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Sadly, you are not alone in this......so do not worry about not being able to attend congregational worship on a regular basis. God knows our limitations, and ........... more importantly, our hearts.
Stay strong in your faith, and maybe you can ask some friends over to your place (if you have Christian friends/family) and have a service there?
Stay strong in your faith, and maybe you can ask some friends over to your place (if you have Christian friends/family) and have a service there?
I am sorry you are unable to attend church, Blain, because of medical reasons. But Sparkman is not talking about those exceptional circumstances. He is talking about able bodied people who stay away from church because they have weird and totally unbiblical doctrines and are unable to accept correction by leaders who have studied for the bible using correct hermeneutical or Interpretation principles properly.
Fellowship is so important in growing in character. That doesn't just mean correct doctrine, but love, sharing, support and understanding. Healing from abuse, abandonment, hurts are best dealt with in person, by loving, Spirit filled Christians.
About 10 years ago, I started attending a Baptist church under the leading of the Lord. Three ladies and I, with the pastor's blessing started a book study of John. We went through it verse by verse. The next year we did Luke, the year after Acts, the next year Romans. We prayed a lot for different needs, and two of the ladies were especially gifted in hospitality, and taught me a lot! They learned how to systematically study the Bible from me. We learned so much about the Bible, but more important, we grew tremendously in character. Because of circumstances, we all went separate ways, eventually although we stayed in touch. One woman became a leader in women's ministries and evangelism. Another became her church's leader in children's ministries and using ESL to reach immigrants with the Bible. Another worked with brain damaged people, sharing the gospel with them. I became a worship leader and I have a ministry to the hurting and broken.
I know that God is using us in ministry because we were consistent not only in our small group Bible study, but because we were active and committed in our church. That pastor was far from perfect, and eventually got really off track in his preaching. He wasn't teaching bad doctrine per se, but he continued year after year to hammer home something basically irrelevant, and many did leave. Some got sidelined with no church, but most found good Bible believing churches elsewhere.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of belonging to and being committed to and participating in a local church body. Brothers and sisters in Christ can walk with us through valleys, rejoice with us in good times, and sharpen us while demonstrating Christ-like qualities. And that is not something you can get on the Internet, or sitting at home by yourself, grumbling about how wrong all churches are!
Fellowship is so important in growing in character. That doesn't just mean correct doctrine, but love, sharing, support and understanding. Healing from abuse, abandonment, hurts are best dealt with in person, by loving, Spirit filled Christians.
About 10 years ago, I started attending a Baptist church under the leading of the Lord. Three ladies and I, with the pastor's blessing started a book study of John. We went through it verse by verse. The next year we did Luke, the year after Acts, the next year Romans. We prayed a lot for different needs, and two of the ladies were especially gifted in hospitality, and taught me a lot! They learned how to systematically study the Bible from me. We learned so much about the Bible, but more important, we grew tremendously in character. Because of circumstances, we all went separate ways, eventually although we stayed in touch. One woman became a leader in women's ministries and evangelism. Another became her church's leader in children's ministries and using ESL to reach immigrants with the Bible. Another worked with brain damaged people, sharing the gospel with them. I became a worship leader and I have a ministry to the hurting and broken.
I know that God is using us in ministry because we were consistent not only in our small group Bible study, but because we were active and committed in our church. That pastor was far from perfect, and eventually got really off track in his preaching. He wasn't teaching bad doctrine per se, but he continued year after year to hammer home something basically irrelevant, and many did leave. Some got sidelined with no church, but most found good Bible believing churches elsewhere.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of belonging to and being committed to and participating in a local church body. Brothers and sisters in Christ can walk with us through valleys, rejoice with us in good times, and sharpen us while demonstrating Christ-like qualities. And that is not something you can get on the Internet, or sitting at home by yourself, grumbling about how wrong all churches are!
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There is a church I am able to walk to and I do go there but this church while it is a good one does not fill my spiritual needs it's as if something is missing. I always speak my heart even there in that church and I astound many ppl there with my fire and passion for God they consider me wise and insightful in the things of God but i believe this is only because that fire is missing in this church and so when they see this fire it astonishes them.
believe in one god, and through the bible,we can see why we believe in that god. however different things have been added. ie in different churches or sects. either because of misunderstanding or things that have been passed down. ie how that church is run.
so humanly believing in a god , you don t need a church. explaining why and how, you believe in that god.can by answered by the bible, learning to live with god inside you, is an other thing.
The word of God the bible even in it's lowest form is still the word of God. Just because I prefer a certain translation does not mean that everybody must have the same preference to have fellowship with me and the Lord.
