already gone out and slain hundreds of the Lord’s faithful. (1Kings19:12-21)

It’s really no surprise that those of us who Preach the Lord’s true Doctrine cannot buy or sell inside the religious system. (Rev13:17) The use of these words; ‘Buy & Sell’ in Revelation 13 are metaphorical. To Buy means the ability to Participate in a market place….To Sell translates as ability to Barter in a place. Are God’s true Messengers of Repentance and Faith Proven by deeds permitted to ‘Participate’ in the designated places of worship? Can they ‘Barter’ (the act or practice of carrying on a trade) among the ‘church’ people? BY NO MEANS…..because they have NOT taken on the Mark (which is the lust of the eye, flesh & pride of life!) but have CAST it away in the Crucifixion of the passions and desires of the flesh. (Rom6:4-6,Gal5:24)

That’s what has separated the ‘Ekklesia’ from the church since the beginning. When Saul (later Paul) made havoc of the church entering into every house dragging off men and women committing them to prison (Acts8:3) Obviously he was finding this ‘Ekklesia’ in the houses. He did not have to seek them out in the local synagogues or other official places of worship approved by the religious system. And the SAME holds true today….you will NOT find the ‘Called out ones’ partaking at the table of demons in a place of idolatry. (1Cor10:21)

Christ used this important Word when He said in Matt16:18 that upon this Rock I will build My Church. (Ekklesia) That is He would build His assembly on those called out of Darkness and Bondage into Light and Freedom from sin! (Acts26:18)
The Saints are NOT called to buildings set apart as sacred run by a religious establishment of celery with some kind of special privileges to Lord over people.
WHO is Greatest in the Kingdom of our Lord?

And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your servant. Matt20:27


But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matt23:11
Even the Ransom (redemption of Christ) is associated with this kind of Servitude:
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”Matt20:28
Jesus Served on the ‘Called out ones’ behalf in order to Redeem them from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God. That’s why His ‘Church’ is the ‘Chosen generation, the Royal priesthood, a holy nation of His own special people that may proclaim praises to Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous Light!’ 1Pet2:9. The Ekklesia is NOT the filthy ragged, desperately wicked, wretched, born depraved, chiefs of sinners sitting under the bondage of a religious system that rules over their minds and keeps them in ignorance. www.standingthegap.org

 

[zone]

I would encourage you to first study what the real church is......www.standingthegap . org

is standingthegap the real church tommy?

 

[kenisyes]

Ken, seriously?
first on the list!

Acts 2
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awed came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

honestly, i'd be far less inclined to "go to church" if there was no teaching (sermon included) every week.
service (loving neighbor) doesn't require a weekly assembly.

[i'll qualify that by saying i attended so many non-denoms who offered what they called a sermon every week - one verse with a self-help message or some other narcissistic take-home study attached.
that's why i gave up searching for a church for 2 years.
i found at times the fellowship and service that was attendant with the one-verse-per-week-the-bible-is-all-about-me was about as relevant as the so-called sermon.
the people, awesome and lovely....lack of teaching > not good.]

going to church (for me) is not primarily about music, and certainly is not about jumping around, falling down or any of that.

I had a parenthesis, and then erased it. It said [there are scriptures proving it was done, but none requiring us to go for that purpose]. You posted the Scripture that says it was done. Heb 10:25 tells us to go to encourage each other, I Cor. 14 tells us to share what we have. I figured I'd wait and see if anyone would post what you did.

By the way, that was done for less than a year, before the church was scattered.

Music is in an in-between category here, as there are no NT Scriptures saying we should do it, but there are OT Scriptures.

How many different sermons have you heard in your life?

 

[kenisyes]

during one of many one-on-ones with a baptist minister (who pastored a church i attended for a time), i was expressing my disappointment with the shallow funny stories etc that passed as 'sermons'.......he confided in me that they are told not to 'teach' above a grade six level! that the people can't handle it!

Now I know where they get some of that theology.

 

[Enow]

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

[SarahM777]

To share the gifts God has given you. Your reason and this are the two in Scripture. Notice, there is nothing in Scripture about going to hear a sermon every week.

What is the Biblical definition of the Church? The Church is the body of believers,it's not a building.it's not a once a week formula. Jesus said whenever two or more gather together in my name there I am with you also. The Bible never tells Christians to go to the temple,we are the temple,we are to assemble as believers but it never specifies where. When the believers met they did more then just a formula,they prayed for one another,encouraged one another,held one another accountable,and they showed Christ's love in a very real and practical way. We are never told that it was just one person speaking a homily,singing a few songs or reading a small bit of scripture,and after 55 minutes to an hour and a half that most people bolted out the door. It's recorded that Jesus would preach all day,Paul would at times be speaking after midnight.

