Anti-denominational followers of Jesus

Yes, that's true. But we don't know what He did everytime He went into a synagogue. And His ministry was far broader than His attendance at synagogues.

I am one of those believers that equates no church attendance to backsliding in most cases. I just can imagine a fully surrendered Christian staying home on Sunday Morning. This part of Christian

I agree. I don't care for home fellowships. I am glad you are for meeting with saints in a public place with an elder involved. I was worried you were going to stay isolated until Jesus comes. We have progress.

You seem to have missed the point. The Jews went to the synagogues to assemble and worship, and Christ joined them because He was fully under the Law of Moses (which required the observance of the Sabbath). The Christian "Sabbath" is the Lord's Day, which was set aside for Christian worship in assemblies. It is Christ Himself who made the first day of the week into "the Lord's Day".

You seem to have missed the point. The Jews went to the synagogues to assemble and worship, and Christ joined them because He was fully under the Law of Moses (which required the observance of the Sabbath). The Christian "Sabbath" is the Lord's Day, which was set aside for Christian worship in assemblies. It is Christ Himself who made the first day of the week into "the Lord's Day".

Nemiah6, you state, " It is Christ Himself who made the first day of the week into "the Lord's Day". As you so often ask, please provide your scriptural reference as to Jesus establishing the 'Lords Day'. Thanks.

I was always under the impression that it was the early Apolostolic Church, that Jesus founded that made the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, in honor of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

Nemiah6, you state, " It is Christ Himself who made the first day of the week into "the Lord's Day". As you so often ask, please provide your scriptural reference as to Jesus establishing the 'Lords Day'. Thanks.

I was always under the impression that it was the early Apolostolic Church, that Jesus founded that made the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, in honor of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

Sorry to take your joy away from you, but it seems I didn't explain myself properly 😬

I'm very much into home fellowships, that is where the true nurturing can happen. But if we are going to ask someone to offer their home as a meeting place, we need to protect their household from any kind of threat. And to my mind, unless we know a person adequately enough that they won't be a threat, it would be best to get to know them by meeting up with them regularly in a public space first, before inviting them into a home fellowship.

I don't attend any fellowship at the moment, and haven't for decades, but I'm always on the lookout for one where I know its members will be properly observed and served. I, like others here that are in a similar situation to mine, would dearly love to find such a fellowship, but we are not even sure if they exist!

Nemiah6, you state, " It is Christ Himself who made the first day of the week into "the Lord's Day". As you so often ask, please provide your scriptural reference as to Jesus establishing the 'Lords Day'. Thanks.

Sure, Here is the relevant Scripture passage:

JOHN 20: CHRIST ESTABLISHED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS LORD'S DAY
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre...

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you... 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:...

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came... 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

So Christians should ask themselves why John has recorded this as he has, and what is its significance.

1. John repeats "the first day of the week" twice to emphasize that Resurrection Day was indeed the first day of the week (the morrow after the Sabbath).

2. Christ repeated "Peace be unto you twice" to assure the disciples that He had accomplished the work of reconciling God the Father to the world, and now there was peace with God and the peace of God for those who believed on Christ.

3. Christ gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His apostles on the first day of the week, and the day of Pentecost was also on the first day of the week, when the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to about 3,000 Jews. This is significant.

4. For whatever reason, Thomas, who should have been present was absent, but refused to believe that Christ was alive. Now Jesus could easily have appeared to Thomas and all the apostles the very next day, but He deliberated chose to wait for eight days (including the day of resurrection). Which meant that He would see Himself declared as both Lord and God by Thomas on the first day of the week. Thus Thomas (and presumably all the apostles) worshipped Christ on the first day of the week.

5. It is God who inspired the apostle John to call this day "the Lord's Day", but it would have been regarded as the Lord's Day for many years prior to that. And Justin Martyr, writing in the 2nd century speaks of the Lord's Day quite extensively.

