What church do you go to?

[Eagle_Eyes]

I go to a non-denominational church in Croydon, England, where the Word is preached, which is the most important reason for going to church.

 

[Ezra Allen]

International Church of Christ.

 

[Ezra Allen]

In my childhood I had attended a Berean Baptist Church. Then I stopped going to church for a long time. I didn't even read my bible. I went off on my own away from our father.

Sometime in December 2008 I woke up with a urge to read a bible. All I had was a little black pocket New Testament KJV(still have it but it fell apart from use). I got a freebie Iphone version a week later and read most of that.

March 2009 I then started looking for a church to join. So many names so many places a lot more confusing than when I was a child. I was a avid particapant in the online game of Second Life, its 100% free, if you know it you know what its like.

There is a very big Christian community in Second Life so I started asking questions there from a Elder from the Reno Church of Christ.

That lead me to googling Church of Christ in my current city and Milwaukee Church of Christ pops up. Early May 2009 I joined it. And really loved it ever since. I was sick last Wednesday with a cold so I stayed home from Wednesday services to my sorrow (we have children in church and memebers who are going through chemo who can't get sick). I was still feeling unwell yesterday and missed the Chili Cook Off which I love chili and was looking forward to that very much all month long. My wife is sick today and my little 4 and 1/2 year old severly autistic son is still coughing. Plus my voice is just wrecked right now so I might stay home tomorrow and pray they post the mp3 of tomorrow services online so I can enjoy it. I may catch service online in Second Life also.

 

[Dreamer]

I go to the Vineyard. It's actually a denomination...in U.S., and Canada, and England. But there are not alot of them.

And I love it! I do not miss being Baptist. Okay, I miss singing in the baptist choir. But that is all!

I love the praise. I love the music. I love the faith! I love to see people healed. I love to see our pastor cutting up and laughing with folks when he's not preaching...and sometimes, even when he is preaching.

Vineyard is sort of like Assembly of God. We do not dress up though, and have a "come as you are" attitude. Oh, how I thank my God that we found the Vineyard on January 3, 2010!

 

[KingdomSeeker]

I dont go to a Church.

Arent We, the body, the bride of Christ,The Church? So why should I join a Club?

Im not against it persay, but then Church the Building, comes before seeking the Face, adn will of Jesus no? Maybe its just me, but I think Church membership is wrong...I know allt of people are going to scream at me for that..haha...but i would like someone to show me where the scriptures say we need to go to a building...I dont mean to sound rude, so please...dont take it that way...just really currious.

May Jesus bless you. -KingdomSeeker.

 

[Dreamer]

I dont go to a Church.

Arent We, the body, the bride of Christ,The Church? So why should I join a Club?

Im not against it persay, but then Church the Building, comes before seeking the Face, adn will of Jesus no? Maybe its just me, but I think Church membership is wrong...I know allt of people are going to scream at me for that..haha...but i would like someone to show me where the scriptures say we need to go to a building...I dont mean to sound rude, so please...dont take it that way...just really currious.

May Jesus bless you. -KingdomSeeker.

KingdomSeeker, you ask "why go to church"?

I ask, "Why not?"

You'll never find a perfect church. Only a perfect Father and perfect Saviour. God can minister to you through other believers in a church, and you can minister to them as well.

 

[El Hombre viejo]

KingdomSeeker, you ask "why go to church"?

I ask, "Why not?"

You'll never find a perfect church. Only a perfect Father and perfect Saviour. God can minister to you through other believers in a church, and you can minister to them as well.

Why not? Tell me....Why go to a church that does not teach Word? You need to choose a church that teaches what God says not what a bible school teaches. Or what I call "Christian fairy tales" and superstition.
Most churches I've attended over the last thirty six years are no more than Christian social clubs. They play favorites, are very cliquish, even to the point of total exclusion of the poor and sick that come for help. and on and on ad nauseum.. Most churches I've seen thrive on emotional high and not much else...

 

[allforihs]

Does anyone go to a church where "the word" is not preached?

 

[Ezra Allen]

I dont go to a Church.

Arent We, the body, the bride of Christ,The Church? So why should I join a Club?

