I have been through a hurtful experience with a Church. Need some encouragement to take the next step.

Hello Wayne, very sorry for the bad time you had with your study group. The problem today is to find good people who are trustworthy. People are changing in this era I see the change happening by the month, the rudeness the lack of compassion. it is not YOU and you do not have any blame in this it is great that you are passionate. you deserve better than that group for bible study.

Personally i have never been part of a study group, Religion in the province of Quebec is now almost non existent, not many people believe anymore or go to church here except a few of the older people who still do.

I have always studied the bible by myself, however know this, the HOLY spirit of the lord will help you and guide you to the truth, you are not alone in this the lord knows all you do, ask GOD for guidance he will answer you.

Have faith in GOD and yourself, you have not failed but it is the people in your group that failed you both, just forget about them.

Many Blessings to you both and many people here, myself included would certainly help you with your studies.

Jff

Wayne1980 said:

Hello. First of all, to go into the great detail on my hurtful experience would take me probably 2 pages to write. The reality is that I had a resurge of faith over Covid lock downs. I read the whole Bible and made a habit of daily study. I started attending Church again and I also started attending a small group (My wife came too).


Last October, something happened in our small group, and I just can’t go back. I was really let down by several members of the Church. It is very hard to find a new Church (we live very remotely and commuted 1 hour and 30 minutes to this Church).


The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.


I think one of my problems may have been that I put in too much passion, too fast. I was wondering if there are any Christian authors who write in styles that are kind of simple and funny and I could use this as a way to kind of get back on track for the moment.

BTW: I have no idea what the long-term solution will be. Where I am at currently is that the idea of any Bible study is just too painful. My belief and personal faith are fine. I still pray. I have a picture of Jesus as well as some crosses handing up in my house. Just seeing Jesus really calms me.

It might also be that I feel like I failed. Studying the Bible perhaps is a reminder of my failure. But in reality there was nothing I could have done.



Thanks so much for reading, listening, and any suggestions that come through.

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Over the years on the prayer forum, I have seen many people expressing hurt, and disappointment, about how they were treated in churches. Of course, some people have had positive experiences there, too.

If you want to go to a church where you feel you are being blessed then I say great.

But do not feel guilty for not going to church. Nothing in the Bible tells you to go to church, to a building with a cross on top on Sundays.

The apostles met in peoples homes and in the synagogues on the scripturally commanded Sabbath.

There is no organized religion in the Bible.

We are told to have fellowship. But home Bible study with others can take care of that need.

I pray you will not let the hurtful actions of others keep you from growing in your faith.

Problems with a church usually fall into one (or more) of three categories, personal, doctrine, structure.

Personality conflicts are usually solved by going to another church. Similarly doctrinal problems may be also solved this way.

Structural problems such as desiring relationships when organizational systems tend to inhibit them, are a little more difficult but may be solved by small groups or house church.

Perhaps one of the biggest problems is that denominations (most churches) tend to inhibit Christian growth and maturity. Paul writes the believers in Corinth that their divisions (denominations) are symptomatic of immaturity.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

If you withdraw and reduce your church involvement, you may compensate by seeking out online instruction that can be helpful. Sadly you will have to sift through much that is not helpful. Here is one web site that may be helpful;

Wayne1980 said:

Thanks and it is great to know that I may not be the only person on the planet who studies the Bible alone.

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I forgot to mention that as a study tool , i use a lot biblehub (FREE), it has so many useful features. here is the link;


Also today I came across on the web ,this fellowship site about bible study, I did not examine it in detail so I cannot comment but it seems to be well made;


These tools would permit you to continue your studies whether you decide to look for another study group or not.

All in all what I have learned from the bible is this; the words of Jesus and what he was teaching are the most important and precious texts within the bible. Unfortunately there are some false teachers, preachers out there, be careful and always align with Jesus's words and teachings in case of doubt.

Be blessed,

JFF

Wayne1980 said:

Hello. First of all, to go into the great detail on my hurtful experience would take me probably 2 pages to write. The reality is that I had a resurge of faith over Covid lock downs. I read the whole Bible and made a habit of daily study. I started attending Church again and I also started attending a small group (My wife came too).


