THIS got me thinking :)

TamaraLynne · Apr 20, 2012

I just read a thread called reinventing church. This thread is just a bit different then the other thread because I have at different times in my life thought about "what if I started a church? What would it look like?" Well I noticed that most of the time in the past I based my thoughts on the things I needed or thought I needed...well lets say now I got a whole new perspective

I only see a small portion right now...I don't see a bigger picture yet and I know there is more but I would have a building...not very big...and it would not be church but just a portion....

My church(portion?) would be called "The First Step"

It would be a teaching on water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit. It would be a place that talks about God abiding in us and what that means...and about us abiding in God and what that means.It would be a place that water baptism takes place and baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place. It would be open all the time and Elders would be there to talk with the people on their needs and it would be a place to share and talk about how the enemy is at work and how we are to overcome in the world and a place of prayer. It would be a place to prepare us It would be OPEN every day.

But it would be small..maybe it would not be church...but it could be a first step.

Okay I'm not sure how to explain it....Maybe several small buildings that do these things...like a building for elders that help others in their needs...a building for bible study and how to apply the word to our lives..a building for baptism ..a building for prayer...and a building for worship...or one building that does all these things but divide it up on the days of the week...

Well....I guess I don't quite have a grip on exactly what I see

Now I guess I could ask...."What would you like to see happen in church as far as structure?" If you were to start a church would you want something done differently...is there a gap you see that needs to be filled with something you feel is very important?

The reason I'm posting in this area of the forum is that I would love ideas that could take us to the beginning of the early churches of long ago. The times of the Apostles.

WinBySurrender · Apr 21, 2012

I would appreciate your definitions of "baptism of the Holy Spirit" and the meaning and implications of water baptism. I fear I already know, but before I respond further, could you establish what you believe those to be? Thanks.

TamaraLynne · Apr 21, 2012

WinBySurrender said:
I would appreciate your definitions of "baptism of the Holy Spirit" and the meaning and implications of water baptism. I fear I already know, but before I respond further, could you establish what you believe those to be? Thanks.

Nope....because this is a thread on ideas...its not taking denomination into account....so I will not get into arguments on who is right or wrong.

It could even be where a church has a big outreach on feeding the poor...its basically about ideas on what one would want to see in their church.

TamaraLynne · Apr 21, 2012

As you can see from my post....my ideas are not even concrete yet in my own mind...they are ideas.

Root of Jesse · May 4, 2012

I would say to look to the very early Church. Read Ignatius of Antioch, and his contemporaries.

1watchman · May 10, 2012

I would say to look at the Word of God only, and pray earnestly to God to teach you and not let you go astray; and see what God intended for His Church in the world.

I surely would not even think of changing what God gave us (it is His Church after-all). It surely is not what various religious men have proposed through the years with their doctrines, rituals, traditions, innovations, etc. If one looks to Acts 2:41-42 at the beginning of the Church, and studies the Epistles, they can see God's mind for His testimony. It is not like what we are seeing with the various sects around us.

SomeSinner · May 11, 2012

Sounds a bit like Heaven, to be honest.

If I could have something in a church, than what I would want is a big tree, in the middle of a big lawn. Under the tree would be all kinds of tables, and there would be games and stuff like that (chess and whatever) on some of the tables. Furthermore, there would be a library next to it, so you could grab a book and read, or even discuss philosophy. Heck, you could even discuss the weather if you wanted.

And next to that big lawn would be a drink cart, where you pay what you will. Obviously that wouldn't work all that well, so ideally I could be super rich and pay for it all, so that even if it doesn't work at all people can still think that it does and they can still get their drinks for cheap. Who knows? Maybe people would be more generous than I think.

Basically, a place where you can gather. A community gathering spot that isn't necessarily the church and is open to everyone. Something like that would be nice.

kql314 · May 27, 2012

Hello Tamara- Nice ideas.... and goals.
I guess it depends on if you are seeking the "lost" or maybe others.