Im not against it persay, but then Church the Building, comes before seeking the Face, adn will of Jesus no? Maybe its just me, but I think Church membership is wrong...I know allt of people are going to scream at me for that..haha...but i would like someone to show me where the scriptures say we need to go to a building...I dont mean to sound rude, so please...dont take it that way...just really currious.

May Jesus bless you. -KingdomSeeker.

(1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

I'll get to this.

Why not? Tell me....Why go to a church that does not teach Word? You need to choose a church that teaches what God says not what a bible school teaches. Or what I call "Christian fairy tales" and superstition.
Most churches I've attended over the last thirty six years are no more than Christian social clubs. They play favorites, are very cliquish, even to the point of total exclusion of the poor and sick that come for help. and on and on ad nauseum.. Most churches I've seen thrive on emotional high and not much else...

What do you accomplish in your life as a non church going Secret Christian? For every church that does it wrong there is one that does it right. Do you look hard enough or do you give up because the effort it takes. There are churches made of of 80% poor, and Churches made up of 80% sick.


(Psalms 133:1 NIV) A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

(Acts 2:44 NIV) All the believers were together and had everything in common.

(Matthew 5:14 NIV) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Light of the world means that we are not only light-receivers, but also light-givers. We must have a greater concern than only ourselves, and we cannot live only to ourselves; we must have someone to shine to, and do so lovingly.

Spurgeon said of this verse “Christ never contemplated the production of secret Christians, - Christians whose virtues would never be displayed, - pilgrims who would travel to heaven by night, and never be seen by their fellow-pilgrims or anyone else.”

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden: Such a city is prominent and can’t be hidden. If you see such a city from a distance, it is hard to take your eyes off of it. In the same way, Jesus wanted the people of His kingdom to live visible lives that attracted attention to the beauty of God’s work in the life.

One fleeting candle flame sitting in a room by itself can be overcome by the darkness around it. How bright is a room of a hundred plus candles all lit. How did John in 1 John 2:18-19 describe antichrists.

(1 John 2:19 NIV) They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

I really do like how the Message Translation says this

(1 John 2:19 MSG) They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.

They left us:

This shows that many of these many antichrists at one time or another have identified themselves with the body of believers. The fact that they left the body of Christ demonstrated that they were not of us to begin with.

John isn’t talking about someone who leaves one church to begin attending another good church. He is talking about those who leave the community of God’s people all together. This reveals that they were never really part of God’s people to begin with.

We can imagine the scene. There is some controversy among people at a church, and someone responds by saying, “I’m so sick of all this. This church and all churches, they’re just a bunch of hypocrites. I don’t need any of this. I can follow God my own way!” They leave; not just a church, but they leave any kind of church. We can fairly say that this person does not appear to be a Christian, and their appearance demonstrates that they never really were a Christian. Only God knows the heart for certain, but the appearance is that they trusted in the church, or trusted in themselves, but they weren’t really trusting in Jesus Christ. If they were, then the common ground of trust in Jesus would be greater than any other difficulty they might be having with other Christians.

One must beware of those folks who are so “spiritual” that they can’t get along in any church. One sees those from time to time; folks so gifted, so prophetic, so spiritual, that they are getting kicked out or leaving in a huff from every church they go to. Finally, they are just left to themselves, and they seem happy enough with that. Fellowship with themselves is at least fellowship with someone as spiritual as they are! Of course, there is something seriously wrong with such so-called “spirituality.”

The sobering truth is that many of those who offer a false or opposing Jesus came from the true body of Christians.

In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.


Again I ask you how hard have you looked for a church to attend? How much effort have you put into that aspect of your faith? How much of it is you that can't get along with them? How much do you do by yourself to follow Jesus.

A healthy church can purge itself of poisons; the compromising and false Christian will not feel comfortable setting down roots in a healthy church - he will either get right with God or leave.

(1 Corinthians 12:21-26 NKJV)
And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

And the eye cannot say to the hand: Now, Paul writes to those tempted to pride and a sense of superiority because of their gifts or place in the body. They cannot say to such parts, “I have no need of you.”

Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary: Often, we consider a part of our body unnecessary or of low importance – until it is hurt. Then we realize how important it is! The hand or the eye may seem to be more important, and may have more “glamour” in its position – but it is not more necessary or important than other parts of the body.

That there should be no schism in the body: Seen from God’s perspective, with the illustration of the body, there is never any reason for schism in the body. The “pride” of the “honorable” member is checked, as is the “shame” of the “less honorable” member.

That the members should have the same care for one another: Paul’s theological point about the nature of the body of Jesus Christ has now come to a very practical application. The Corinthian Christians should care for one another because they are all part of the same body.

The parts of the body work together. The eyes and ears do not only serve themselves, but the whole body. The hands do not only feed and defend themselves, but the whole body. The heart does not only supply blood to itself, but serves the whole body. Sometimes there is a part of our body which only lives to serve itself. It doesn’t contribute anything to the rest of the body, and everything it gets it uses to feed and grow itself. We call this cancer.

“I want every member of this church to be a worker. We do not want any drones. If there are any of you who want to eat and drink, and do nothing, there are plenty of places elsewhere, where you can do it; there are empty pews about in abundance; go and fill them, for we do not want you. Every Christian who is not a bee is a wasp. The most quarrelsome persons are the most useless, and they who are the most happy are peaceable, are generally those who are doing most for Christ.” - Spurgeon

And if one member suffers: The care for one another mentioned in the previous verse is now explained. It means to have a heart towards, and sympathy with, our fellow members, though they be different.

(1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Paul sums up his previous point. Even as a human body is a unified whole with many different parts, so also is the body of Jesus Christ. “We could call one eye, because of his acute observation of men and things, and penetration into cases of conscience and Divine mysteries. Another hand, from his laborious exertions in the Church. Another foot, from his industrious travels to spread abroad the knowledge of Christ crucified: and so of others.” - Clarke

(Ephesians 5:8-17 NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

 

[Ezra Allen]

(1 Thessalonians 4:9 NIV) Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

 

[El Hombre viejo]

Does anyone go to a church where "the word" is not preached?

Oh Son you would be sooo surprised!!

 

[DeiSponsa]

I go to a United Church of Christ church in Wisconsin.

 

[Ezra Allen]

I go to a United Church of Christ church in Wisconsin.

UCOC is a nice church also. I am facebook friends with Wayne Cobb from the Reno UCOC and Charles Dailey from the Minnehaha Church of Christ. I took one of Mr. Dailey's free online bible courses at the Northwest College of the Bible. The United Church of Christ and International Church of Christ both get their start from the Cane Ridge Revival in Kentucky 1801.

The Cane Ridge Revival was one of the earliest events in the Restoration Movement, a Protestant movement seeking to unify the church after the pattern described in the New Testament. The revival also represents an early example of a camp meeting, a tradition of outdoor services established in the South during the Second Great Awakening, from 1790 to 1830.

 

[El Hombre viejo]

(1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

I'll get to this.



What do you accomplish in your life as a non church going Secret Christian? For every church that does it wrong there is one that does it right. Do you look hard enough or do you give up because the effort it takes. There are churches made of of 80% poor, and Churches made up of 80% sick.


(Psalms 133:1 NIV) A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

(Acts 2:44 NIV) All the believers were together and had everything in common.

(Matthew 5:14 NIV) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Light of the world means that we are not only light-receivers, but also light-givers. We must have a greater concern than only ourselves, and we cannot live only to ourselves; we must have someone to shine to, and do so lovingly.

Spurgeon said of this verse “Christ never contemplated the production of secret Christians, - Christians whose virtues would never be displayed, - pilgrims who would travel to heaven by night, and never be seen by their fellow-pilgrims or anyone else.”

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden: Such a city is prominent and can’t be hidden. If you see such a city from a distance, it is hard to take your eyes off of it. In the same way, Jesus wanted the people of His kingdom to live visible lives that attracted attention to the beauty of God’s work in the life.

One fleeting candle flame sitting in a room by itself can be overcome by the darkness around it. How bright is a room of a hundred plus candles all lit. How did John in 1 John 2:18-19 describe antichrists.