 

[psychomom]

i'll qualify that by saying i attended so many non-denoms who offered what they called a sermon every week - one verse with a self-help message or some other narcissistic take-home study attached.
that's why i gave up searching for a church for 2 years.

ditto on the *ugh*! to that sort of teaching.
for years that was all we could find.

but because God is such a faithful Father,
we were led to a church that goes through a whole book, verse by verse,
à la John MacArthur, whose teachings we listened to online while we waited on the Lord.
(we were blessed by some other faithful preachers, too)

and God is so cool, when we first went to this church, they were just starting Romans, Mark's favorite book.

top it off with wonderful people and a place just right for each of us to minister, and be ministered to.

i think it's all important, yeah?

love you,
el

 

[zone]

How many different sermons have you heard in your life?

last year i calculated somewhere over 1,000.
obviously nearly all MP3s...many live.

 

[zone]

When the believers met.....they prayed for one another,encouraged one another,held one another accountable,and they showed Christ's love in a very real and practical way.

my church does all that.
i'm very grateful for it.
it took 10 years to find.

 

[resurrection33]

Its funny how one can have a grasp of some things which can be considered to be quite complex and really fall short on the basics.
Growing up in the church can also leave one with alot of religious baggage so that the gospel is sometimes somewhat veiled....my point....it is only recently that I have had the reason for going o church spelled out for me...and that is to serve and encourages others.For a long time I took it for granted that if you are a christian - that is simply what you do.
What are other reasons are good reasons to go to church?

I go to church for more than one reason. First, I go to honor God, who created me and shows me how to be safe and happy.

Second, I have a great deal of fun at church. I’m in the church choir, play my guitar and write Christian songs, and put on music programs on behalf of my church. I visit church seniors, which is very rewarding.

Service through my church gives me a sense of self-worth. When people don’t serve others, their opinion of themselves is very low. How can you be happy when you don’t serve others?

There are people in my church who have been very supportive and great friends. Life can be extremely lonely without loyal friends.

 

[kenisyes]

last year i calculated somewhere over 1,000.
obviously nearly all MP3s...many live.

How many were more or less duplicates?

The reason I ask is to put into perspective for everyone, why I have no interest in sermons. I have ministered music in over 8500 services, so that's how many sermons I heard, even if some were short. Then there are the couple thousand others before I started in ministry. I think there are 200 different ones. That's about all. This is part of why I am fond of noting how soon the Acts 2 church was dissolved by persecution, and how the Bible tells us other reasons for assembling.

 

[kenisyes]

it took 10 years to find.

No surprise there.

 

[kenisyes]

I go to church for more than one reason. First, I go to honor God, who created me and shows me how to be safe and happy.

Second, I have a great deal of fun at church. I’m in the church choir, play my guitar and write Christian songs, and put on music programs on behalf of my church. I visit church seniors, which is very rewarding.

Service through my church gives me a sense of self-worth. When people don’t serve others, their opinion of themselves is very low. How can you be happy when you don’t serve others?

There are people in my church who have been very supportive and great friends. Life can be extremely lonely without loyal friends.

I've noticed about 10% of the average church can say this. You are most fortunate to be in that 10%. Knowing you, I also know you are in the even more fortunate 2%, that can say this and is enthusiastic about building the Kingdom of God.

 

[resurrection33]

I've noticed about 10% of the average church can say this. You are most fortunate to be in that 10%. Knowing you, I also know you are in the even more fortunate 2%, that can say this and is enthusiastic about building the Kingdom of God.

Thanks, Ken. That’s very kind of you to say. I’d like to believe, though, that more people enjoy church service. It’s very rewarding.

 

[zone]

How many were more or less duplicates?

The reason I ask is to put into perspective for everyone, why I have no interest in sermons. I have ministered music in over 8500 services, so that's how many sermons I heard, even if some were short. Then there are the couple thousand others before I started in ministry. I think there are 200 different ones. That's about all. This is part of why I am fond of noting how soon the Acts 2 church was dissolved by persecution, and how the Bible tells us other reasons for assembling.

oh dear. i see.

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

i wonder if your lack of interest in sermons is related to being a continuationist? ongoing revelation...prophets telling you what God is saying and doing?
interesting.

concerning good sermons:

no, i would say there are absolutely more than 200 original or unique sermons. any 200 sermons on the same subject will still be 200 different sermons, as they given by different men, and the hearer may be at last hering the mesaage they hadn't heard til then. i've seen it happen many times.

even if there were only 200, if they were words directly from the Bible, i will be interested. every day.
it is my FOOD.

 

[clarkthompson]

a church service is for collective praise and worship of belivers to prepare them to support each other in their walk of serving Christ thru carry the gospel out to the world and teaching believers the bible and how to live the christian life