Do you think Two Church services a month is enough?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Michlow

You were all right. Sitting at home is accomplishing nothing. So I need to find someway to go out and be Jesus to the poor, needy, hungry and lost in my community. And if I need to do it alone, then so be it.

Shouldn't this be in addition to assembling yourself with other believers for worship, and not instead of?

[Whole Hearted]

I don't think that three times a week is enough so we are adding a Tues. night prayer meeting.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

What would be YOUR suggestions on what the church should be doing????

Isa 58

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


Matthew 25

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
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Now I don't want to minimize the importance of meeting the spiritual needs of people, I DO think that it is important. But I believe that first we have to show them that we love them as people, not as another number to add to our list so that we can say that we are "running 100" etc.

I think that in this day and age, if people don't think you care about them, they aren't going to listen to a word you say. And I think that in many people's experience with the church they have been taught that love is conditional. We will love you IF you are saved, IF you straighten up, IF you play by our rules. And that colors their view of God.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Shouldn't this be in addition to assembling yourself with other believers for worship, and not instead of?

Hmmm...Yes and No...and maybe.

Yes, I stil need to assemble with others. Ultimately, I am hopeing that I will either find some likeminded believers or that God will use me to somehow light a fire in those who have grown so complacent on their padded pews.

So I will most likely continue with my current church attendance patterns. But I will not go to church 3 or more times a week and let myself get bogged down with the superficiality of programs and "ministries" that do more to entertain, then actually minister.

I read that back and it sounds somewhat angry and self-righteous, and I really don't mean it to be, I just feel so passionate about all this. That burning zeal to make a difference, to love people, and to show them that Jesus loves them.

[OGIA]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Shouldn't this be in addition to assembling yourself with other believers for worship, and not instead of?

I can answer a hearty "YES!" to this.

There are many "groups" who minister to the sick and poor, as our Lord did. But, they do very little, if nothing, for these folks spiritually. Unfortunately, they don't know what being born again entails, so I guess they assume these sick and hurting are going to be saved since "God would never send them to hell" (no matter what the reason is that got them to where they are).

These same groups are sometimes isolated and do not even attend a church. They think that their ministry is only in feeding and clothing. They have no concept of ministering to and being ministered to by a local body, something just as important in Paul's writings as ministering to the poor.

I can say all of that because I know from experience. I've gotten in with a group like this. I pray to God that I can give them something eternally beneficial (not only for themselves, but for those they serve), because they have certainly shown me a true servant's heart in the time I've been with them!

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Hmmm...Yes and No...and maybe.

Yes, I stil need to assemble with others. Ultimately, I am hopeing that I will either find some likeminded believers or that God will use me to somehow light a fire in those who have grown so complacent on their padded pews.

So I will most likely continue with my current church attendance patterns. But I will not go to church 3 or more times a week and let myself get bogged down with the superficiality of programs and "ministries" that do more to entertain, then actually minister.

I read that back and it sounds somewhat angry and self-righteous, and I really don't mean it to be, I just feel so passionate about all this. That burning zeal to make a difference, to love people, and to show them that Jesus loves them.

There are many people whose ministries are outside the four walls of the church building who get misunderstood because the "inside four the walls" ministry people don't see them as edifying the church. I have a hard time understanding how people think that ministry only includes being a part of a program created and administered inside the four walls of the building and only meant for those who come to the building.

Although we all drink of the same Spirit we each manifest our gifts at different times, places and different ways. People can prophesy and sing and minister (by feeding, clothing, etc) out on the highways and biways as well as within the four walls. But if you are within the four walls all the time how do you have the time to minister elswhere?

Originally Posted by Rico

One thing that will make Heaven so much more enjoyable than church on Earth is that I won't have to listen to any more preachers make their ridiculous demands.

...said the goat to the shepherd, just before walking off the cliff to his own destruction.

[Whole Hearted]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

...said the goat to the shepherd, just before walking off the cliff to his own destruction.

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by OGIA

I can answer a hearty "YES!" to this.

There are many "groups" who minister to the sick and poor, as our Lord did. But, they do very little, if nothing, for these folks spiritually. Unfortunately, they don't know what being born again entails, so I guess they assume these sick and hurting are going to be saved since "God would never send them to hell" (no matter what the reason is that got them to where they are).

These same groups are sometimes isolated and do not even attend a church. They think that their ministry is only in feeding and clothing. They have no concept of ministering to and being ministered to by a local body, something just as important in Paul's writings as ministering to the poor.

I can say all of that because I know from experience. I've gotten in with a group like this. I pray to God that I can give them something eternally beneficial (not only for themselves, but for those they serve), because they have certainly shown me a true servant's heart in the time I've been with them!

And that is why we need balance! We need to do both! As James said "15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. "

We need both! But I honestly believe that you need to love people UNCONDITIONALLY beyond just wanting to save them. You need to love them whether or not they ever accept the Gospel. Some people are hardened and bitter and it may take years or they may never change. It is just as much a sin to ignore their spiritual needs as it is to ignore their physical needs. That's why we need to do both.

[originalsecretplace]

Originally Posted by SISTER Murphy

...said the goat to the shepherd, just before walking off the cliff to his own destruction.

RICO, I think she's calling you an OLD GOAT....

Oh yeah:

Mat 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged. Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.