(1 John 2:19 NIV) They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

I really do like how the Message Translation says this

(1 John 2:19 MSG) They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.

They left us:

This shows that many of these many antichrists at one time or another have identified themselves with the body of believers. The fact that they left the body of Christ demonstrated that they were not of us to begin with.

John isn’t talking about someone who leaves one church to begin attending another good church. He is talking about those who leave the community of God’s people all together. This reveals that they were never really part of God’s people to begin with.

We can imagine the scene. There is some controversy among people at a church, and someone responds by saying, “I’m so sick of all this. This church and all churches, they’re just a bunch of hypocrites. I don’t need any of this. I can follow God my own way!” They leave; not just a church, but they leave any kind of church. We can fairly say that this person does not appear to be a Christian, and their appearance demonstrates that they never really were a Christian. Only God knows the heart for certain, but the appearance is that they trusted in the church, or trusted in themselves, but they weren’t really trusting in Jesus Christ. If they were, then the common ground of trust in Jesus would be greater than any other difficulty they might be having with other Christians.

One must beware of those folks who are so “spiritual” that they can’t get along in any church. One sees those from time to time; folks so gifted, so prophetic, so spiritual, that they are getting kicked out or leaving in a huff from every church they go to. Finally, they are just left to themselves, and they seem happy enough with that. Fellowship with themselves is at least fellowship with someone as spiritual as they are! Of course, there is something seriously wrong with such so-called “spirituality.”

The sobering truth is that many of those who offer a false or opposing Jesus came from the true body of Christians.

In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.


Again I ask you how hard have you looked for a church to attend? How much effort have you put into that aspect of your faith? How much of it is you that can't get along with them? How much do you do by yourself to follow Jesus.

A healthy church can purge itself of poisons; the compromising and false Christian will not feel comfortable setting down roots in a healthy church - he will either get right with God or leave.

(1 Corinthians 12:21-26 NKJV)
And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

And the eye cannot say to the hand: Now, Paul writes to those tempted to pride and a sense of superiority because of their gifts or place in the body. They cannot say to such parts, “I have no need of you.”

Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary: Often, we consider a part of our body unnecessary or of low importance – until it is hurt. Then we realize how important it is! The hand or the eye may seem to be more important, and may have more “glamour” in its position – but it is not more necessary or important than other parts of the body.

That there should be no schism in the body: Seen from God’s perspective, with the illustration of the body, there is never any reason for schism in the body. The “pride” of the “honorable” member is checked, as is the “shame” of the “less honorable” member.

That the members should have the same care for one another: Paul’s theological point about the nature of the body of Jesus Christ has now come to a very practical application. The Corinthian Christians should care for one another because they are all part of the same body.

The parts of the body work together. The eyes and ears do not only serve themselves, but the whole body. The hands do not only feed and defend themselves, but the whole body. The heart does not only supply blood to itself, but serves the whole body. Sometimes there is a part of our body which only lives to serve itself. It doesn’t contribute anything to the rest of the body, and everything it gets it uses to feed and grow itself. We call this cancer.

“I want every member of this church to be a worker. We do not want any drones. If there are any of you who want to eat and drink, and do nothing, there are plenty of places elsewhere, where you can do it; there are empty pews about in abundance; go and fill them, for we do not want you. Every Christian who is not a bee is a wasp. The most quarrelsome persons are the most useless, and they who are the most happy are peaceable, are generally those who are doing most for Christ.” - Spurgeon

And if one member suffers: The care for one another mentioned in the previous verse is now explained. It means to have a heart towards, and sympathy with, our fellow members, though they be different.

(1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Paul sums up his previous point. Even as a human body is a unified whole with many different parts, so also is the body of Jesus Christ. “We could call one eye, because of his acute observation of men and things, and penetration into cases of conscience and Divine mysteries. Another hand, from his laborious exertions in the Church. Another foot, from his industrious travels to spread abroad the knowledge of Christ crucified: and so of others.” - Clarke

(Ephesians 5:8-17 NIV)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

What do you accomplish in your life as a non church going Secret Christian? For every church that does it wrong there is one that does it right. Do you look hard enough or do you give up because the effort it takes. There are churches made of of 80% poor, and Churches made up of 80% sick.


