Is Your Message Relevant?

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

The truths of the Bible cannot be compromised; however, churches are shooting themselves in the foot if they aren't willing to make changes and present Jesus's message of hope and love in a more contemporary way.

Well said. Thank you.

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[christianmomof3]

I have skimmed through some of the thread and it is an interesting topic.
First of all the concept of "giving a message" or sermon implies that one person is speaking to an audience. That is ok sometimes and in that case, it is appropriate to consider your audience in your "message". For example, if one is teaching a group of high school young people, one would give examples that they would understand. I work with the high school young people with our church and we often use visual examples to help get the point across, but when doing that, we do need to be careful that they will remember the point that we are trying to get across and not just our example. For example, one time a brother brought in a chicken and an egg that it had laid and I don't remember what the point was that he was trying to make anymore, I just remember that he brought in a live chicken that was his children's pet.
So, you don't want your "relevance" to outshine the imparting of Christ and the message that you are trying to get across.

 

[simonthezealot]

Wow.. New interpretations of the old Laws? you sure?

I was thinking the same thing...He gave the revealed and exact interpretation.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I once considered opening a liquor store on one end of a building and a church on the other end...It was a surefire hit imho... Early Saturday evening RCC mass beat me to it...

You'd make a killing just on selling of Wine

Genesis 14:18 And Malkiy-Tsedeq, king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine and He a Priest of 'El-Most-High/'Elyown. 19 and he blessing him and he is saying, "being blessed Abram of 'El-most-high/'Elyown possessor of heavens and land [Hebrew 7:1]

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

I once considered opening a liquor store on one end of a building and a church on the other end...It was a surefire hit imho... Early Saturday evening RCC mass beat me to it...

.

Wonder if the CC has ever thought of putting a liquor bar in the foyer like many of the new, hip, trendy churches have coffee bars? Just a joke. Please don't stone me.

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[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

I have skimmed through some of the thread and it is an interesting topic.
First of all the concept of "giving a message" or sermon implies that one person is speaking to an audience. That is ok sometimes and in that case, it is appropriate to consider your audience in your "message". For example, if one is teaching a group of high school young people, one would give examples that they would understand. I work with the high school young people with our church and we often use visual examples to help get the point across, but when doing that, we do need to be careful that they will remember the point that we are trying to get across and not just our example. For example, one time a brother brought in a chicken and an egg that it had laid and I don't remember what the point was that he was trying to make anymore, I just remember that he brought in a live chicken that was his children's pet.
So, you don't want your "relevance" to outshine the imparting of Christ and the message that you are trying to get across.

True. Part of the challenge is to make the message deep enough that the impact is made permanent by the illustration, not forgotten.

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[Kristos]

The truths of the Bible cannot be compromised; however, churches are shooting themselves in the foot if they aren't willing to make changes and present Jesus's message of hope and love in a more contemporary way.

If by contemporary, you mean worldly, then I would adamantly disagree. If you mean it should be in the vernacular, then I would absolutely agree.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

If by contemporary, you mean worldly, then I would adamantly disagree. If you mean it should be in the vernacular, then I would absolutely agree.

What would worldly look like?

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[squint]

.

Wonder if the CC has ever thought of putting a liquor bar in the foyer like many of the new, hip, trendy churches have coffee bars? Just a joke. Please don't stone me.

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One of the greatest RCC Priests I ever knew threw back a 10oz glass of straight Everclear at my sister-in-laws wedding and never blinked an eyelash. Man, that dude could hammer it, and you know what? He was one of the most honest people I ever met and did NOT withdraw himself from his congregants.

The Scandahoovians, Pollocks and Germans where I grew up were (and still are) the most hardworking, most sincerely devout and hardest drinking people I know...I'd trust nearly any of them with my life. But do not try to pull their leg. They'll read you like a book.

 

[Kristos]

Here's a kinda rhetorical question for ya's:

How does this fit into 21st century american culture?
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

I was thinking the same thing...He gave the revealed and exact interpretation.

Again, there are multiple ways of looking at what Jesus said. Truth is not a flat, one dimesional thing. It's like a diamond, many sides, all beautiful.

