and I wanted to add...

[janny108]

Sorry I pressed enter too soon. LOL Do you feel your church addresses practical things for people to learn, or is it all about theology? My husband went to a mens breakfast yesterday and he thought it was a little too regulated and the bible study was about doctrine/theology but hardly anyone participated in any discussion.

I'm used to intimacy growing as a result of sunday school discussions, it was not just about the lunches we shared if you know what I mean..
Jan

 

[Imblessed]

Our church is definately all about applying what we learn to living everyday. One has to be careful with that though,and not take it too far, because in trying to take scriptural truths and apply them to "today", you could actually miss out on some important things....yes, the bible teaches us how to live our everyday lives, but it also adresses other things that are equally as important. The how's and why's of our salvation, for one. The truth about the mystery of the Trinity. God's total soveriegnity. These things can get lost, or minimized in a church that focuses ONLY on how to get along with your co-workers, or how to use your gifts properly, or how to have a better home-life.

I think that a good church will fluxuate between the two ways of teaching. Have a good series about how to be a good christian in a non-christian work invironment---but also have a series that explains the mystery of the trinity, or explains Grace properly, or explains the 5 Solas........

Btw, my church isn't reformed.....so i don't know if you really wanted to hear from me ........but this is an issue that does speak to me on a personal level, so I felt compelled to respond...

 

[JJB]

Our church is very practical. How does this apply to us? What I wish for our congregation, and that includes myself, is to also see how Bible passages fit in with theology and our practical lives.

Why are they preached as two separate things? They are one and the same. The Truth should affect our lives.

 

[ClementofRome]

I don't mean to say that we cannot make a contemporary application out of much of the Word that God has given us. However, I believe that many SS and other Bible Studies are all about me, me, me and just too fluffy. I have just witnessed too much postmodern Bible study in which we all go around the circle explaining what the text means to me, without considering what the text really means.

I gotta tell you that I recently was working through Genesis with a group and we got to the narrative of the cupbearer and the baker in prison with Joseph. When we finished studying the narrative, I asked....now, who can offer a contemporary application of this narrative? Everyone began to laugh and I laughed too. Yes we learn that God is faithful and His will will be done. We learn that Joseph was a faithful servant to his prison Master and to God. We learn that God wanted Joseph to ultimately confront Pharaoh......but let's see....how does all of this apply to me....?

Fun stuff.

 

[JJB]

ClementofRome, are you saying the account of Joseph has no applications to your life? I'm not sure if that's what you all are laughing about.

 

[reformedfan]

a person's life flows from their theology, hence the need to be teechin' theology more often

 

[ClementofRome]

ClementofRome, are you saying the account of Joseph has no applications to your life? I'm not sure if that's what you all are laughing about.

No, the Joseph narrative is vast and wonderful and teaches us much. However, I see no contemporary application from the dream/interpretation of the cupbearer nor the baker....except to continue the narrative to get Mr. Joseph in front of Pharaoh ASAP. I will leave it at that.

 

[JJB]

Whew! Thanks for clearing that up, ClementofRome.

 

[edie19]

Sorry I pressed enter too soon. LOL Do you feel your church addresses practical things for people to learn, or is it all about theology? My husband went to a mens breakfast yesterday and he thought it was a little too regulated and the bible study was about doctrine/theology but hardly anyone participated in any discussion.

I'm used to intimacy growing as a result of sunday school discussions, it was not just about the lunches we shared if you know what I mean..
Jan

I have a feeling that this is an "only in the USA" sort of issue. Churches in China, Africa, Indonesia - where the concern is if their church is going to survive government oppression probably never consider this.

For myself - I go to church for two things. First and foremost - to worship my Lord and Savior. Secondly, to learn theology and doctrine - so that if there ever comes a time when the church here is truly oppressed, I'll be prepared. IMNSHO - one of the problems facing churches today is that they are more focused on their social life than on the basic tenets of Christianity.

I want to be clear - my closest and dearest friends are those men and women I worship with. In many respects they are closer to me than my blood relatives. The more casual discusscions we have regarding our faith (and they are many) take place in a social setting, not in a church setting.

edie