Originally Posted by Margies3 (Post 1128541)

We have been very blessed. Our former pastor - (the one who went to Indonesia as a missionary) - did alot of expository preaching. He also taught Bible classes and Religion classes at the University of Toledo. So teaching was his strong point and he was VERY good at it. He preached an average of 20-25 minutes and every word he said was important. No fluff stuff.

Then after he left, we had a young man for a year. His preaching was good, but his life had some areas that needed serious work. So it made it hard to listen to his preaching, Know what I mean? I won't go into detail. But he is gone now.

And now we've had a man filling the pulpit while we search for a new pastor. He is another one whose sermons are pure food. He does use personal examples, but only when they fit with the message.

None of these have spent time from the pulpit chatting with the congregation or "connecting" or anything. They were all serious about preaching the Word of God.

Originally Posted by RandyWayne (Post 1128539)

This is my issue with hard preaching in general. In most cases there is nothing said in 60-90 minutes that cannot be said in 5. I have a number of preaching sites book marked and while many are actually pretty good sermons there are more which are nothing but an hour plus scream fest with the title of the "message" repeated often and a liberal dose of catch versus designed to illicit "amen!"'s, shouts, and endless clapping.

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord (Post 1128544)

You are blessed!!!

Most preachers that I have sat under with the exception of a few would have the stopwatch going 95-99% of the time with the little bit of deepest thought, and true word teaching lasting just minutes to maybe even seconds.

Most of those "fluff and stuff" messages come from the NT without much regard to the OT other than maybe a Psalms or two thrown in sometimes. The OT was the Scripture for the early church, and IMO should be used more often, with so much for us to learn. However, much easier to scream about Acts 2:38, and the favorite passages they run to, then trying to get into the meat of the Word.

Good question T2W!!!

Originally Posted by Sabby (Post 1128561)

Don't remember where I heard this but the mind can only contain what the seat can endure. My pastor's pastor used to say that if you can't get across what you're trying to say in 45 minutes then you're taking too long.

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1128578)

I wonder how long Paul preached when that fellow fell asleep on him. :lol

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1128578)

I wonder how long Paul preached when that fellow fell asleep on him. :lol

Originally Posted by Timmy (Post 1128578)

I wonder how long Paul preached when that fellow fell asleep on him. :lol

Originally Posted by Hoovie (Post 1128591)

Pardon my peeve.


Actually, contrary to most Pentecostal thought, I have a different problem... Loud churches and screaming preachers disinterest me and usually make me sleepy.

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1128605)

And they annoy the dog out of me. I am just so far past wanting to hear someone with that preach-y style. The pep-rally atmosphere... Preachers running back and forth across the platform, sweating and screaming with veins bulging in their foreheads.

Is dignity considered anti-Pentecostal? Is there any proof that services were like this in the early church anything but occasionally?

I have literally come from service with my ears ringing in a way that tells me I am getting hearing damage.

But the most annoying thing for me is that with all the sacrifice of sitting through this at the end there is usually very little teaching from the word of God. Even our Sunday morning services, which are supposed to be our Sunday school (while the kids are all in classes) is just more of this. Wednesday night prayer meeting is more of it too... Is this the norm? Cause if it is I may need a different religion soon.

Originally Posted by AreYouReady? (Post 1128623)

I remember one time I did want to put toothpicks under my eyelids when we had a new Choir director. She had the choir sing Lanny Wolf's "He's More Than Wonderful" so many times that I lost count how many times the verses and chorus was sung. I think they sung that same song for 20 minutes.

So preaching is not the only thing that can eat up the time you spend in a service. :)


:choir :bored

Originally Posted by AreYouReady? (Post 1128623)

I remember one time I did want to put toothpicks under my eyelids when we had a new Choir director. She had the choir sing Lanny Wolf's "He's More Than Wonderful" so many times that I lost count how many times the verses and chorus was sung. I think they sung that same song for 20 minutes.

So preaching is not the only thing that can eat up the time you spend in a service. :)
:choir :bored

Originally Posted by RandyWayne (Post 1128627)

Like the 30-45 minute offerings. Again, very common at camp services.

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1128631)

You aint just whistling Dixie sister!

Funny story: At our old church they still sing the songs from the song book and The Old Gospel Ship seemed to be the lead off every Wednesday night. One of my friends, a perfect little grey church mouse of a sister who sang in the choir was over one night and I asked her why it was they sang that song so often. I was nearly shocked senseless when she answered 'I don't know, you'd have to ask that retarded song leader of ours. All I know is that there is no durn gospel ship in the bible and I'm sick of singing about one.

Originally Posted by AreYouReady? (Post 1128637)

:ursofunny :ursofunny


Whistling Dixie? That's the National Anthem! j/k.

We had an Assistant Pastor who loved the song "Come and Dine" and we sang it nearly every Sunday morning. I like that song though.

Originally Posted by Sherri (Post 1128636)

I think I'm very blessed (and spoiled). My husband is a gifted preacher/teacher and he can break down the Word into stuff that helps you in your everyday life and where everyone can understand it. I've listened to him for over 30 years and I'm still amazed.
You should listen to him online at www.loveandtruthchurch.com.