Last October, something happened in our small group, and I just can’t go back. I was really let down by several members of the Church. It is very hard to find a new Church (we live very remotely and commuted 1 hour and 30 minutes to this Church).


The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.


I think one of my problems may have been that I put in too much passion, too fast. I was wondering if there are any Christian authors who write in styles that are kind of simple and funny and I could use this as a way to kind of get back on track for the moment.

BTW: I have no idea what the long-term solution will be. Where I am at currently is that the idea of any Bible study is just too painful. My belief and personal faith are fine. I still pray. I have a picture of Jesus as well as some crosses handing up in my house. Just seeing Jesus really calms me.

It might also be that I feel like I failed. Studying the Bible perhaps is a reminder of my failure. But in reality there was nothing I could have done.



Thanks so much for reading, listening, and any suggestions that come through.

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Sorry about what happened. Church hurt is never a fun thing to deal with. However, the answer is the simplest answer...with the most difficult journey. Forgive. You have to forgive. You don't necessarily have to speak with those that hurt you, you just have to make the conscious effort to pray to God, declare that you forgive them, and ask God to take this hurt from you. Every time you think of them, forgive. That will give you more joy than you could ever find in a new church.

Wayne1980 said:

Hello. First of all, to go into the great detail on my hurtful experience would take me probably 2 pages to write. The reality is that I had a resurge of faith over Covid lock downs. I read the whole Bible and made a habit of daily study. I started attending Church again and I also started attending a small group (My wife came too).


Last October, something happened in our small group, and I just can’t go back. I was really let down by several members of the Church. It is very hard to find a new Church (we live very remotely and commuted 1 hour and 30 minutes to this Church).


The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.


I think one of my problems may have been that I put in too much passion, too fast. I was wondering if there are any Christian authors who write in styles that are kind of simple and funny and I could use this as a way to kind of get back on track for the moment.

BTW: I have no idea what the long-term solution will be. Where I am at currently is that the idea of any Bible study is just too painful. My belief and personal faith are fine. I still pray. I have a picture of Jesus as well as some crosses handing up in my house. Just seeing Jesus really calms me.

It might also be that I feel like I failed. Studying the Bible perhaps is a reminder of my failure. But in reality there was nothing I could have done.



Thanks so much for reading, listening, and any suggestions that come through.

Click to expand...

It is difficult to give you solid advice with no details as to what occurred during your last Bible study visit. The fact that you can't even pick up a bible and study on your own, it must have been quite devastating. If you are willing, please share more details. I'll pray for you Wayne.
Blessings.

Wayne1980 said:

Hello. First of all, to go into the great detail on my hurtful experience would take me probably 2 pages to write. The reality is that I had a resurge of faith over Covid lock downs. I read the whole Bible and made a habit of daily study. I started attending Church again and I also started attending a small group (My wife came too).


Last October, something happened in our small group, and I just can’t go back. I was really let down by several members of the Church. It is very hard to find a new Church (we live very remotely and commuted 1 hour and 30 minutes to this Church).


The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.


I think one of my problems may have been that I put in too much passion, too fast. I was wondering if there are any Christian authors who write in styles that are kind of simple and funny and I could use this as a way to kind of get back on track for the moment.

BTW: I have no idea what the long-term solution will be. Where I am at currently is that the idea of any Bible study is just too painful. My belief and personal faith are fine. I still pray. I have a picture of Jesus as well as some crosses handing up in my house. Just seeing Jesus really calms me.

It might also be that I feel like I failed. Studying the Bible perhaps is a reminder of my failure. But in reality there was nothing I could have done.



Thanks so much for reading, listening, and any suggestions that come through.

Click to expand...

First of all, it's really awesome that you had a resurgence of faith!!

Secondly, I am sorry for what you went through. It must've been really hard.

I honestly have felt let down by a lot of Christian "friends" so I understand your pain. I had a miscarriage a couple of years ago, and it felt really painful when hardly any of my friends were there for me. One of my friends specifically would say things like "I love you" as a close friend would, but then when I texted her about my miscarriage, she didn't bother to text me back for like a couple of days... I couldn't believe it! People can talk a lot of talk, but then when there are problems, they're not always there for you.

I don't mean to share this story with you to make you lose hope in Christian community, but just to share a story of how all humans are flawed, including Christians, and how difficult it can be to deal with. But I also hope that this experience won't forever scar your experience with Christian community. There are good, loving Christians out there who want to have real friendship with you, and I pray that you would meet them.

Please don't let that experience get in the way of learning more about God through Bible reading, praying, podcasts etc. God would never hurt you in the way these people did, and He is here to comfort you.

Wayne1980 said:

Hello. First of all, to go into the great detail on my hurtful experience would take me probably 2 pages to write. The reality is that I had a resurge of faith over Covid lock downs. I read the whole Bible and made a habit of daily study. I started attending Church again and I also started attending a small group (My wife came too).


Last October, something happened in our small group, and I just can’t go back. I was really let down by several members of the Church. It is very hard to find a new Church (we live very remotely and commuted 1 hour and 30 minutes to this Church).


The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.


I think one of my problems may have been that I put in too much passion, too fast. I was wondering if there are any Christian authors who write in styles that are kind of simple and funny and I could use this as a way to kind of get back on track for the moment.

BTW: I have no idea what the long-term solution will be. Where I am at currently is that the idea of any Bible study is just too painful. My belief and personal faith are fine. I still pray. I have a picture of Jesus as well as some crosses handing up in my house. Just seeing Jesus really calms me.

It might also be that I feel like I failed. Studying the Bible perhaps is a reminder of my failure. But in reality there was nothing I could have done.



Thanks so much for reading, listening, and any suggestions that come through.

Click to expand...

Sanctification is very powerful but very painful as well. God said He would chastise us, and if we be without chastisement we are none of His, Hebrews 12:8.

There is a separating of God’s people. One of the reasons is for identification, for the angles to know who is who? Philippians 1:28, “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.”

It has to do with being sealed by the Holy Spirit and God’s people being separated, Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

The separating by sealing for the saints to inherit the Kingdom is going on now and will happen during the end times, Revelation 9:4, “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”

It the angels who will carry out God’s wishes. They will separate the wheat from the tares. So be joyful that God is calling you out like He did Christ. Christ being crucified outside the gate is the same as coming to God outside the camp, Hebrews 13:12-13, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”

God sees His children and their heart’s desire. He draws us closer to Him outside the camp - away from people so we can hear Him; so He can teach us by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When people were being moved out of my life, it was a very painful experience. Today, I thank God because He is training me up. I’m not fully there yet, but I see Him working in my life, and He is giving me so much joy even though situations are not the greatest. But He says He will put Satan under our feet shortly, Romans 16:20.

So look to God. Here what He is calling you to do; because He loves you!


Read Micah 7.

God bless you and may He grow you in Christ mightily.

Wayne1980 said:

The big problem that I need to get over now is that I can’t really do any bible study (This includes daily bible readings, listening to sermons on podcast). Anytime I think about doing bible study It all brings back this pain.

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I have known some true Bible lessons, transcripts or videos,
but they are not at all funny, nor could they be.
They are and would be to you painful, scourging, cleansing, bringing sorrow unto repentance, if they accomplish God Purpose in His True Word.
Then, whether soon, or later, there would be a resoration of the joy of HIs Salvation.
Permanent, Perfect, Joy and Peace and Righteousness, as Written for the followers of Jesus in the Bible.
Albeit along with persecution, suffering, and pain of many sorts, pain that is required and used by God to wean us away from our own way of thinking to His Way of thinking.

Aaron112 said:

I have known some true Bible lessons, transcripts or videos,
but they are not at all funny, nor could they be.
They are and would be to you painful, scourging, cleansing, bringing sorrow unto repentance, if they accomplish God Purpose in His True Word.
Then, whether soon, or later, there would be a resoration of the joy of HIs Salvation.
Permanent, Perfect, Joy and Peace and Righteousness, as Written for the followers of Jesus in the Bible.
Albeit along with persecution, suffering, and pain of many sorts, pain that is required and used by God to wean us away from our own way of thinking to His Way of thinking.

Click to expand...

I'm interested in hearing more about these bible lessons, transcripts and or videos