Every bible today is a translation and has translational errors. The Holy Spirit compensates for these errors and Gods truth prevails in the hearts of those who love Him. It is not the perceived translational errors that are the problem but the clear truth of Gods word that causes the disagreements.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Every bible today is a translation and has translational errors. The Holy Spirit compensates for these errors and Gods truth prevails in the hearts of those who love Him. It is not the perceived translational errors that are the problem but the clear truth of Gods word that causes the disagreements.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
I don't imagine God would say to avoid all churches because you think they miss a few things. Fellowship is more important than complete accuracy in all things.
Besides, do you accept every Word of God to the exact same standard you hold all churches to? All Believers are imperfect people limited in their own understanding of God, including you. Churches just have more of us gathered together.
Besides, do you accept every Word of God to the exact same standard you hold all churches to? All Believers are imperfect people limited in their own understanding of God, including you. Churches just have more of us gathered together.
people believing that there is god, is not a new concept, however one thing that some miss , when reading acts 10. is god hears the prayers of a non jewish believer.(all believer not just christain) and at that time in history , it was unexplainable until peter showed up. my point god hears all people prayers, even when you dont know why, or understand anything about the history of god , ie the hows , whens etc.
take the parable of the good samaritan , because of the law, the jewish teacher, could not stop and help , even if he wanted to. (food for thought)
take the parable of the good samaritan , because of the law, the jewish teacher, could not stop and help , even if he wanted to. (food for thought)
And we also have Mike W. who led me to the Lord. We have Tim G. who helped me grow into a mature believer. We also have Mitch M. who helped me grow into a godly husband. All pastors.
Do I agree with everything they taught? No.
Do I owe a lot of my spiritual growth to these men? Yes.
For every bad apple in the church, there are hundreds more. It's just a matter of how much you care to try.
Do I agree with everything they taught? No.
Do I owe a lot of my spiritual growth to these men? Yes.
For every bad apple in the church, there are hundreds more. It's just a matter of how much you care to try.
I'm not necessarily directing this to you alone Blaine, but a prominent and erroneous approach to finding a church is "what feeds me spiritually", or "what I get out of it."
For anyone professing to be a mature believer, a better approach to finding a good church is asking "where can I serve and feed others?"
For anyone professing to be a mature believer, a better approach to finding a good church is asking "where can I serve and feed others?"
That's what I've been saying forever. We need to fellowship with those of like faith based on the gospel 'that was first delivered unto the Saints'.
Romans 16 .....mark them that cause divisions (clerical/laity) and offenses, CONTRARY to sound doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies. And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Any church, so called, that isn't lined up with 1Cor.12 and Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 isn't a church at all. It may be a hall of oratory monologue, but it's not a NT church.
Romans 16 .....mark them that cause divisions (clerical/laity) and offenses, CONTRARY to sound doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies. And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Any church, so called, that isn't lined up with 1Cor.12 and Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 isn't a church at all. It may be a hall of oratory monologue, but it's not a NT church.
That's all very well and good but most assemblies are not set up for an every member participation open meeting as clearly described in everyone's bible that's reading this right now.
Very depressing having the power of God within and His blessed functions given to you and all you are allowed to do is holler 'amen' to the same guy Sunday after Sunday. That's not God's assembly.
Very depressing having the power of God within and His blessed functions given to you and all you are allowed to do is holler 'amen' to the same guy Sunday after Sunday. That's not God's assembly.
S
Are you an Armstrongite or something?
I am uncertain why you feel a need to comment on this thread. I made one brief allusion to my past and you decide to make that comment.
I know prove-all follows my threads and posts his Armstrongite trash on just about every one of them, but I am uncertain why you are taking offense.
What point did I make which was unbiblical? If you have an issue with the post, why???????
I am uncertain why you feel a need to comment on this thread. I made one brief allusion to my past and you decide to make that comment.
I know prove-all follows my threads and posts his Armstrongite trash on just about every one of them, but I am uncertain why you are taking offense.
What point did I make which was unbiblical? If you have an issue with the post, why???????
This is not a brief allusion to your past, every thread out of your mouth you slander
thousands of people, in several different church organations,
[brief] this would be another, a bold faced lie you have sprouted
I do not follow you around, if i see miss applyed verses I speakup, you just miss much.
this is another lie spread by sparkman, who has been told several times the truth,
in the meantime you post how unstable and wonkey Sabbath observes are following colts.
I agree with oldthennew, your constent deragatory and accusings are wearing thin.
you remind me of the Nicolaitans[see post 19]
thousands of people, in several different church organations,
[brief] this would be another, a bold faced lie you have sprouted
I do not follow you around, if i see miss applyed verses I speakup, you just miss much.
this is another lie spread by sparkman, who has been told several times the truth,
in the meantime you post how unstable and wonkey Sabbath observes are following colts.
I agree with oldthennew, your constent deragatory and accusings are wearing thin.
you remind me of the Nicolaitans[see post 19]
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1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (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:
Just a couple reasons we need others.
Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (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:
Just a couple reasons we need others.