Not By Works

[UnderGrace]

Passively, our work is to receive and rest in his work for us which is a terribly painful thing because we are all seasoned
“do-it-yourselfers.”


As it was with Martha in Luke 10:38-42, so it is with us: we just have to be doing something. We can’t sit still.

Achieving, not receiving, has become the mark of spiritual maturity.
It is much harder to rest in his promise of grace than it is to make a list and try to live by it.


With this in mind, Martin Luther wrote.....

“To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.”

 

[dcontroversal]

I would agree, scripture teaches that the church is the assembly of believers, so many now are based on the "seeker sensitive" movement.

Evangelism for the most part is for when we are out in the world.

One church I went to showed a clip from the Lord of the Rings to start his sermon, Why?

Amen....like the sign on the door when you leave....You are now entering the mission field....I am old school.....the emphasis should be on preaching the word...not the song service, gymnasium ministry, pot lucks and or give the dog a bone entertainment.....I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE CHURCH COMES TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP......if the emphasis is not the preaching of the word, they have serious issues IMV

 

[UnderGrace]

If I may answer....the bible states clearly to preach the word and let the chips fall where they fall...no where are we commanded to "improve" on God's plan and or institute humanistic reasoning and or tailored fun and games to keep people or get people interested in the truth......those won by the truth will be kept by the truth....if one wants entertainment....go buy a movie ticket.....churches are not social events....nor are they to be reduced to such...the end does not justify the means.....

Amen and Amen!!

The church is for believers and it fills a spiritual role.

I think Paul makes this clear in many places.

 

[UnderGrace]

Amen....like the sign on the door qhen you leave....You are now entering the mission field....I am old school.....the emphasis should be on preaching the word...not the song service, gymnasium ministry, pot lucks and or give the dog a bone entertainment.....I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE CHURCH COMES TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP......if the emphasis is not the preaching of the word, they have serious issues IMV

Amen....like the sign on the door when you leave....You are now entering the mission field....

Right on....makes perfect sense!!

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Amen....like the sign on the door qhen you leave....You are now entering the mission field....I am old school.....the emphasis should be on preaching the word...not the song service, gymnasium ministry, pot lucks and or give the dog a bone entertainment.....I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE CHURCH COMES TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP......if the emphasis is not the preaching of the word, they have serious issues IMV

Most churches have 20 minute sermonettes, and preach hellfire and brimstone.

My church has a music ministry where people who want get to gether with their kids and sing all kinds of songs for adults and children. We then have an hour teaching, categorically through the word. We then have a quetion and answer session which lasts for a bit, After this. We usually hang out for a bit, But many just go home.

They have been trying to get people to hang out more, So last year they hard a football party when two local teams (the two Ohio football teams) played. They also have cookouts. And other things.

If this is evil like we have been told today. Something is majorly wrong!!

 

[dcontroversal]

I think you cross the line comparing an annual or occasional broadcast of a sport

to "gospel from a stripping pole"

EG clearly said (as will as bill)

this is not a common church practice

but a rare encouragement to spend more time in fellowship

(though i believe it is wise to be careful of lines that should not be crossed and there is nothing wrong with you not liking this thing... and i agree that most modern day churches often lose most credibility in their efforts to "bend" for the world)

I have no problem with getting together for fellowship as long as it does not take the place of worship and the preaching of the word.....and or as long as entertainment is not used to GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE WORD........

 

[dcontroversal]

Most churches have 20 minute sermonettes, and preach hellfire and brimstone.

My church has a music ministry where people who want get to gether with their kids and sing all kinds of songs for adults and children. We then have an hour teaching, categorically through the word. We then have a quetion and answer session which lasts for a bit, After this. We usually hang out for a bit, But many just go home.

They have been trying to get people to hang out more, So last year they hard a football party when two local teams (the two Ohio football teams) played. They also have cookouts. And other things.

If this is evil like we have been told today. Something is majorly wrong!!

I have no issue with fellowshipping, but believe the emphasis should be on preaching of the word which is the worship of God....we study for 1.5 hours straight when we meet....pray before and after......

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I have no problem with getting together for fellowship as long as it does not take the place of worship and the preaching of the word.....and or as long as entertainment is not used to GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE WORD........

I think we should use all things to help introduce the word to people

Jesus ate and drank with sinners

 

[calibob]

Amen and Amen!!

The church is for believers and it fills a spiritual role.

I think Paul makes this clear in many places.

It fills 2 because some people gravitate to where others appear happy and what they hear sounds like the truth. Isaiah 55 vs 10 & 11
Isaiah 55:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I have no issue with fellowshipping, but believe the emphasis should be on preaching of the word which is the worship of God....we study for 1.5 hours straight when we meet....pray before and after......

We do that, Then try to figure out ways to fellowship and outreach after.

 

[dcontroversal]

The believers should never go underground, If they do that, we are not following the commission to go into the world.