Some people who have never been to church, or maybe twice when they were 7, do not like the "formal" look of a traditional church. So, in that way- maybe your casual and non-threatening look and feel may be a good way to go.

But, let me ask- what is it specifically about the churches/ congregations you yourself have attended that make you want to begin a new church/ ministry? What is lacking in all those others that you think you can create anew? I think that's a better question....
Good luck and God Bless,
Ken

Abrahamist · May 28, 2012

TamaraLynne said:
I just read a thread called reinventing church. This thread is just a bit different then the other thread because I have at different times in my life thought about "what if I started a church? What would it look like?" Well I noticed that most of the time in the past I based my thoughts on the things I needed or thought I needed...well lets say now I got a whole new perspective

I only see a small portion right now...I don't see a bigger picture yet and I know there is more but I would have a building...not very big...and it would not be church but just a portion....

My church(portion?) would be called "The First Step"

It would be a teaching on water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit. It would be a place that talks about God abiding in us and what that means...and about us abiding in God and what that means.It would be a place that water baptism takes place and baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place. It would be open all the time and Elders would be there to talk with the people on their needs and it would be a place to share and talk about how the enemy is at work and how we are to overcome in the world and a place of prayer. It would be a place to prepare us It would be OPEN every day.

But it would be small..maybe it would not be church...but it could be a first step.

Okay I'm not sure how to explain it....Maybe several small buildings that do these things...like a building for elders that help others in their needs...a building for bible study and how to apply the word to our lives..a building for baptism ..a building for prayer...and a building for worship...or one building that does all these things but divide it up on the days of the week...

Well....I guess I don't quite have a grip on exactly what I see

Now I guess I could ask...."What would you like to see happen in church as far as structure?" If you were to start a church would you want something done differently...is there a gap you see that needs to be filled with something you feel is very important?

The reason I'm posting in this area of the forum is that I would love ideas that could take us to the beginning of the early churches of long ago. The times of the Apostles.

One of the many, many reasons I am Catholic is for precisely this reason. Protestant Churches are often structured around the needs of those running the church. If my needs differ from those on staff at the Church, then I cannot expect to have my needs filled by that Church. This was a huge contributing factor that lead to my deconversion from protestantism into atheism.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, provides for all my needs and for every need I can imagine. I see men's attempts to improve upon the Church that Jesus started to be a complete and utter failure.

Abrahamist · May 28, 2012

TamaraLynne said:
Nope....because this is a thread on ideas...its not taking denomination into account....so I will not get into arguments on who is right or wrong.

It could even be where a church has a big outreach on feeding the poor...its basically about ideas on what one would want to see in their church.

It could even be?

It appears you have misunderstood the very most basic and fundamental function of the Church. If the Church doesn't first and foremost feed the poor, all else it does is in vain.

WinBySurrender · May 28, 2012

Root of Jesse said:
I would say to look to the very early Church. Read Ignatius of Antioch, and his contemporaries.

Why not read Acts? Much closer to the Source of the early church.

Abrahamist said:
The Catholic Church, on the other hand, provides for all my needs and for every need I can imagine. I see men's attempts to improve upon the Church that Jesus started to be a complete and utter failure.

Watch the academy award winning movie, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" from 1968. That is my opinion of what your church needs to do to truly be as you picture it.

Root of Jesse · May 29, 2012

WinBySurrender said:
Why not read Acts? Much closer to the Source of the early church.
Watch the academy award winning movie, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" from 1968. That is my opinion of what your church needs to do to truly be as you picture it.

You're right, in point one.

In point 2, I find it hard to believe you would look to a movie to show how any entity should act.

Besides, the Catholic Church as a whole, and the Vatican in particular, do not have any monetary assets, as whatever they take in, they distribute. The Vatican operates at a deficit, as do most dioceses.

parsley · May 30, 2012

Back in the 70's when people had more time, that's what our church looked like. About 200 people had keys to the building, and it was seldom locked bc there were meetings going on from 6AM-1AM, and then some.

