Do you think Two Church services a month is enough?

Originally Posted by John Atkinson

nice opinion. Too bad for you, you don't have a single supporting scripture.

Well, gotta go to work. See ya later cupcake....

Remember, the "Church" does not save anybody, only our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can save us (John 3:17; 10:9, Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:31, Romans 10:9,13).

"Church" is basically a temple made with hands. Does God dwell in temples made with hands? Scripture tells us~

Acts 7:48, "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands"

Acts 17:24, "God...dwelleth not in temples made with hands"

"True Worship"?

The basic meaning of the word "worship" is service. To "worship" God is to put every area of one's life under the His Law. Worship in the generic sense is the devotion we owe to God in the whole of life. God is sovereign, He is Lord, having sovereignty over us and propriety in us, and therefore in all that we do we owe subjection to him, devotion to His revealed will, obedience to His commandments. There is no area of life where the injunction does not apply (1 Corinthians 10:31). In view of the lordship of Christ as Mediator, all of life comes under His dominion (Colossians 3:23,24).

In the Old Testament there was also a more specific usage for "worship," namely, the observance of the ceremonial rituals. These ritual observances typified worship in every area of life. Animal sacrifice, the burning of incense, attendance at temple, and other rigors were imposed on the people of Israel, and were but shadows of the worship of the New Covenant.

Jesus spoke of the New Covenant form of worship in John 4. The woman at the well, having been confronted with the ethical demands of the Lord Jesus (regarding her adulterous life), attempts a "doctrinal" diversion: she asks Jesus about "worship." Putting words in Jesus' mouth, she claims that worship occurs in a certain place (John 4:20). Jesus denies that worship occurs in any place, and says, "true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth" (John 4:21-24).

But the real question is not whether believers should exhort one another daily, but whether it is required of believers to engage in a certain kind of meeting, with certain credentialed officers, to expose themselves to a specified ritual of acts which are called "attending church." Is this a scriptural command?



Can you find one occurrence in the New Testament books of "worship" in the ceremonial/specific sense (going to a specific place to worship) being required of bondservants of Christ? The answer is no. Or are the occurrences of "worship" speaking of obedience in every area of life? The answer is yes. Do any of the Greek words used for "worship" occur in any sense requiring bondservants of Christ to go to Jerusalem, or to any specific "place" to "worship" God? No, they do not. Would we expect centralized ceremonial "worship" to be required today in light of the fact that Jews were doing this because the spirit of God was not yet given them (John 7:39)? In light of the fact that in the Old Testament, God only dwelt in temples made with hands because the Spirit was not yet inside of the people, but today, God says He does not dwell in temples made with hands, because the Spirit of God dwells within our bodies? If you "attend church," have you been trained to search the Scriptures to find the answers to such questions as these (Acts 17:11), or do you need to ask your "pastor"~

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by CupCake

"True Worship"?

The basic meaning of the word "worship" is service. To "worship" God is to put every area of one's life under the His Law. Worship in the generic sense is the devotion we owe to God in the whole of life. God is sovereign, He is Lord, having sovereignty over us and propriety in us, and therefore in all that we do we owe subjection to him, devotion to His revealed will, obedience to His commandments. There is no area of life where the injunction does not apply (1 Corinthians 10:31). In view of the lordship of Christ as Mediator, all of life comes under His dominion (Colossians 3:23,24).

In the Old Testament there was also a more specific usage for "worship," namely, the observance of the ceremonial rituals. These ritual observances typified worship in every area of life. Animal sacrifice, the burning of incense, attendance at temple, and other rigors were imposed on the people of Israel, and were but shadows of the worship of the New Covenant.

Jesus spoke of the New Covenant form of worship in John 4. The woman at the well, having been confronted with the ethical demands of the Lord Jesus (regarding her adulterous life), attempts a "doctrinal" diversion: she asks Jesus about "worship." Putting words in Jesus' mouth, she claims that worship occurs in a certain place (John 4:20). Jesus denies that worship occurs in any place, and says, "true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth" (John 4:21-24).

But the real question is not whether believers should exhort one another daily, but whether it is required of believers to engage in a certain kind of meeting, with certain credentialed officers, to expose themselves to a specified ritual of acts which are called "attending church." Is this a scriptural command?



Can you find one occurrence in the New Testament books of "worship" in the ceremonial/specific sense (going to a specific place to worship) being required of bondservants of Christ? The answer is no. Or are the occurrences of "worship" speaking of obedience in every area of life? The answer is yes. Do any of the Greek words used for "worship" occur in any sense requiring bondservants of Christ to go to Jerusalem, or to any specific "place" to "worship" God? No, they do not. Would we expect centralized ceremonial "worship" to be required today in light of the fact that Jews were doing this because the spirit of God was not yet given them (John 7:39)? In light of the fact that in the Old Testament, God only dwelt in temples made with hands because the Spirit was not yet inside of the people, but today, God says He does not dwell in temples made with hands, because the Spirit of God dwells within our bodies? If you "attend church," have you been trained to search the Scriptures to find the answers to such questions as these (Acts 17:11), or do you need to ask your "pastor"~

Yes.




Jhn 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Jhn 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

Yes.




Jhn 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Jhn 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Our walk need to be daily, not once a week, but daily with God. His Kingdom dwells within us bodily~

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by Rico

they aren't as perfect, holy, righteous, and godlike as they like to think themselves to be.

You're right. They're probably more so, since they don't think they are all of that, while God likely does. And when HE approves, it beats any approval of man going!

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by CupCake

Our walk need to be daily, not once a week, but daily with God. His Kingdom dwells within us bodily~

I agree. A continuous walk in the Spirit.

Originally Posted by originalsecretplace

I agree. A continuous walk in the Spirit.

Amen~


P.S That chocolate icon making me weak....

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by CupCake

Our walk need to be daily, not once a week, but daily with God. His Kingdom dwells within us bodily~

And also, we dwell with Him in His kingdom... I already live in my mansion.

[Whole Hearted]

I wouldn't mind being in church every night as long as I didn't have to do all the preaching.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Whole Hearted

I wouldn't mind being in church every night as long as I didn't have to do all the preaching.

I wouldn't mind if I got to do the preaching.



j/k

Agreed. But if you are in the building all the time how do you minister to those outside the building? As Michlow said there is a balance.

This is a disingenous statement, for I don't know of anybody who is 'in the building all the time.' People go home, go to school, go to work, go to the store, go to the mall, go to.... Do you not think that these are tremendous avenues to be a witness, just by how we live our lives? The either/or idea is simply a strawman argument.

Jesus is the head of the body. How can I show up or not show up when I'm spiritually connected to the Head -- Jesus Christ -- except by not doing His will?

So far as I can see, we have an understanding of God's will by what He has preserved for us in His Word, thus, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together is just as much God's will for you and I as is the practical aspects of living what we say we believe (visiting the sick and afflicted, giving what we can to help others less fortunate, etc)

He is the one that commands the parts to do His will. Not all of His will takes place within the four walls of a building at all times.

Indeed, nor does all of His will take place OUTSIDE of the four walls of a building. But, His will is fulfilled when His people gather together in His name and are taught, fed, edified so that they may then effectively reach out to those OUTSIDE the four walls who need what the church, as His body in this earth, has to offer: life, hope, healing, restoration, deliverance, peace.....

Truly, if Jesus is our example, then, not only will we be going about doing good, we will be 'in the synagogue' (Jesus called it His house), for the scripture says, "as was his custom".