Sure, Here is the relevant Scripture passage:

JOHN 20: CHRIST ESTABLISHED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS LORD'S DAY
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre...

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you... 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:...

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came... 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

So Christians should ask themselves why John has recorded this as he has, and what is its significance.

1. John repeats "the first day of the week" twice to emphasize that Resurrection Day was indeed the first day of the week (the morrow after the Sabbath).

2. Christ repeated "Peace be unto you twice" to assure the disciples that He had accomplished the work of reconciling God the Father to the world, and now there was peace with God and the peace of God for those who believed on Christ.

3. Christ gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His apostles on the first day of the week, and the day of Pentecost was also on the first day of the week, when the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to about 3,000 Jews. This is significant.

4. For whatever reason, Thomas, who should have been present was absent, but refused to believe that Christ was alive. Now Jesus could easily have appeared to Thomas and all the apostles the very next day, but He deliberated chose to wait for eight days (including the day of resurrection). Which meant that He would see Himself declared as both Lord and God by Thomas on the first day of the week. Thus Thomas (and presumably all the apostles) worshipped Christ on the first day of the week.

5. It is God who inspired the apostle John to call this day "the Lord's Day", but it would have been regarded as the Lord's Day for many years prior to that. And Justin Martyr, writing in the 2nd century speaks of the Lord's Day quite extensively.

Everything you cite is correct, except for the heading which you made up, "JOHN 20: CHRIST ESTABLISHED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS LORD'S DAY". I agree that Christ arose on Sunday, the first day of the week. but where is the "Lord's Day' even mentioned in the verses you have cited?

In fact, the only place in the Bible where I the Lord's Day is referenced is in Revelations, after Jesus arose from the dead, "On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, " but that verse never mentions changing the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday.

So in what scriptures does Jesus mandate a change of worship from the Sabbath to 'The Lord's Day'? Thanks.

Everything you cite is correct, except for the heading which you made up, "JOHN 20: CHRIST ESTABLISHED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS LORD'S DAY". I agree that Christ arose on Sunday, the first day of the week. but where is the "Lord's Day' even mentioned in the verses you have cited?

In fact, the only place in the Bible where I the Lord's Day is referenced is in Revelations, after Jesus arose from the dead, "On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, " but that verse never mentions changing the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday.

So in what scriptures does Jesus mandate a change of worship from the Sabbath to 'The Lord's Day'? Thanks.

Are there any other members of CC that believe divisions/sects/denominations or independent churches that hold formalised religious services, are not in the best interest of the Lord Jesus?

Dividing Jesus' body up into different belief systems can't be good, and repetitive religious observances seem to hark back to the superseded, old testament and ritualistic system, that we've been freed from.

Wouldn't it be great if we were all just simply known as followers of Christ, or Christians, with no other labels. No theological complexities, a common front to those on the outside, and putting our efforts only into developing behaviour that emulates Jesus'.

Some have said that even though they fellowship with a denominational church, they have no specific allegiance to it. But aren't they doing that by association, and in effect supporting division?

When Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it, I believe that He has true fellowships all over the place that are sufficient for any hungry believer to belong to and be nurtured and serve others.

To find them requires faith, prayer and obedience to try. It cannot be true that "they don't exist" because there will always be a remnant that has not bowed the knee to "modern idolatry of whatever kind"

The danger for the non-denominational (like me) is that they form a denomination inadvertently. I also believe that not so many believers are wedded to denominations as they used to be. Since teaching seems to be a thing of the past in many churches, it's understandable. Surveys suggest that the pastor is the draw card for most people. This is wrong also. But the church in the Western world is not a lot like the pattern we see in the NT.

Sure, Here is the relevant Scripture passage:

JOHN 20: CHRIST ESTABLISHED THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK AS LORD'S DAY
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre...

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you... 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:...

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came... 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

So Christians should ask themselves why John has recorded this as he has, and what is its significance.