I hope people will not take offense at this, but I worked near some mosques where people came to pray throughout the day. It was very beautiful to watch individuals show up, do a ceremonial washing outdoors, grab a prayer rug and pray in an alcove. After they prayed, some would gather at a nearby park bench to chat with others who had come to pray.

Protestants probably wouldn't feel the need to do a physical act of prayer, but they would probably welcome a 24/7 prayer room in the church where people could come any time. For security reasons, you would need to separate it from the indoors of the church. Churches could also create hotlines or counseling rotations for people who want to talk and need help.

TamaraLynne · May 30, 2012

parsley said:
Back in the 70's when people had more time, that's what our church looked like. About 200 people had keys to the building, and it was seldom locked bc there were meetings going on from 6AM-1AM, and then some.

I hope people will not take offense at this, but I worked near some mosques where people came to pray throughout the day. It was very beautiful to watch individuals show up, do a ceremonial washing outdoors, grab a prayer rug and pray in an alcove. After they prayed, some would gather at a nearby park bench to chat with others who had come to pray.

Protestants probably wouldn't feel the need to do a physical act of prayer, but they would probably welcome a 24/7 prayer room in the church where people could come any time. For security reasons, you would need to separate it from the indoors of the church. Churches could also create hotlines or counseling rotations for people who want to talk and need help.

Percivale · Jun 5, 2012

The main thing I'd like to see more of in churches, is people really knowing each other, involved enough in each other's lives to see a need and help, to give advice, encouragement, and direction that will fit each person's life, and to feel united, like a family. This does not depend on what structures and programs you have as much as on individual choices. it does mean you should live close to your church; I don't plan to attend a church that's more than ten or fifteen minutes drive away. Members of church should meet each other in setting that don't have anything to do with church; at work, at the park, in town, at each other's houses.

WinBySurrender · Jun 5, 2012

Root of Jesse said:
You're right, in point one.

In point 2, I find it hard to believe you would look to a movie to show how any entity should act.

I don't have to. But your church does.

ebia · Jun 5, 2012

Root of Jesse said:
You're right, in point one.

In point 2, I find it hard to believe you would look to a movie to show how any entity should act.

Besides, the Catholic Church as a whole, and the Vatican in particular, do not have any monetary assets, as whatever they take in, they distribute. The Vatican operates at a deficit, as do most dioceses.

There has to be something missing there - you can't operate at a deficit forever. Unless the church is a giant ponzi scheme.

parsley · Jun 6, 2012

I see more and more that everyone has different opinions on how things should be done. This will come up in any group. It will be important to instigate what [you] want, because others are not likely to have the same vision.

People who depend on the structure or leaders to initiate will clamor and compete for attention; people who start their own group will end up steering the ship. (Bible studies, youth groups, coffee houses etc.)

ranpleasant · Jun 6, 2012

WinBySurrender said:
Why not read Acts? Much closer to the Source of the early church.

I highly suggest The Didache.

Acts, The Didache, and Ignatius of Antioch provide a very nice picture of the early Catholic Church.

Ran

Root of Jesse · Jun 6, 2012

WinBySurrender said:
I don't have to. But your church does.

Once again, wrong. We don't look to the world to tell us how we should live. Those times we have done that, seeking secular people for advice, the advice given was wrong. No, the Church is better to seek those who have served the Church exclusively for advice.

THIS got me thinking :)

Veteran

Well-Known Member

Veteran

Veteran

Admiral of the Fleet/First Sea Lord

Overseer

Newbie

Newbie

Roman Catholic Convert

Roman Catholic Convert

Well-Known Member

Admiral of the Fleet/First Sea Lord

.

Veteran

Sam

Well-Known Member

Senior Contributor

.

Catholic

Admiral of the Fleet/First Sea Lord

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency