Devotion to the Apostles' Teaching

There is no supervision of the growth of the average church member. We are, for all intents and purposes, unpastored. Today, the pastor is typically someone who attends to the administration of the facility and this is increasingly problematic.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching...”

The apostles have a special and particular place within the church. Contemporary churches attempt to feed themselves. We've largely become consumers and preachers have largely become marketers, and all the more so if they, themselves, create the items to consume (books, videos, etc.). The deciding factor that determines what is preached and taught, who is hired or promoted, tends to answer the question "what do the people want?"

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers..."

There is no supervision of the growth of the average church member. We are, for all intents and purposes, unpastored. Today, the pastor is typically someone who attends to the administration of the facility and this is increasingly problematic.

The church members did not gather to vote on what should be taught or what should be studied. Their direction did not come from a popularity configuration, or a democratic configuration, or the latest book written by the head pastor. There were men in their midst who were specifically gifted with knowing what the Lord was saying to the church and were empowered to speak it to the believers. Those words and its relevance came through the apostolic and it still comes through to us, today, in the same way. Which means that there are apostles today. Many churches have dispensed with the apostolic in their decision and their desire to avoid hierarchies and to act more 'democratically'. Today, churches have made themselves to be places where people can come under any pretext and get as much or as little as they want to and are encouraged to give some money to keep that function going. (By the way, this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans referenced in Revelation 2; whereby the people decide, by majority rule, what is best for the church. Their deeds included the eating of food given to idols but their mindset was that they were no different than the people; they were not sanctified by God.)

All of this activity bears no relevance to truth. It's the psychology of competition and the "group think" that is the foundation of most of what calls itself church today. The early church experienced a genuine transformation in the thinking of the people because there was a genuine transformation in the culture of those people when they made contact with the kingdom. And the first cultural change centered around apostles, “The people continued steadfastly...” not 'casually', not 'occasionally', not by happenstance, not when they wanted to, not when it was convenient, “They continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine.”

They had been transferred from one kingdom into another, from darkness into the love of His Son, and sent ones from the new kingdom were required to represent and install the new culture among the people. They had to unlearn how to have dominion over themselves for their own benefit and to come under the rule of the King and His sent ones so that they, too, can mature enough to take up the business of their Father, the Living God. This happened through relationship and connection BECAUSE THE SON SENT THEM OUT IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH THE FATHER SENT THEM!

"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

So how were they given to the church? In the same manner in which Jesus was given to the disciples: as their teacher, friend, elder, and in the same Spirit as the Father. To the church, they were the representatives of the One who sent them. And that's how they knew how to instruct the church: they were cared for by Jesus in the same way they were to care for the saints. And for those they cared for, how would they be sent? In the same manner in which Jesus sent them which was in the same manner in which the Father sent Jesus. In this way the House of God would be built, just like a family lineage is built: from one generation to another... the bond of which is stronger than that of flesh or DNA: in the bond of the Spirit.

Do you want to know why the church is in its condition today? It is because we have abandoned the need for the sent ones, those who become the grace that God send to the people. And just so we're clear: this is not an office. This is not the Roman Catholic idea of succession from Peter. That is wrong. This is built through relationships, careful attention, and in the fear of the Lord, as those who must give an account. Those who are sent do not inhabit an office (necessarily) they are those filled with the grace to be sent because they know the one who sends them: namely Christ. And it is this part of the body I want to focus on. When you receive this, you'll see it all throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. I'll return later.

This is part one.

Grace and Peace to You,
Aaron56

I would suggest that you stay away from those big fancy buildings and seek out those thousands of small congregations out there.
You will quickly see just how wrong you are.

You mean the congregations Paul spoke against in 1 Corinthians 3:4? Who taught you that this was okay?

The only allowable division of the church is location. They gathered as households within a city but all believers were considered members of that location’s church.

I prefer small church because everyone is much more close and relationships flourish. I think it is true that the church is in a fallen state but to think that all have become corrupt or fallen is simply wrong not all who are labeled pastor or leader is what many have become..

