biggest fears!

[hairettic]

I think that I am really looking for a home church. But there is not one here. We know of other couples that would like the same thing....I think we are just scared to take that step and start. We have talked about it. Haven't honestly prayed about it...... but we are all either unhappy...that would be me....or not attending anywhere currently.
We are in such a small community...changing churches is heresy enough let alone starting your own.......yikes! did I say that? No one we are scared!

this seems to be my most used smiley here!
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[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

 

[BenAdam]

I think that I am really looking for a home church. But there is not one here. We know of other couples that would like the same thing....I think we are just scared to take that step and start. We have talked about it. Haven't honestly prayed about it...... but we are all either unhappy...that would be me....or not attending anywhere currently.
We are in such a small community...changing churches is heresy enough let alone starting your own.......yikes! did I say that? No one we are scared!

this seems to be my most used smiley here!
</IMG></IMG>

If I may make a suggestion, keep attending where you are going for now, but meet in your homes, just as peers and friends and talk about the Lord. He will direct you.

 

[faithpilgrim]

changing churches is heresy enough let alone starting your own....

Hi Hairettic,
Funny pun there, your name Hairettic.

I would point out you mentioned starting your own church which would be heresy. We are part of God's church, the body of Christ with him at the head. Therefore it is impossible for us to start anything. When we look at it as ours, we are destine for failure.

Realise who you are in Christ. Gather with some others who believe and just see what the Lord can do with his body.

May the Lord lead you in his path.
Faith

 

[hairettic]

I am still following my husband to "our" church every Sunday and honestly hoping things will get better.

And yes, everytime we gather with other believers we have the opportunity to be encouraging each other. and that is very different from starting our OWN Church....thank you for clearing that up. I CAN have friends over and fellowship....regularly.....without it being called church.......without needing church permission. However our church wants you to attend THEIR programs.
My children should go to our youth group, I should attend one of the ladies bible studies, my husband should be at the men's night. boy's club is one day and girls club another....that is at a different church, but ok. only because there is no one to run a girls club at our church. gone are the days that you grabbed a guitar some bags of chips and went to someone's house, sang some worship shared your week and left blessed cuz someone cared......

Today I am not cynical...today I am just sad!

 

[faithpilgrim]

I CAN have friends over and fellowship....regularly.....without it being called church.......without needing church permission.

Sure you don't need their permission. You should also remember any time you and your believing friends gather, he is there with you and you are part of the church (his church, not your denomination) all the time regardless. You are accountable to God not men!

Yes, it is sad that today's churches fill lives with activity and seperate families. What ever happened to family activites? What happened to teaching children when you go in or out during daily activities of the home? What happened to the quiet times to just listen to God?

Be strong, be happy, for if God is for you, who can be against you?

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Church is relational, has to be. Should be, anyway

Seek relationships with one another. The rest is religious rubbish until we truly and honestly relate to one another.

IMO.

 

[hairettic]

I had a neat moment with God at work yesterday. I found myself totally filled with grace! Amazing eh? Anyhow, the cool thing is I had enough grace floating around....to actually extend some to my pastor and his wife! So i went to church with a different attitude today...and I am glad. Carrying all that other garbage was really getting to me. And alot of what he preached I still disagreed with, but it kinda ran off like water on a duck.

 

[discernomatic]

I am still following my husband to "our" church every Sunday and honestly hoping things will get better.

And yes, everytime we gather with other believers we have the opportunity to be encouraging each other. and that is very different from starting our OWN Church....thank you for clearing that up. I CAN have friends over and fellowship....regularly.....without it being called church.......without needing church permission. However our church wants you to attend THEIR programs.
My children should go to our youth group, I should attend one of the ladies bible studies, my husband should be at the men's night. boy's club is one day and girls club another....that is at a different church, but ok. only because there is no one to run a girls club at our church. gone are the days that you grabbed a guitar some bags of chips and went to someone's house, sang some worship shared your week and left blessed cuz someone cared......

Today I am not cynical...today I am just sad!

I think that they can't expect you to go to this group and that group. I don't know where that was brought up as an example in scripture. Jesus didn't command it. Those are rules made by men and resemble the burdens put on the backs of the Jews by the Pharisees - that Jesus strongly admonished them for.

If they call meeting with others to do "church" heretical, then they are like those that opposed the early Christians. I'm not saying that they are not Christians, just ignorant. I agree with faithpilgrim. If you see your meeting with others in homes more as a work of God and not your own thing, for those you are meeting with and not yourself, then I think that is a better way of looking at it.

Take a hint from the early Christians too. They did not say they were doing "synagogue" in their homes, but just met to discuss scripture, fellowship and break bread. You don't have to call your meetings "church" at all, and if you meet "spontaneously" as friends do, then it is not like the other "organized" church.

 

[hairettic]

amen amen amen.....all that and more. Right nowour church is using control and manipulation tactics over the congregation. It is so disheartening. But I feel release over the burden of it for myself and kids right now, and that is such a relief.

just trying to keep it all real. I have always looked at the first century church as a model. Love the freedom that really gives.

 

[2+2=5]

I think that I am really looking for a home church. But there is not one here. We know of other couples that would like the same thing....I think we are just scared to take that step and start. We have talked about it. Haven't honestly prayed about it...... but we are all either unhappy...that would be me....or not attending anywhere currently.
We are in such a small community...changing churches is heresy enough let alone starting your own.......yikes! did I say that? No one we are scared!

this seems to be my most used smiley here!
</IMG></IMG>

If you truly feel the Lord calling you to “start your own church” and to meet in a home with the aforementioned group of believers, then go for it! No need to fear, if that is where the Lord is calling you then that is the best place for you!

I would just caution you though; if your reason for starting an assembly that meets in a home is because of unhappiness with the current church you assemble with than you are heading in the wrong direction. Make sure you are following the Lord and not just responding to your unhappiness with your own inventions.

Above all, pray and then pray some more!

 

[mohawk]

Put the idea up to God in prayer...then follow what he tells you.