Where's the Christmas Thread?????

[houston]

Originally Posted by n david

*church families.

And no, I have not witnessed a devil cast out of an individual in church or out of church since I was a kid.

I read about it in Acts. People were set free from demons when they heard the preaching of the gospel. I've never witnessed anyone cast them out.
Is there a process?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

What do you do when you have folks who are life-long AA members and who literally will not touch alcohol? Do they pass on communion, do you offer grape juice for them and wine for the rest, or ???

This is an issue I deal with, we believe wine is what ought to be used but not sure how to deal with teetotalers who actually believe they will wind up dead or in an asylum if they so much as taste alcohol.

We use Welch's grape juice to be safe and respectful of our weaker brethren.

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Esaias

What do you do when you have folks who are life-long AA members and who literally will not touch alcohol? Do they pass on communion, do you offer grape juice for them and wine for the rest, or ???

This is an issue I deal with, we believe wine is what ought to be used but not sure how to deal with teetotalers who actually believe they will wind up dead or in an asylum if they so much as taste alcohol.

I don't believe I'll "wind up dead or in an asylum" if I drink, but I still absolutely refuse to do so. I've never drank a single drop of alcohol in my life, and I never will. Foul, disgusting puke. Just the smell alone is enough to make me physically nauseous.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Debatable. What kind of "fellowship" (communion) takes place in a sacrament of wafers and Dixie cups, followed by a homily or sermon?

In the Epistles, the Lord's Supper is described as a meal. Take into consideration that these references were written at least two decades after what most know as, "The Last Supper" (what many believe was a Jewish Seder, the Passover meal). This testifies that "communion" (the Lord's Supper) was indeed practiced as part of a meal for some time before being watered down to the "Lord's Snack" by the Catholic church. The "communion" and/or "fellowship" was the natural byproduct of sharing a communal, Christ focused, meal together.

But I think it's the fellowship with the Lord's body and blood the term refers to. In other words we are uniting or showing our union with his death. That's the Faith I'm talking about.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

But I think it's the fellowship with the Lord's body and blood the term refers to. In other words we are uniting or showing our union with his death. That's the Faith I'm talking about.

But the church is the Lord's body. It's kinda like traditional church services where people are lined up in a row of noses in pews, partaking in a wafer and shot of juice, and listening to a sermon or homily... only to leave and go home. They say they had "fellowship" with the "body of Christ" by attending.... but truly.... what practical, real, actual, spiritual fellowship did they have beyond a mystical notion that rests on symbols?

In a house church, the Lord's Supper is a full meal. We break the bread and pass the cup in closing. But during that time, we share, discuss, laugh, cry, testify, and build one another up. It's a very intimate and spiritual time. It's almost more like a family gathering than a "religious service".

After the meal we gather together for open discussion Bible study led by one of the elders.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

But the church is the Lord's body.

But that's only because each of us as individuals united to His death and resurrection. It's more than fellowship with each other. It's that,. but with the all important understanding we can do that because as YOU died and arose with Christ, so did I. And THAT basis of fellowship is focused on faith in the work of the cross. That can be done with a little thimble of wine and cracker!

It's kinda like traditional church services where people are lined up in a row of noses in pews, partaking in a wafer and shot of juice, and listening to a sermon or homily... only to leave and go home. They say they had "fellowship" with the "body of Christ" by attending.... but truly.... what practical, real, actual, spiritual fellowship did they have beyond a mystical notion that rests on symbols?

I'm speaking of actual deep understanding of it all.

In a house church, the Lord's Supper is a full meal. We break the bread and pass the cup in closing. But during that time, we share, discuss, laugh, cry, testify, and build one another up. It's a very intimate and spiritual time. It's almost more like a family gathering than a "religious service".

After the meal we gather together for open discussion Bible study led by one of the elders.

How large the meal is makes no difference. You can have a full blown meal and still not get the faith in union to His death and resurrection. It works both ways.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by mfblume

But that's only because each of us as individuals united to His death and resurrection. It's more than fellowship with each other. It's that,. but with the all important understanding we can do that because as YOU died and arose with Christ, so did I. And THAT basis of fellowship is focused on faith in the work of the cross. That can be done with a little thimble of wine and cracker!


I'm speaking of actual deep understanding of it all.



How large the meal is makes no difference. You can have a full blown meal and still not get the faith in union to His death and resurrection. It works both ways.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

We use Welch's grape juice to be safe and respectful of our weaker brethren.

Pray'em through.

Then leave the Capri Sun Juice Box in your kid's lunch pale.

[votivesoul]

Communion and fellowship are the same words in Greek*. This idea that we can fellowship without partaking of "communion", or having a communion service that doesn't require "fellowship" is way off base.

*The word is koinonia. See here: http://biblehub.com/greek/2842.htm

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Jito463

I don't believe I'll "wind up dead or in an asylum" if I drink, but I still absolutely refuse to do so. I've never drank a single drop of alcohol in my life, and I never will. Foul, disgusting puke. Just the smell alone is enough to make me physically nauseous.

So, if you were one of the twelve, and Jesus blessed the cup and passed it to you, you would turn your nose up at it?