The spirit speaks to the spirit and confirms what the spirit says the division in the church is a tactic of the devil he is a master at the art of war divided then conquer.

The division in the church has always bothered me everyone seems to be against each other each beleif and doctrine opposing one snother yet if everyone was lead by the spirit would not these things being void?

I think it is correct to say all churches today have fallen. If you follow the posts here objecting to the idea of Christ changing the way we live, objecting to following any instructions given by Christ calling it "law keepers" you would have to agree with me. Few people choose feeding their spirit with what is of God, what is of the world of TV, movies, books, is much more pleasing to them.

A small church in Portland Oregon became a mega church because they divided their congregation into small groups. However, many of the small groups were not centered on God. I went there for awhile, but I wash assigned to a small group whose leader taught politics rather than living a life for Christ. His politics consisted of gossiping about the evil in government instead of the way Christ would have it--to do good. When I found I could not change their way I left the church.

"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

Heresies are required so that those who are approved by the Lord may be seen. When heresies are folded into the doctrines of a church that church is cut off.

There are few who will judge these matters, this is somewhat my point.

To be honest I think the main issue is that many call themselves Christians but are Christian by title only, I think many start off on the right path but the seed was not planted on good soil. A lack of love and that fire for God is a dangerous thing in the church because it only produces fake believers who are easily manipulated by the world and build their beliefs on the things of the world such as politics

To be honest I think the main issue is that many call themselves Christians but are Christian by title only, I think many start off on the right path but the seed was not planted on good soil. A lack of love and that fire for God is a dangerous thing in the church because it only produces fake believers who are easily manipulated by the world and build their beliefs on the things of the world such as politics

the pastors sermon was well written very scriptural yet his words had no life in them.

Imagine if the church (people) developed relationships with others and recognized their change of heart (" Zacchaeus, I am dining at your house today.") before they were invited to the meetings....None of the "Say these words and you're in" nonsense. Here, all unbelievers are invited "into the church". In the time of the early church there was no such thing. Preaching to the unbelievers occurred in public forums for the most part. Sometimes it occurred in the Jewish temple because the people were there, not because the temple was special (the Most Holy Place had been violated by the Holy Spirit by that time). The saints knew that God ordained the steps of the righteous and that the people they knew were, primarily, those to whom they were called to minister, sometimes with words.

I think the church needs a revival some havr said a revival is coming and I pray this true because the church is in fact asleep we have lost that passion and love we have lost the connection to the spirit that once moved us. There was a time when the spirit was alive in all of us when every person could just radiate the spirit of God when we hungered and thirsted without quenching. What happened to that hunger? what happened to that thirst? Have we forgotten what it is like to hunger and thirst for him so badly that it is almost tortture? To be so hungry yet fed only enough to be sated yet still hunger for more? Have we forgotten the way the spirit would flow and we would just instinctively follow it and speak and act on it?

I have come across a person once at walmart he had severe burns and scars all over his body yet when he spoke to the lady at the counter there was actual joy in him and I could feel the spirit just being around him. I have never come across anyone else like that but this man reminded me of what we used to be people can tell there is something different even if they are unbelievers and those who know the spirit can feel it radiating from them.

When you people tell us how bad the church is and what it needs, it would be good if you included the number of local churches you have been in.
I will bet you have been in less than 1% , yet you make these judgments on all.
No credibility in such statements.

I'm not saying all are like this however there is a vast difference between a Christian by title and a Christian by heart and just to further make my point here the world views Christians as judgemental hypocrites who preach on love but show anything but that and for good reason.

Religion has taken over and the love of God has waxed cold I have been to many different churches spoken with many other believers and I can testify how one puts on the form of Godliness but has a lack thereof
I am sorry if I offend you but I have seen the problem and am merely stating the problem if you disagree that is fine but make no mistake it is an actual problem.

You mean the congregations Paul spoke against in 1 Corinthians 3:4? Who taught you that this was okay?

The only allowable division of the church is location. They gathered as households within a city but all believers were considered members of that location’s church.