Is your church exciting or just a place for you to worship?

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Extirpated Wildlife

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You i have been in many churches. Churches that i was just there. Some i liked the direction of the church, but excitement was not the word. I've been in churches that where i dont even think that God really moved that much in.

But the church i am going to now has everybit of what i have ever thought and learned church was all about. Some of the things are more personal likings, i.e. no invitation at the end. But for the most part the church i go to is about reaching out. Missions. There is not a week goes by that our pastor does not get up and stress missions, have someone speaking about their mission work, have someone speak on how they became a Christian, or talk about upcoming missions, or even talk about what God is doing because of our church's faithfulness in missions.

I am not afraid to boast about my church. I love it. I cherish it. I thank God that he has allowed me to be at such a church.

I have never gone to another church where i saw God working as much as at this church. Now there are some church's that i think are probably right up there, but i don't know of very many. In fact our church has been so blessed that the Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neil to come to a meeting about how to help the people in Africa. This is just after Paul and U2's Bono got back from Africa. We are also in the process of sending a mobile medical unit to Afganistan. We are in the process of have a university built in an Asian country. Our pastor works to get business in countries around the world that are Christian owned, because business that are christian owned have a better chance to meet needs and share the gospel more effectively than getting a church into countries where Christianity is not lawful. All this is to get the message of the gospel to these people. Not just to help these people, but we help the people first.

We are just a church of about 1200 people. We don't have fancy building. No chandeliers. We don't have to wear suits and women wear dresses.

I love this church.

Let me here about the church you love.
 

EJO

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Sounds pretty similar to our church. Not so many people. We average around 400-500. We came from a 3000 member church, so it is refreshing to see more people you know and recognize.
I love my the church we go to. There are a lot of young familys at our church. But we do have a fair amount of missions as well. We have had two church plants in Russia.
We rent our facilities from an old run down middle school in Seattle. But it works well. for now. We are constantly praying for a building. Our pastor used to be in commercial real estate, so he knows what to look for.

God Bless. EJO
 
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shout2thelord

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I go to a church of about 600. this is considered a big church here!

I have found it really exciting to see the congregation grow (spiritually and in numbers).

The holy spirit hit me the first time i walked in the door!
Everybody ive met there seems hungry for God and theres lots of stuff that goes on during the week to.
 
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Tolpel

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Wow! I did not know worship was so unimportant compared to excitement.   :(  Why does when God move does it have to be exciting? Why does worship have to be exciting? Why do emotions have to be of paramount instead of theology?  I have so many questions.  This post to me screams what is wrong with the church today.  Where can I find a cool emotional rush?  If it is not in this church than it is not as Godly as one built upon the Word of God.  :rolleyes: :sick:
 
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SnuP

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Originally posted by Tolpel
Wow! I did not know worship was so unimportant compared to excitement.   :(  Why does when God move does it have to be exciting? Why does worship have to be exciting? Why do emotions have to be of paramount instead of theology?  I have so many questions.  This post to me screams what is wrong with the church today.  Where can I find a cool emotional rush?  If it is not in this church than it is not as Godly as one built upon the Word of God.  :rolleyes: :sick:

Man don't you just love it when some one of a traditional background just pops up and without understanding what we really are talking about, condemns us for our type of worship.

Exuberent worship does not equal lack of word.

My church could be considered by some to be a christian night club sometimes.  We have services that extend well into the night with loud music, lots of dancing, and free soda.  But our church also trains other churches around the globe about the truth of God's word.  There is a strong infisis upon every christian in the congregation knowing the word of God and being capable ministers in every circumstance.  My pastor along with many form the church frequently go on mission trips and start revivals, challanging the churches to rise up and imbrace God and study the word on a deeper level.  The revivals, healings, and mirucles that are produced are lasting, they don't leave as soon as the pastor leaves.  We have offices in India and Findland and are about to open a few more.  We have classes set up through out the week to teach people the word of God, from the simple to the deep.  I am in God perfect will just by being in this church.
 
