![[Shelbyville Times-Gazette]](http://www.t-g.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Wednesday, December 3, 2008
| Blogs | 
|
|
Until Crossroads.
Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008, at 7:38 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
I no longer go to Lighthouse full time so to fill the void until Crossroads exist in the physical for it already exist in the spiritual, I go and visit different denominations to get a feel of what is going on in the houses of God.
I have been to Calvary Baptist which I think is an awesome church and the song leader is second to none.
I went to a new church called Living water which is still in the infancy stage , I see it growing mightily.
I stopped by a Church of God of Prophecy church and talked to a friend of mine and the new pastor for about 30 minutes till I recognized him.
He is a dear friend of mines father who I haven't seen in over 20 years.
The man still knows how to bring the word of God the way it should be , with heart and conviction.
A lot of today's pastors could take lessons from him.
Look for me because I might show up at yours next. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Hot topics By the People or By the Judges.(82 ~ 2:17 PM, Dec 3)
I Thought I had Seen It All !
Under the Radar
The Driving Force Behind Me!
Hades, Hell, Sheol, or What?
|
![[Feed icon]](http://www.t-g.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
Michael,
I think that 'church hopping' is a great way to begin planning for your own congregation. You will find that many churches may have different beliefs than you but also that those same churches are still doing many things right.
The average 'pew christian' rarely gets bogged down in heavy theology or philosophy, but searches for a nurturing of faith and spirit.
It also helps to see that individual congregations may do many things differently than the denominations outline in order to meet the needs of the people they serve locally.
I think checking out different churches is a great idea. I did the same as well when my Pastor retired about a year ago and I just couldn't see myself submitting to the person who was to be pastor. I visited a lot and finally settled down at the People's Church. I like the church and the people there are great. I do believe that it is a great church for newly Christians or those who are new to the non-denominational atmosphere. I, mysekf, need a little bit more. In other words, I no longer in need of spiritual milk, I want spiritual food! But my husband, a baby Christian, loves it there and I will stay as long as he wants to because he is the head of our family. Getting back to the subject, you ought to come visit. We are having Scott Davis, a Christan comdedian, coming August 31 at 9:30 and at 11:10. Come check it out.
Thanks for the support.
Michael,
If I may, perhaps you have just overlooked this simple thought. When Jesus said he would build His church, it excluded all others as being acceptable. In other words, when a person sets out to start "my church" (your words), he by definition declares that it will not be part of Jesus' church. Jesus is the sole proprietor and instigator of His church. Since Jesus is not the instigator of any new church,then of necessity any new church does not belong to Him. His church was started at His command and by His apostles on the day of Pentecost after his ascension into Heaven.
Looking at the meaning of "church" might be helpful. In Jesus' day the term had no spiritual meaning. It simply meant "called out" or separated. Jesus' church was composed of people who were "called out" from the world into HIS spiritual kingdom. (My kingdom is not of this world.) His kingdom already exists in Heaven where He is. To be a part of that Heavenly, Spiritual Kingdom it is imperative to follow the guidlines found in the written Word of God. Jesus told His twelve apostles before he left the earth that he would send the Holy Spirit to guide them into ALL truth. In other words, there is no NEW truth. Everything pertinent to salvation and to the operation of the Lord's church is found in the pages of Holy writ. There is no need for new revelations in our day. The same things needed then are what are needed now. Not some NEW church, started by ANY man.
I hope you will take God's Word on the matter. Do not for any reason take mine or any other man's. There is only one test of truth, that is its agreement with the Word of God.
The apostle Paul said:
Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season.
I thank God that I preached nothing among you except Jesus and Him crucified.
John clarifies the word:
And the word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The concept of a church's membership being composed solely of priests conveys the idea that no man stands between a christian and God. The Old Testament role of priests was to mediate between God and man. The christian needs no such earthly advocate(s) since christians are priests and Jesus serves the function of High Priest, the only one allowed direct access to the Father. Just as the OT High Priest was the only one who could access God directly in the inner sanctum of the Temple.
