Chris Reed Gas Prices and Joe Biden

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by diakonos

I don’t understand why people NEED to be at church 4x a week.

Bro, there are lots of things I can't understand doing more than 4x a week. But, if someone is getting a benefit from doing something 4x a week then they're actually enjoying it?

If someone is not getting anything out of it, they should just stay home. Most likely once a week is too much for them. Church isn't for everyone, if it was, then hell would be empty.

[coksiw]

This thread is turning into something else. Service 4x is not balance, and probably not a very efficient use of time and effort, and counter-productive.

Every time a family goes to a service, you are taking 3-4h of their week time if you count getting ready, driving, having church, a small fellowship, driving back, getting undress, and then the energy that you have taken from them. My comment sounds negative, but it is not meant to be as there is a great reward about going to service, but I'm just looking at physical reality first before I go to the next point.

Those that come to every service, are also the ones that will do 80% of the job in the church. They are the ones that feel the most the commitment. You know, that 20% that do 80% of the job. So, for every additional service you add, you are taking time and energy from their week to reach out to the lost and spend time with them, to give Bible Studies, and for those that are preachers, to study so they can be approved for the work of ministry (in fact, I have known of people not having time to do their UPCI license because of ministry, and some even "skipping" the full UPCI requirements for training and the board just "accepting" it). Now if your ministry is within the four walls during service, then you may not fully understand the problem.

The end result is that your saints are so immersed in Church activities that they end up isolated from the world around them, and also your teachers/preachers having no time to prepare good preachings/teachings, and only the full-time Pastor is truly the only one with time for that. So it truly becomes all around one personality, the Pastor, and the church struggles to grow, and instead all you see is growing by "transfers" from other churches. When those saints with lots of services go home, they don't have time or energy other than to keep up with their house, or worse, they are overwhelmed and they take it on their family members showing irritability and very low patience in general.

There is a balance in this, so you can still feed the flock, and get them renewed with a good prayer/teaching/fellowship, and yet give time to those highly performant 20% to do what they are capable of doing.

Many say that third world countries people go far distances and then have long services, and we are all spoiled and unthankful, but I would do the same thing if transportation were so hard: come to the service only once a week and just have a long service.

The NT church, and the post-apostolic church, met in holy convocation once a week, and the rest of the week they did fellowship, visit each other, visit the sick, the ones in prison, teach, evangelize, etc... basically, the congregation was very involved, so they were not without fruit. Available time matters. BTW, they also worked longer hours that many of us do. This whole thing about a mid-week service is the result of better transportation and shorter work hours.

That being said, I like coming at least twice a week to church, but still leave my week available for other things. I'm currently coming three times a week, and doing two Bible Studies weekly + talking to another potential one + being in Bible Quizzing + teaching from pulpit + studying at home. And I'm feeling almost right on the edge.

Most newconverts love to meet as many times as possible, and they do enjoy 8 services a week if you give that to them. The youth also love it, as they have usually more time in their hands. The situation becomes a problem for the other 20% that wants to do ministry outside the four walls and spend a good deal of time on it, and have families, and jobs, etc... I have known of Pastors that just don't see it and love more and more services, and I have also known of Pastors that are very considerate of these situations.

Anyways, when somebody complains about too many services, everyone gets offended, but in many cases, I can guess what they are coming from.

[Esaias]

AA tells newcomers either "30 meetings in 30 days" or 60 in 60 or 90 in 90. Most never do. The ones that do become lifers and stay off the booze.

Multiple meetings are good for sinners and new converts. After that, going to meeting to "get something out of it" is a sign of retarded growth and immaturity. Once established in the faith you should be going to meeting to GIVE something.

Israel got manna every day EXCEPT on God's designated Holy Day. They used what God gave them before. Meeting time isn't the gas station where you fill up to try and make it through the next week. It's where you are supposed to share the abundance God has given you:

Ephesians 4:16 KJV
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Too many have it backwards, so they are always running on fumes.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

AA tells newcomers either "30 meetings in 30 days" or 60 in 60 or 90 in 90. Most never do. The ones that do become lifers and stay off the booze.

Multiple meetings are good for sinners and new converts. After that, going to meeting to "get something out of it" is a sign of retarded growth and immaturity. Once established in the faith you should be going to meeting to GIVE something.

Israel got manna every day EXCEPT on God's designated Holy Day. They used what God gave them before. Meeting time isn't the gas station where you fill up to try and make it through the next week. It's where you are supposed to share the abundance God has given you:

Ephesians 4:16 KJV
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Too many have it backwards, so they are always running on fumes.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Amanah

The cheapest gas I can find is at walmart for $4.40.
Rising inflation is disturbing, but we can weather it because everything we own is paid for and we have a simple life style. Hoping the MAGA crowd returns next presidential election and undoes Bidens anti American agenda.

Now walmart is up to $4.75

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Now walmart is up to $4.75

We are still at 4.75 and Shell is at 5.85.

If you calculate the name Sleepy Uncle Josephus Bidenaous it equals the numbers 666.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

We are still at 4.75 and Shell is at 5.85.

If you calculate the name Sleepy Uncle Josephus Bidenaous it equals the numbers 666.

Speaking of which... What's your opinion of the alternative reading 616?

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Speaking of which... What's your opinion of the alternative reading 616?

You mean the Main Marvel Universe 616? 🤣

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Speaking of which... What's your opinion of the alternative reading 616?

One's Latin, and one's Greek.

[Monterrey]

I pastor and speak as a pastor regarding services and the frequency of them. I ONLY speak regarding this congregation so take it as such.

We have 3 services a week, 2 on Sunday, 1 on Wednesday. I just started a Friday night preaching point where we had been teaching Bible studies for the last 9 months.

What I find is that we, the established congregation, all assemble for the 3 regular services. It is a discipline and we are disciples. But it's not for us only. We have some regular attendees that only can come on Wednesday because they work weekends. We have Sunday morning attendees that can't come on Wednesday. Others who like to sleep in on Sunday am come in the pm.

My conundrum is this. Which one would you suggest we stop?

Is it worth stopping for your convenience or do you just stay home and let the others reach out?

It appears to me that so many people today are only concerned about them and their outreach has probably ceased.

When was the last time you invited someone to church?

Were they busy on Sunday? Did you just nonchalantly say, oh well, guess you are going to he'll cause we only have one service! Tough luck!

We have four services a week because people need God. I know, I know, we could be doing other things with our time but...... somewhere down the road you will give an account for your talent. Just saying... from a Pastor's perspective.