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KeepTheFaith15

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well i get more with the youth on wednesday rather then sunday morning i always get more out of wednesdays i dont know why, i feel so much closer and get a more personal revalation when im at church wednesday with youth rather then sunday with everyone. we all get diff things from diff situations. i love my church.
 
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Tolpel

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Originally posted by SnuP
Man don't you just love it when some one of a traditional background just pops up and without understanding what we really are talking about, condemns us for our type of worship.

Hmmm did i miss something? Maybe the title of thee thread "Is your church EXCITING or Just a place to worship.  Just worship? 


  Exuberent worship does not equal lack of word. [/B]


Who said that?  It true of many of our churches today but I would never say what you said above as absolute truth.  Today it is all about the experience.  How can I feel God's presence is the key not true worship. 

  My church could be considered by some to be a christian night club sometimes.  We have services that extend well into the night with loud music, lots of dancing, and free soda.  But our church also trains other churches around the globe about the truth of God's word.  There is a strong infisis upon every christian in the congregation knowing the word of God and being capable ministers in every circumstance.  My pastor along with many form the church frequently go on mission trips and start revivals, challanging the churches to rise up and imbrace God and study the word on a deeper level.  The revivals, healings, and mirucles that are produced are lasting, they don't leave as soon as the pastor leaves.  We have offices in India and Findland and are about to open a few more.  We have classes set up through out the week to teach people the word of God, from the simple to the deep.  I am in God perfect will just by being in this church. [/B]


Again I was not condemning any particular church.  I do not know your church.  I just see a very real tendency to honor experience over truth.  This is a real problem in the church and a major reason why we have so many cults today and why they are growing. 
 
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unitedistand

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:(   Well, when God moves, is it not always exciting?  What's more important to a person? Theology, which teaches people ABOUT God, who he is, or a true relationship, which lets you learn who he is by himself.

Is worship and praise supposed to be something taken lightly? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Would you rather learn about God from man or Yahweh Almighty? (don't say that there's no possible way, because He reveals himself through his word and his creation.  He hides the spiritual within the physical.  He reveals his secrets to those who have a Child-like faith in him, not to those who are self-righteous and haughty in their "so-called" knolege of God when what they actually have is nothing but man's teachings, RELIGION.  

Religion is such an ugly word if you ask me.  What would you rather have? Theology/Religion, or a true relationship with God almighty, who can teach you things you would have never thought possible?
 
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Tolpel

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Originally posted by unitedistand
:(   Well, when God moves, is it not always exciting? 
 

No.  Sometimes it is rather boring but it is always good. Who said God's acts are always exciting?  

 
  What's more important to a person? Theology, which teaches people ABOUT God, who he is, or a true relationship, which lets you learn who he is by himself. [/B]
 

This is a false dichotomy.  You can't have true Christian spirituality without true theology. They work together not against eachother or apart from each other.  Without proper theology you will be confused and not know if what you are experiencing is the true thing or just a counterfeit.  

 
Is worship and praise supposed to be something taken lightly? ABSOLUTELY NOT! [/B]
 

No it isn't.

Would you rather learn about God from man or Yahweh Almighty? (don't say that there's no possible way, because He reveals himself through his word and his creation.  He hides the spiritual within the physical.  He reveals his secrets to those who have a Child-like faith in him, not to those who are self-righteous and haughty in their "so-called" knolege of God when what they actually have is nothing but man's teachings, RELIGION. [/B]


Another example of a false dichotomy.  Jesus started the church and called to us to meet together and teach each other and build each other up in the faith.  God uses humans to teach otehr humans just like God used humans to write the Bible.  Now God does nto have to do this but He does.  To have child like faith  does not mean to have ignorant faith.  We are supposed to study and learn with our mind more and more about Him.  Know that many times in the Bible where heart is quoted it actually means what we would call our mind.  So I would rather learn about God through God though He might very well use man to do it through. 