Here you go....People yammering on about things they know nothing about.

 

[allforihs]

Oh Son you would be sooo surprised!!

I was being sarcastic. I don't think I've ever been to a church that preached the whole Bible. The mega-churches are so concerned with not offending anyone that they avoid nearly all substance (i.e. they avoid 99% of the Bible). The same is true of smaller churches that put a priority on growth.

Smaller churches that get into substance suffer from the eccentricities of their pastors. These pastors, instead of teaching the whole Bible, they blindly focus on pet issues (i.e. they ignore 50% of the Bible, and ignore anything that conflicts with their positions on a pet issues). Focusing on their pet issues also helps offending people on issues outside of their pet issues.

A recent Pew study reveals how stunningly ignorant Christians are (e.g. half of them can't even name the four Gospels). Christians are nearly as ignorant as non-Christians about basic, noncontroversial aspects of Christianity. They are not learning much in church.

This is why you might conclude that many churches are essentially social clubs (although, the social aspect is a critical function of a church).

 

[El Hombre viejo]

I was being sarcastic. I don't think I've ever been to a church that preached the whole Bible. The mega-churches are so concerned with not offending anyone that they avoid nearly all substance (i.e. they avoid 99% of the Bible). The same is true of smaller churches that put a priority on growth.

Smaller churches that get into substance suffer from the eccentricities of their pastors. These pastors, instead of teaching the whole Bible, they blindly focus on pet issues (i.e. they ignore 50% of the Bible, and ignore anything that conflicts with their positions on a pet issues). Focusing on their pet issues also helps offending people on issues outside of their pet issues.

A recent Pew study reveals how stunningly ignorant Christians are (e.g. half of them can't even name the four Gospels). Christians are nearly as ignorant as non-Christians about basic, noncontroversial aspects of Christianity. They are not learning much in church.

This is why you might conclude that many churches are essentially social clubs (although, the social aspect is a critical function of a church).

I agree wholeheartedly with what you say and I do have to apologize too. I didn't recognize the sarcasm. I've been trying to stay away from guile for a long time. I'm sorry

 

[allforihs]

I agree wholeheartedly with what you say and I do have to apologize too. I didn't recognize the sarcasm. I've been trying to stay away from guile for a long time. I'm sorry

Rather, I should apologize. Sarcasm isn't so obvious on the internet.

 

[El Hombre viejo]

Rather, I should apologize. Sarcasm isn't so obvious on the internet.

Hugs for both of us!!

 

[DeiSponsa]

UCOC is a nice church also. I am facebook friends with Wayne Cobb from the Reno UCOC and Charles Dailey from the Minnehaha Church of Christ. I took one of Mr. Dailey's free online bible courses at the Northwest College of the Bible. The United Church of Christ and International Church of Christ both get their start from the Cane Ridge Revival in Kentucky 1801.

The Cane Ridge Revival was one of the earliest events in the Restoration Movement, a Protestant movement seeking to unify the church after the pattern described in the New Testament. The revival also represents an early example of a camp meeting, a tradition of outdoor services established in the South during the Second Great Awakening, from 1790 to 1830.

Very cool to hear

 

[Daniel_777]

We are the body of Christ, but the reason we attend a church goes back to the Temple in the Old Testament. In this we must remember to look at the full council of GOD, the whole of the issue from Genesis to Revelation. The Temple was for conducting daily prayer services, and the sacrifice system. When the Temple fell, synagogues started up, because the Jewish people needed a place to conduct prayer services, and observing the Sabbath which brought about weekly reading from the Torah along with explanations(or sermons) of the biblical text. In the New Testament,the apostles (who were Jewish) who put their faith in Jesus continued in the Synagogues. This is also recommended by James in Acts 15:21. Gentiles who joined the faith of the Messiah Jesus later formed their own type of synagogue, which is now referred to as the church. So church membership is not wrong, as attending church services is simply a continuation of Old Testament worship in the Temple. GOD is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gift and calling of GOD are irrevocable.