About The Church I Visited Today...
 

There were flags. There were pastel blue flags. That is all.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

Just kiddin.

I enjoyed the worship part of the service and the sermon. It was a very positive experience. However, it is a bit of a drive out of the city and I was trying to live close to the church I joined.

Also problematic is that I didn't realize this church was a stand alone church-- not part of any kind of governing body.

I generally avoid those churches on purpose.

I went to a Bible study at an Apostolic church last week and it was a decent experience but, well anyone who knows me knows the deal there.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

um, why do you avoid those churches?

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

Well if God has ordained human government, then it is no stretch to believe that God has ordained church government.

A Pastor needs to be held accountable to somebody and I prefer that somebody to be a local church board and a HQ's type governing body.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

There are independent Pastors who hold themselves accountable to either a group of Elders in the church or a group of other ministers. In my case our pastor is held accountable by a group of Elders in the church who are not "yes men". They see all of the books, know all of the finances, can ask hard questions about both church operations and personal matters.

However I do know there are a lot of independent churches who have no accountibility in place and I agree that is bad.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

I kinda liked the church I visited today and plan to visit it again next week. But it is far from me and they only hold services on Sunday mornings. If it were up to me, there would be Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services-- with prayer rooms open and hour before each service.

I don't know if they don't have a prayer room, but I know they don't advertise a time of pre-service prayer. So maybe I won't make the drive all the way out there again for a church that doesn't make corporate prayer a priority. Maybe I can start it, but again, they are so far.

What I might have to do is join an Apostolic church (Cleveland has a TON of them-- small to large), sit in the background, and don't say anything to anyone, don't participate, etc. It's been too long since I've had physical fellowship and accountability.

So then, once I start to fellowship with them, they will ask questions, I will be honest and I will probably cause confusion-- which is one of the main reasons why I left my last Apostolic church that I loved.

Maybe since they won't know me, if I join plainly stating up front that I disagree with them but need to be a part of a body of believers, maybe they will tolerate me, knowing where I stand, and keep the new converts away from me.

I don't want ANY interaction at all with a new convert to an Apostolic church!

Millstone necklaces are not my style.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

May I ask why being a part of a Apostolic church is a issue?

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

you do know that God ordained human government only because of man's hardness of heart, right? God wants you to live by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

And why did you quit an Apostolic church, if you liked it?

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

Doctrinal issues, I've spelled them out before and I mentioned them in the recent "Vetting Failure" thread.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

you strike me as someone who is not really going to be happy until they are following Christ as best they are able; and that is a lonely road, JD. No church teaches that.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

My advice to you? Pray that God leads you to the church He wants you to attend. You can never go wrong following the will of God. A righteous man's steps are ordered of the Lord. Get in the Word & study it, & pray for wisdom to understand it. Be the Light of Christ to a dying world.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

We have Sunday Morning with prayer a half hour before church in the sanctuary. And people actually pray. Sunday evening the prayer rooms open up an hour before service and usually have several people praying there for a half hour. Then a half hour before service prayer is moved to the sanctuary and everyone prays till service begins.

Tuesday evenings we have prayer a half hour before Bible Study. Usually good participation.

Thursday evenings we have good ol' fashioned prayer meeting. Prayer requests then some typically heated, fervent praying.

Our church is a praying church!

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

We also preach the Apostles Doctrine frequently and fervently.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

"So then, once I start to fellowship with them, they will ask questions, I will be honest and I will probably cause confusion-- which is one of the main reasons why I left my last Apostolic church that I loved.

Maybe since they won't know me, if I join plainly stating up front that I disagree with them..."

i would say don't overlook that Christ came to bring not peace, but a sword, in this sense. There is nothing wrong with disagreement if you are seeking a better understanding of Christ. Any grasp of Christ that cannot withstand some healthy disagreement is worthless anyway. No, this may not make you popular, no matter how kindly you state it.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

A person should be able to tell they are in an Apostolic church-- that's if they're doing it right. :)

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

Some churches never get past Acts 2:38.

Re: About The Church I Visited Today...
 

You might need to look for a home church JD. It seems that every church you visit is not what you are really seeking. Pray about that, and see how the Lord leads.