Religion is such an ugly word if you ask me.  What would you rather have? Theology/Religion, or a true relationship with God almighty, who can teach you things you would have never thought possible? [/B]


You can't have a truerelationship with God without theology.  How about this try and reply back to me without using theology or any doctrines at all.  You can't do it.  If you say God is (blank) that is theology.  You can't know God without knowing about Him.
 
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Tolpel

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Originally posted by SnuP
And He reveals Himself to man through His Spirit, for the sake of fellowship, which allways ends up being exciting. Doesn't everyone get emotional/excited when God reveals himself?

No. Not at every moment. Sometimes it is rather scary, sometimes it is boring, sometimes it is exciting...  When God reveals himself one can have almost every kind of emotion.
 
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Tolpel

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Originally posted by unitedistand
another thing, Worship is from the heart of the believer, not from the mind.

God is looking for a people who will worship him in spirit and in truth, not in theology, tradition and religion

Another false dichotomy.  Jesus does not want us just to have a heart felt religous experience only.  He wants us to worship Him with our WHOLE BEING.


Matt 22:35-38
35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him {a question}  testing Him,
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
37 And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.
(NAU)

  WE do not worship God with just our emotions we worship God through all of us.  Through our emotions, thoughts, will, everything.  And that everything includes our intellectual mind which should not get turned off.  Unfortunately that is what many evangelical churches teach and that is a travesty.
 
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Getting back to the original topic...

Our church has just over 2000 members, but our worship services bring all of us very close together.
It is a pleasure to worship the Lord in such an EXCITING environment. Even when the preaching of God's word get's boring, God reveals Himself to us in EXCITING ways.

I have found that churches that make an effort to reach out to the community at large, tend to have a greater spiritual presence (excitement) than those that try to hide God's word in their own minds and keep it to themselves.

God Bless!
 
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unitedistand

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Originally posted by Tolpel
Another false dichotomy.  Jesus does not want us just to have a heart felt religous experience only.  He wants us to worship Him with our WHOLE BEING.


Matt 22:35-38
35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him {a question}  testing Him,
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
37 And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.
(NAU)

  WE do not worship God with just our emotions we worship God through all of us.  Through our emotions, thoughts, will, everything.  And that everything includes our intellectual mind which should not get turned off.  Unfortunately that is what many evangelical churches teach and that is a travesty.

Wait, what does the word of God say there in mat. 22:35-38? the key word is Love.  When you Love God with every fiber of your being, the worship will come from the heart, your innermost being, and not the mind. 

Matthew 12:34 explains this clearly:  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
 
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SnuP

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Originally posted by Tolpel
 

No.  Sometimes it is rather boring but it is always good. Who said God's acts are always exciting?
   

 how is boring good.  Boring is vainty.  Boring is a waste of time.  God is never boring.  God's acts are always exciting.  If you don't think so than may be you should check your love meter. 

This is a false dichotomy.  You can't have true Christian spirituality without true theology. They work together not against eachother or apart from each other.  Without proper theology you will be confused and not know if what you are experiencing is the true thing or just a counterfeit. 
  

He never said no theology.  Only not your theology.  He wasn't suggesting a relationship apart form the word.  Rather a relationship apart from mans opinion of the word.  Traditional theology has really castrated true worship.

No it isn't.
 

Any thing that is boring is taken lightly.  You are contradicting your self.  It should never be taken so lightly that it becomes boring.  And it should never be so boring that it has to be taken lightly.
 
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Dewjunkie

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While I do not think that God is boring at any time, I do think that services that are based fully on the emotional high of praise tend to be lacking in true substance. It is easy when surrounded by 1000 of your closest friends to be excited about God, singing choruses and hearing the band play and seeing all the raised hands. That is wonderful, and fully warranted. I do not deny that for many it may be a true expression of faith and God's presence. However, without a solid, Biblically based sermon delving into God's Word, any momentary celebration is moot.

15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. (1 Corinthians 14:15-17 NIV)

Without reverent worship, it is just a temporary filling and does not truly change anyone's heart or mind.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24 NIV)

How can one know the truth without reverent guidance in God's word? It may not be as "exciting" to listen to a sermon as it is to sing "Our God is an Awesome God" 34 times, but it is necessary to fully experience all that God has.

