What's it like in your church?

NDL

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In my area, there are two types of churches:

The first type of church is dead and useless (Rev 3:1).

The second type of church administers the right "medicine," but in a dose/strength that is not strong enough to get the job done well. Therein lies the issue: because the church is following the prescribed path, it thinks that it is doing well, when in fact it is administering a "cure" in a degree of strength that isn't enough to cure anything.

Example: a church that teaches expositorilly on Sundays, is a church that is following a good foundation building method, yet the church only meets on Sundays. There's nothing of value sold in the church bookstore; the Pastor is not given to writing articles, etc; there is no midweek bible study, etc - thus is the church following the prescribed method, but with an insufficient strength to get the job done.

What does the church look like in your area?
 

HTacianas

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In my area, there are two types of churches:

The first type of church is dead and useless (Rev 3:1).

The second type of church administers the right "medicine," but in a dose/strength that is not strong enough to get the job done well. Therein lies the issue: because the church is following the prescribed path, it thinks that it is doing well, when in fact it is administering a "cure" in a degree of strength that isn't enough to cure anything.

Example: a church that teaches expositorilly on Sundays, is a church that is following a good foundation building method, yet the church only meets on Sundays. There's nothing of value sold in the church bookstore; the Pastor is not given to writing articles, etc; there is no midweek bible study, etc - thus is the church following the prescribed method, but with an insufficient strength to get the job done.

What does the church look like in your area?

My Church is where God dwells among men.
 
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com7fy8

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a church that teaches expositorilly on Sundays, is a church that is following a good foundation building method, yet the church only meets on Sundays.
There can be outreach and sharing by example among members, in different ways during the week. These might not be official, might not show on a schedule.

There's nothing of value sold in the church bookstore;
"Freely you have received, freely give." (in Matthew 10:8)

I personally seek to be involved in ministry which is freely given and freely received. So, I do not depend on my church to sell the right books. I myself need to be God's example to read > 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 > 1 Peter 5:3.

the Pastor is not given to writing articles, etc;
I think what matters is how much the pastor is an example whom we know personally, so we can read and feed on his or her example of how to be in love and how to do well in marriage and bringing up children and how to relate and minister the way the Bible says.

there is no midweek bible study,
This, of course, can mean there is a problem, a lack. But, like I offer, what we do in private and secret and at home can matter a lot. In my church, we have a midweek, but it has ones who fit with the personality of the one ministering, more or less, and there are various mature example members who do not come to our midweek, but they can be busy with various ministry and marital and family things.

What does the church look like in your area?
Get to know the really Christian people, and we see how the church looks. Do not merely look at what is scheduled and outward within different boxes around town.

Where people are more well-to-do, ones can use money to operate church buildings, and so churches have to take care of financial requirements and other administrative stuff. So, in order to handle money and maintenance matters, churches might tend to have type A, make-it-happen people in the pulpits and as heads of ministries very money dependent. Pastors, then, might be church administrators who can preach, too, and not ones you can personally get to know so you can feed on their example.

But in the back row . . . or behind the sound box . . . you might find a senior and mature person who is a good example of how to live God's word. And this person knows how not to get tangled and mangled in politics and riffraff and trying to help people who constantly just sabotage whatever you set up for them. But the pastor might not be so mature and experienced and might give in to pressures to do burn-out efforts to rescue uncooperative people, and workaholic ministering and admin stuff.

If we learn how to live with Jesus > "you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:28-30) Plus, we find others who are like ourselves, don't we? Isn't our own character a magnet, of sorts, which attracts us together with ones who are somehow like us?? With Jesus, we can tell who He has for us; He makes us able to tell the difference.
 
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NDL

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I personally seek to be involved in ministry which is freely given and freely received. So, I do not depend on my church to sell the right books. I myself need to be God's example to read > 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 > 1 Peter 5:3.

That's you :). If a new person comes into the faith, it's helpful to be able to direct them to edifying materials (hence the purpose of a good church bookstore :)).

I did attend a church many years ago, that sold books for no profit. I didn't know what a gospel tract was, until someone introduced me to a tract in the bookstore :).

But, like I offer, what we do in private and secret and at home can matter a lot. In my church, we have a midweek, but it has ones who fit with the personality of the one ministering, more or less, and there are various mature example members who do not come to our midweek, but they can be busy with various ministry and marital and family things.

Understood :).

Get to know the really Christian people, and we see how the church looks. Do not merely look at what is scheduled and outward within different boxes around town.

What you wrote is sound :). My focus on a mid week study is to see that people are equipped in doctrine; if the Pastor is not purposing to see people edified in doctrine, I see him as being derelict to his calling.

Isn't our own character a magnet, of sorts, which attracts us together with ones who are somehow like us?? With Jesus, we can tell who He has for us; He makes us able to tell the difference.

That's what makes my current situation a bit odd; some people eisegete the Scriptures, to satisfy a curiosity that they have, instead of studying a passage because it's encompassed within the Word of God.

In other words, many people are slack in studying, while others study to satisfy a curiosity that pertains to their interest (e.g. the purpose driven agenda, or prophesy, etc). I seldom see the spirit of a student: "I want to learn this because it's in the Bible." The two components that make people want to be a student, is both the Holy Spirit, and their will to want to learn.
 
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SkyWriting

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In my area, there are two types of churches:

The first type of church is dead and useless (Rev 3:1).