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[LittleLambofJesus]

What would worldly look like?

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Worldly......things man made...

Luke 21:5 And certain saying about the Temple that to stones ideal and devoted-things/anaqhmasin <334> it hath been adorned/worlded/kekosmhtai <2885> (5769), He said.......

Reve 21:2 And the City, the holy Jerusalem, New, I saw descending out of the heaven from the God having been made ready as bride having been adorned/worlded/kekosmh-menhn <2885> (5772) to the man/husband of her.

 

[Kristos]

What would worldly look like?

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I think that's for each to discern his own. It's not so much what it looks like, but what is feels like.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

Worldly......things man made...

Luke 21:5 And certain saying about the Temple that to stones ideal and devoted-things/anaqhmasin <334> it hath been adorned/worlded/kekosmhtai <2885> (5769), He said.......

Reve 21:2 And the City, the holy Jerusalem, New, I saw descending out of the heaven from the God having been made ready as bride having been adorned/worlded/kekosmh-menhn <2885> (5772) to the man/husband of her.

So the chruch should be made up of all God-made elements?

I think that's for each to discern his own. It's not so much what it looks like, but what is feels like.

I agree that it is a taste but issue. Not sure I understand the worldly part. If being worldly is just a feeling then how could we ever know or trust what we were feeling?

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[LittleLambofJesus]

So the chruch should be made up of all God-made elements?

Depends on what you mean by "elements"

http://www.scripture4all.org/

Galatians 4:3 Thus also when we were babes under the elements/stoiceia <4747> of the World were in servitude/dedoulw-menoi <1402> ,

Galatian 4:25 For the Hagar Sinai Mount is in the Arabia is together-elemental/su-stoicei <4960> (5719) yet to the now Jerusalem in servitude with the offsprings of Her.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

Depends on what you mean by "elements"

http://www.scripture4all.org/

Galatians 4:3 Thus also when we were babes under the elements/stoiceia <4747> of the World were in servitude/dedoulw-menoi <1402> ,

Galatian 4:25 For the Hagar Sinai Mount is in the Arabia is together-elemental/su-stoicei <4960> (5719) yet to the now Jerusalem in servitude with the offsprings of Her.

Let's approach it this way -- describe for me what you feel a good church service would look like.

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[LittleLambofJesus]

Let's approach it this way -- describe for me what you feel a good church service would look like.

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The Pentecost church I used to attend was very good with praise, singing worshipping and the Gospel message being preached.
Sometimes at the end, we would face each direction of church and pray for those that do not know JESUS as we do will come to Him and that Unity within Churchianity would be strengthened.

I have been watching that happen but when I come to the CF forum, I see just the opposite as I see strife, accusing, name calling, etc.
Why is that?

 

[Kristos]

So the chruch should be made up of all God-made elements?



I agree that it is a taste but issue. Not sure I understand the worldly part. If being worldly is just a feeling then how could we ever know or trust what we were feeling?

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At some point we must be willing to trust those given to us by God to lead, to discern, to teach. This in no way alleviates our own responsibility to do the same on the some level according to our capacity, but always with a sense of order and humility.

If we take something and change it a little to make it more understandable, is it still the same? If we water down just a little bit, to make it more palatable is it still nourishing?

There is a difference between perfecting communication of the word and perfecting the word in order to communicate it. How could we perfect the Word? Sounds daunting, if not impossible. So, really we are left with only perfecting the communication. Translating it into the vernacular or even further perhaps on a sociolinguistics level. After all, just because something is written in 21st century english, doesn't mean that everyone in the US would completely understand it.

In any case, perfecting the communication would never involve altering the message in any way, otherwise, we would be perfecting the word.

So, by worldly, I would mean anything that is trying to perfect the word and vice perfecting the communication of the perfect.

 

[Kristos]

Let's approach it this way -- describe for me what you feel a good church service would look like.

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Shouldn't it at least resemble heavenly worship?

 

[christianmomof3]

Let's approach it this way -- describe for me what you feel a good church service would look like.

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Our church does not have "services".