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

Without knowledge of God's will, how can one live according to it? The bottom line is, if you're only going to church for the tinglies of feeling God in the building, but learn nothing about Him or His Word, then you're there for the wrong reasons.

I cannot have a truly wonderful relationship with my wife without knowing everything about her; what makes her happy, what makes her angry, how she expects me to behave, what she wants from me as a husband. I can be infatuated with her and be "high" when she's around, but without deep knowledge and true love, that high will disappear eventually. A relationship with God is the same, it's great to feel great at church, but if you're not truly delving into His Word and getting to know everything about Him, then you're missing out.

I've been in both types of churches, and can honestly say I feel closer to God in a church that is "old fashioned" and reverent in quiet devotion to God. When God is there, it is deeper than a chorus.
 
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SnuP

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You can not know God without worship. I find it stange that some of you make the assumption that there is a lack of substancial word being preached. Have you been is a service that I attend with all the bells and whissles of exuberent worship. That you just know there is a lack of word. I believe in a balance. Too much word equals religion of man. Too much spirit equals coocks.

The bible is worthless without the Spirit.
 
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shout2thelord

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I agree God is always exciting i dont how you can ever be bpred in Gods presence. A couple of times ive been concerned about whether i would ever be able to move again because ive been in awe and not able to move or speak! I can never wait for church, i long for sunday to come round to share what God has been doing in my life in the week and to meet together to come into Gods presence and hear what God is saying to the church as a whole, if thats not exciting what is?????????

Im filled with joy and the Holy Spirit and God will give us the words and ecouragement we need for the week, not to mention fellowship.

oohhhhhhhhh how could it be boring!
 
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Originally posted by Tolpel
Wow! I did not know worship was so unimportant compared to excitement.   :(  Why does when God move does it have to be exciting? Why does worship have to be exciting? Why do emotions have to be of paramount instead of theology?  I have so many questions.  This post to me screams what is wrong with the church today.  Where can I find a cool emotional rush?  If it is not in this church than it is not as Godly as one built upon the Word of God.  :rolleyes: :sick:

What? .:mad:

*calm down, quiz*

*calmed down*


You know, i am one of the first people when it comes to talking about emotionalism. That is one reason i hate invitational at the end of service. Its a emotionalist time. My church doesn't have that for that reason. We are a church that has a very good worship service. Our church focuses your heart towards praising God and it is focused based on the message.

This is not a church where AMEN is spoken alot by the listeners.

This is a church where giving to the community and the world is priority. There is neary 10 times more money funneled through our church for mission work than there is for our budget. Why? Because God has truly blessed our Pastor. Our pastor truly is an risky investor in the talents that he has. And because of that God has worked through our pastor. Our pastor uses the word "Glocal ministry" to tell everyone in our church how important it is to give to the world. This is not giving to be kind. It is to be kind but not the very purpose behind the giving. The giving is to open doors.

Our church is a good size church. But because of our pastors desire to see people being ministered to their needs, we have a church planter pastor in our church. In fact we don't even pay his salary. Another organization does. See the above paragraph about how God has blessed our pastor. Our church has helped start almost 100 churches this past year in our community to meet needs. And our goal for next year is over 100 churches.

Our pastor heart is on seeing lives come to Christ. I have met many pastors who have said that and they do mean that. But i have never met a pastor who's heart has been to reach the lost more than him.

There are alot of good churches out there. And every single one of them are created for the needs of the people there. Some churches are more traditional. That's fine. Some are more Charismatic. That's fine. The important thing is that God word is preached and that the message doesn't stay at home(the church you go to). It needs to be spread.

Like i said before. We are not your glamour church. We are a meet your need church and then you go and meet the needs of others.



So what is your problem with my church? And why not let us know about why you are excited about your church? OR should i say, why not let us know why you are excited about what God is doing in/with your church?
 
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