God promised the gates of hell will never prevail. Why does the church not trust God?

As paul said, You may be able to take my phsical life. But you can not stop the power of God. (He will just send others) and when I am gone, I am home.

I cannot help but think about church history and how many would hide in caves, the woods etc. to keep from being wiped out by the Catholic persecution and then ultimately fleeing to the New World for religious freedom........At some point for those to be alive and remain some will have to flee and hide.....Jesus did say...when you shall see the abomination that makes desolate stand where it ought not...FLEE....and dont take anything or go back for anything......he was talking to his disciples....that were saved and immersed.....

 

[dcontroversal]

It's not activities of the world that we avoid, but the spirit of the world or the influence of evil that's in the world. Football by itself is not evil. It can be used by men controlled by evil.

We have received Holy Spirit. Of God- heaven.

Like I say....In the world, but not of it!

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I cannot help but think about church history and how many would hide in caves, the woods etc. to keep feom being wiped out by the Catholic persecution and then ultimately fleeing to the New World for religious freedom........At some point for those to be alive and remain some will have to flee and hide.....Jesus did say...when you shall see the abomination that makes desolate stand where it ought not...FLEE....and dont take anything or go back for anything......he was talki g to his disciples....that were saved and immersed.....

He was talking to Israel. To flee to the moutnains where he would protect them

The rest of us, Along with the 144000 and the two witnesses, Are told to continue to work out our salvation and spread the gospel

 

[calibob]

It fills 2 because some people gravitate to where others appear happy and what they hear sounds like the truth. Isaiah 55 vs 10 & 11
Isaiah 55:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

People need to hear the word, not silly songs. The emphasis must be on the word. There's no harm done by singing and praising the Lord together if we get focused on the word most of all.

 

[dcontroversal]

HERETICSDAMNEDNOTSAVED:


You must be trying to prove how infinitely immature you really are. My guess is you are a very immature teenager or younger. We know you are the same person with different names, that gives all the red x to everyone, View attachment 195508 . No, we will not get mad, and you are a lot easier to ignore than you think. And no matter what you think, you are not Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (CSBBible)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,
5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Proverbs 10:23 (ESV)
23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

You really have to wonder hey....To get a red x on a truthful post speaks volumes.....

I got one for declaring Abraham was justified and declared righteous by Faith without one work/deed of the law......

oh well...

 

[dcontroversal]

He was talking to Israel. To flee to the moutnains where he would protect them

The rest of us, Along with the 144000 and the two witnesses, Are told to continue to work out our salvation and spread the gospel

For those that believe in the imminent return maybe.....for those that do not buy that line not so much...by the way....the disciples he spoke to were identified as the church twice in the present tense

 

[eternally-gratefull]

For those that believe in the imminent return maybe.....for those that do not buy that line not so much...by the way....the disciples he spoke to were identified as the church twice in the present tense

I know

Bt he is taling to those in jerusalem

The OT says and even revelations says that God will protect Isreal (the woman) while her offspring is persecuted

We still have to do our jobs.. If we are not doing what we were commissioned to do. We are a sad people.

 

[FollowHisSteps]

A small observation

What dominates most churches today is worship songs of praise to God.
It has grown because this is a personal relationship expression of who God is in our lives.

By contrast we have a group of believers whose focus is on being preached to hour upon hour,
by one teacher to them, with prayer before and after. Praise God for the study of His word,
except from what has been expressed it is polarised and unimaginative and without the
depth Gods word speaks to our hearts at the right time in the right way.

I testify, preachers reach me as they bring Gods word alive, and the Lord speaks to my heart.
It maybe totally different than the preacher intended, but that is God speaking.
Our teacher is Christ through the Holy Spirit. We are like the wind, and His people cannot
be contained, Amen, thank you Jesus for who you are and how you work

 

[dcontroversal]

I think we should use all things to help introduce the word to people

Jesus ate and drank with sinners

A few things I have learned in my 45 years in church with the last 33 years or so being fully immersed in it, teaching, studying, seminary etc.....

a. If you think in your mind I should witness to this person that is the prompting of or from the Spirit

b. JESUS never grabbed someone and crammed the word down their throat....the situation will develope if we are to witness to a particular person

c. Have something to say and people will listen

d. Better know your word, they will ask every question under the sun to try and throw you

E. Know when to walk away and or if one requires more than one attempt based upon their reception of the word and or opposition to what you are saying

f. The biggie...we save no one...leave the result to God....in the very minimum we have increased their accountability before God

 

[SpoonJuly]

I know

Bt he is taling to those in jerusalem

The OT says and even revelations says that God will protect Isreal (the woman) while her offspring is persecuted

We still have to do our jobs.. If we are not doing what we were commissioned to do. We are a sad people.

There is a time to speak, a time to remain silent, and a time to walk away.
Even Paul left in a basket let down over the wall when they would no longer listen but would kill him.