The second type of church administers the right "medicine," but in a dose/strength that is not strong enough to get the job done well. Therein lies the issue: because the church is following the prescribed path, it thinks that it is doing well, when in fact it is administering a "cure" in a degree of strength that isn't enough to cure anything.

Example: a church that teaches expositorilly on Sundays, is a church that is following a good foundation building method, yet the church only meets on Sundays. There's nothing of value sold in the church bookstore; the Pastor is not given to writing articles, etc; there is no midweek bible study, etc - thus is the church following the prescribed method, but with an insufficient strength to get the job done.

What does the church look like in your area?


I live in the city:
images


store-front-church-624x496.jpg
 
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grasping the after wind

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We have a library and free devotional material but we do not sell reading material in our building. I find the idea of a book store to be somewhat antithetical to what a church building should represent. IMO it is best if the congregation donates whatever is needed to keep the building in good shape and to minister to any needs within the congregation with enough left over to address at lest a limited number of needs of those that are not members of the congregation.
 
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NDL

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I live in the city:
images


store-front-church-624x496.jpg

Some of the best churches that I have uncovered have been in urban areas.

My mentioning a bookstore is not that it's important that a church have a room full of books; the idea behind the bookstore comment is: "what's the goal of your church, and are they working towards that goal?"

My first church was a storefront church (like yours), but it had gospel tracts, a couple of books, and very helpful resources.

Most churches that I have visited don't have bookstores, and if they do, they are filled with useless items, articles of clothing for sale, etc. No gospel tracts; no edifying materials, nothing.

"Our church isn't growing." Why would it, if you don't hand out gospel tracts? And you don't have to be hard core about it; simply leave a tract when you go out to eat, etc.
 
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NDL

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We have a library and free devotional material but we do not sell reading material in our building. I find the idea of a book store to be somewhat antithetical to what a church building should represent. IMO it is best if the congregation donates whatever is needed to keep the building in good shape and to minister to any needs within the congregation with enough left over to address at lest a limited number of needs of those that are not members of the congregation.

When I referred to a bookstore, I am not thinking of a place with chairs, where coffee is served.

As it is with your church, you have materials available for the congregants. Great. Maybe a newbie is struggling with something, is too embarrassed to talk with someone, and the material will lead them down the right path. Maybe someone knows a person who's hurting, and the materials could be forwarded to someone who will benefit. Great.
 
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SkyWriting

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Some of the best churches that I have uncovered have been in urban areas.

My mentioning a bookstore is not that it's important that a church have a room full of books; the idea behind the bookstore comment is: "what's the goal of your church, and are they working towards that goal?"

My first church was a storefront church (like yours), but it had gospel tracts, a couple of books, and very helpful resources.

Most churches that I have visited don't have bookstores, and if they do, they are filled with useless items, articles of clothing for sale, etc. No gospel tracts; no edifying materials, nothing.

"Our church isn't growing." Why would it, if you don't hand out gospel tracts? And you don't have to be hard core about it; simply leave a tract when you go out to eat, etc.


I was saved by tracts. But I don't recommend them. Leaving tracts is like littering. "If you can't get the message across that Jesus saves using the look on your face, then don't bother" is my stand.
 
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NDL

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I was saved by tracts. But I don't recommend them. Leaving tracts is like littering. "If you can't get the message across that Jesus saves using the look on your face, then don't bother" is my stand.

So when I am buying gasoline, and it's a "rush in, rush out" transaction, it would be better not to communicate the gospel through a tract?
 
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NDL

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That is so impersonal, and without the JESUS' LIFE demonstrated.

So the option is to hold up the line, while I witness to the clerk, or not to give them the Gospel, because tracts are impersonal.

"Holding up the line is a great testimony to Christ!"

"Not giving the Gospel, and seeing the person go to hell, is better than tract giving!"

I don't mean to be snarky, but I don't understand.

Sometimes, I can't go in on an "off hour" to talk to a clerk, nevermind the fact that a clerk is being paid to work (not to hear me talking about non work related issues).
 
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SkyWriting

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So when I am buying gasoline, and it's a "rush in, rush out" transaction, it would be better not to communicate the gospel through a tract?
Even though I thoroughly enjoy reading tracts, I most often find them as litter left behind like a piece of refuse. On a reading rack is fine with me. But if you can't win a person over to Jesus with your genuine interest in their life, don't bother leaving litter behind to impress them. Becasue I like them, but even I can't help considering them litter. 9 of 10 times I find a tract, they are muddy refuse on the sidewalk. I think scripture deserves better handling.
 
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NDL

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Even though I thoroughly enjoy reading tracts, I most often find them as litter left behind like a piece of refuse. On a reading rack is fine with me. But if you can't win a person over to Jesus with your genuine interest in their life, don't bother leaving litter behind to impress them. Becasue I like them, but even I can't help considering them litter. 9 of 10 times I find a tract, they are muddy refuse on the sidewalk. I think scripture deserves better handling.

Where's the Holy Spirit in all of this? Is it not His job to move someone when they are presented with the truth?
 
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My church is great. It’s small and come as you are. The Pastor uses humor and keeps your attention. The great part is we get one message. Look to the cross, look to Jesus Christ. Believe and put your faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor uses all parts of the Bible and puts all in context. It all points to Jesus. Believe or not that does offend some people.
 
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