1. John repeats "the first day of the week" twice to emphasize that Resurrection Day was indeed the first day of the week (the morrow after the Sabbath).

2. Christ repeated "Peace be unto you twice" to assure the disciples that He had accomplished the work of reconciling God the Father to the world, and now there was peace with God and the peace of God for those who believed on Christ.

3. Christ gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His apostles on the first day of the week, and the day of Pentecost was also on the first day of the week, when the gift of the Holy Ghost was given to about 3,000 Jews. This is significant.

4. For whatever reason, Thomas, who should have been present was absent, but refused to believe that Christ was alive. Now Jesus could easily have appeared to Thomas and all the apostles the very next day, but He deliberated chose to wait for eight days (including the day of resurrection). Which meant that He would see Himself declared as both Lord and God by Thomas on the first day of the week. Thus Thomas (and presumably all the apostles) worshipped Christ on the first day of the week.

5. It is God who inspired the apostle John to call this day "the Lord's Day", but it would have been regarded as the Lord's Day for many years prior to that. And Justin Martyr, writing in the 2nd century speaks of the Lord's Day quite extensively.

I think I did. I mentioned Timothy appointed elders in Ephesus.

Show me one example of a worship team. Show me one example of a Youth Pastor. Show me one example of a Bus ministry to pick up kids in a neighborhood near the church building. Show me one example of a nursing home ministry. Show me one example of a an out reach pastor who organizes and gets people from the church involved in outreaches.

The Church has the freedom to grow dynamically and organically to meet the needs in the local assembly as they meet together and serve Christ and live life together, and as they attempt to reach the lost with the Gospel. If as they go about doing that they develop a lead pastor model along with elders, deacons, outreach leaders, youth pastors, children pastors, worship team leaders, etc they have that freedom to do so. It is neither wrong or right in a New Testament Legalistic code book on exact methods of local assembly organization and leadership models.

Pray, seek God as a body, and develop the model that works for you. It's that simple. Let the Holy Spirit be in charge and the scriptures as your guide. There is a reason it is not all spelled out like the Law of Moses for temple cultic practices as that is not the way the Church was to operate. Looking for a scripture that says this is exactly how it must be organized won't work. Praying and hearing from the Holy Spirit as needs arise is the model.

And most good churches that have a lead pastor also have a board that votes on major decisions and the pastor does not go against those decisions. Many lead pastors have testimonies about how much they appreciate the board model because they would have done things they would have later regretted without those checks and balances in place.

A lead pastor should not be a dictator running the show. You can have a lead pastor that is more like a "pillar" and a "spokes person" for the governing body.

Every church is unique and we can't just say all lead pastor models are unbiblical. The bible does not support that assumption.

Another thread where people try to justify their refusing to follow the command to assemble.
They seem to be looking for others that agree with them 100% without considering they may be the ones in the wrong. And I believe those who refuse to assemble are wrong in most of their beliefs.
There are no perfect local churches. Never has been.
We all should find a local church to serve with. NO EXCUSES.

Show me one from one scripture that the Bible will be used as a dictionary or a history reference. Show me one scripture reference that even mentions the Bible, Old and New Testament combined.

Scripture was never meant to be used as a history or science book. And there is ample and provable evidence outside scripture to show there were indeed bishops/oveerseers in the Apolostic church.

You choose to ignore history to fit your beliefs. It is simple to research the structure of the Apolostilic Church, the Church that Jesus founded. From these documents we learn that the Church of the first two centuries had a definite governing structure, consisting of four principle offices: the bishop, the presbyters, the deacons, and the laity. Early Church Hierarchy | First Century Church Structure (hierarchystructure.com)

Of course you don't want these things to be true, so you try and prove your point by saying these historical facts aren't listed in the Bible. You try and make the Bible fit your beliefs rather than making your beliefs fit God's word in Scripture.

danger for the non-denominational (like me) is that they form a denomination inadvertently.