The idea of a church in context with scripture is one of a group of people (priests) with a like minded servitude toward the living Word of God and through it to be adopted sons and daughters of God through Jesus Christ. To be a disciple of Christ is to follow the discipline of Christ's commands and precepts. The Holy Spirit lead the early church into just that, following the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are reminded to "mind not the world, nor the things that are in the world." There is no difference in today's world than that of yesteryear. Sin is still sin and Godliness is still just that, following the teachings of God, not those of man. When we keep our eyes on the prize and follow the path laid out for us, we do well.
I'm not sure if you're looking only in this area, but if you're willing to venture down the road a bit, check out World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro. It's a large congregation, but the worship is powerful and their are many opprotunities for fellowship.
It may give you some ideas.
Just a thought.
The church will be his church, that was a travesty on my part.
Everything belongs to him anyway.
Thanks for the correction.
Michael,maybe you were guilty of the same assumption as the little boy who spoke of "his" house,"his" car,etc.
It all really belonged to his Daddy and everybody knew it but the child did benefit from the use of all his family had plus he had a responsibility toward those things.
(Wasn't he told "Clean your room","Hang up your clothes","Water your garden" and "Feed your pets"?)
Yes,his father had bought or made everything the boy had but it belonged to *him* because he belonged to that family.
Perhaps,in the same way,what is God's belongs to us and He has given an entitlement to enjoy what is His even as He demands that we become His stewards.
As joint-heirs,it is only fitting that we prepare ourselves with little things,in little ways for taking full posession of what will one day be ours.
In that sense,a church can belong to us as a family belongs to us.
We belong to a family.
We belong to a church.
We owe them our love,our support and our talents because we are interdependent and we each grow stronger when the other prospers.
Maybe,Michael spake as a child when he related what he would do when his Father gave him his own (!) ministry and congregation.
Now,he is planning what he will do with them just as one might plan a garden in advance or think of how a house might be decorated or how one might teach a new pet to heel or canter or hop up on one's hand.
He is gaining insights into what his calling might require and how he could meet those needs.
That could lead to a certain presumptive cockiness but,instead of hubris,it could also be indicative of some necessary humility.
It could show that Michael is doing a lot of preparation.
He is investigating and getting his lesson up so he knows what he wants and so he'll be more ready for whatever the Lord chooses to send him.
(What the Lord offers him might not even be on the menu.)
But,maybe,there are worse sins than looking around and thinking "If that were mine,how would I take care of it?"
Maybe,we disappoint God more when we don't say "Daddy,I need to use your tools. I want to build something."
Maybe,He grieves when we pass by one of His posessions and declare "They ain't mine. Let somebody else worry about them."
Michael,dmcg has just shown that when we're at risk for getting too big for our britches,God sends an angel to let some of the hot air out so we don't get a split in our slacks at the wrong moment.
But,I hope you won't stop embracing all of Creation as yours and loving,utilizing and protecting every bit of it-from the swankiest to the skankiest.
I think God likes it when we do that so long as we remember that "joint-heir" means we have a portion of God's estate and Christ is our partner in that bequest.
Contrary to popular belief,it does NOT mean that the hosts of Heaven and the Godhead become the Staff assigned to our comfort.
Michael,
I would be somewhat beware of any church that is made of brick and stone or wood and metal. Jesus seemed to have little use for any of these materials in the church he was talking about.
Welcome back Parker Bros! I missed you.
I am very wary, the first sign of something non- scriptural and I leave.
I am going to churches where I know the people and I know what is being taught.
There is good and bad in all I observe the good and ignore the bad.
Michael,
Good to be back and getting over this summer cold. It has been a tale kicker for me.
Sorry if what I said earlier came across bad but some of the discussions on churches had me thinking about the actual Church. It took a while to find what I was looking for but I finally found the verses that I was being reminded of somewhat. I hope everyone does realize the church is not a building of stones and brick or metal and wood.
5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The church has not been torn down nor will it ever since it has been brought into existence.
Exactly and we should go to be "with the church" and not go to church.
My church could be my back yard or the woods or wherever God tells me to preach his word.