Originally Posted by RandyWayne (Post 1128638)

Everyone has their favorite hymns. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4g-w...eature=related

Originally Posted by AreYouReady? (Post 1128640)

I was getting ready to have me a good laugh at your u-tube video. Then it said Embedding disabled by request and for us to watch on u-tube. :(

(hard to download You-Tubes on dialup)

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1128533)

"If you had two stopwatches, one in each hand, the left for the time the preacher spends talking to fill up space, the right for the time he spends teaching the Bible, how much time do you think would be on each at the end of a service?" (Dramatic hand gestures of clicking stopwatches removed :))

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1128631)

You aint just whistling Dixie sister!

Funny story: At our old church they still sing the songs from the song book and The Old Gospel Ship seemed to be the lead off every Wednesday night. One of my friends, a perfect little grey church mouse of a sister who sang in the choir was over one night and I asked her why it was they sang that song so often. I was nearly shocked senseless when she answered 'I don't know, you'd have to ask that retarded song leader of ours. All I know is that there is no durn gospel ship in the bible and I'm sick of singing about one.' I almost blew a gasket I laughed so hard. It was the first time I ever saw this angelic little person had the tiniest set of horns under her big hair! :heeheehee

Originally Posted by AreYouReady? (Post 1128639)

Website looks interesting Sherri.

Hmmm...we may come and pay ya'll a visit sometime.

You won't even know me from Adam's house cat.

Originally Posted by Amanah (Post 1128553)

This is where a house church or even a small church might be interesting.

Sometimes it could be like a discussion format where the Pastor teaches on a subject then opens it up for discussion, comments, questions.

Then the pressure is not always on one person to preach/teach/entertain.

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord (Post 1128898)

The church we attend now is like this, and I love it. It is a small church, and anyone can share what is on their heart after the worship, and then the pastor shares something from the word, and again, others can add their thoughts. After closing the service, we share a meal and fellowship together.

There is no entertainment here, but a very sweet spirit of God in every service, because the pastor has no desire for us to even call him pastor, but rather a leader, or elder, and sincerely points all souls to Jesus, and not to anyone or anything else.

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1129017)

Are either/both of these churches Oneness Pentecostal

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord (Post 1129019)

Yes.

I might add, that there are those who believe in the Trinitarian version of one God, and there are Oneness there who believe also in the Oneness of God.

I used to think Trinitarians believed in three Gods, but found out in the last several years that is not the case. As Aquila has pointed out in his posts, where Trinnies and Oneness differ is how to describe Jesus. They both believe God is the father, and that Jesus is diety, but they differ in exactly how that took place. Which, IMO, the arguments can go both ways, and never end.

Bottom line, there is one God, and he chose to manifest himself in different ways, through Melchesidek possibly, through Jesus, and through his Spirit. But most everyone on this forum, I think, would agree there is only One God.

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1129065)

I believe that when people are allowed to actually THINK they come to all kinds of conclusions... We have been thinking about giving up on the UPCI all together and over the past few weeks have read literally hundreds of statements of faith on varrious church's web pages. I read the way trinnies describe God as one and I say 'I believe that' then I read what the Oneness folks say and I say 'I believe that'..(speaking of the Bible verses that they quote to back their positions)... I have even checked out a Binitarian church and guess what? I believe that too...

Over all it's what my current church calls the 'Jehovah and Jehovah Jr.' church that seems to be in the lead for having the best doctrine, the way that I understand God. And most impressive was that they actually admitted in their statement that they do not have God in a box and are not the only keepers of absolute 'TRUTH'... But rather that God is more complicated than our puny human minds can really comprehend and that this is what they believe today based on their best interpertation of the Bible. Of course it was worded a lot prettier.

Since I have seen how God has grown my faith and my knowledge over the years this had real appeal. I just wish that I could find a Oneness church that was as open as some of those described... Woza, never even knew that was possible.... hummmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Originally Posted by Titus2woman (Post 1129065)

I believe that when people are allowed to actually THINK they come to all kinds of conclusions... We have been thinking about giving up on the UPCI all together and over the past few weeks have read literally hundreds of statements of faith on varrious church's web pages. I read the way trinnies describe God as one and I say 'I believe that' then I read what the Oneness folks say and I say 'I believe that'..(speaking of the Bible verses that they quote to back their positions)... I have even checked out a Binitarian church and guess what? I believe that too...

Over all it's what my current church calls the 'Jehovah and Jehovah Jr.' church that seems to be in the lead for having the best doctrine, the way that I understand God. And most impressive was that they actually admitted in their statement that they do not have God in a box and are not the only keepers of absolute 'TRUTH'... But rather that God is more complicated than our puny human minds can really comprehend and that this is what they believe today based on their best interpertation of the Bible. Of course it was worded a lot prettier.

Since I have seen how God has grown my faith and my knowledge over the years this had real appeal. I just wish that I could find a Oneness church that was as open as some of those described... Woza, never even knew that was possible.... hummmmmmmmmmm!!!!