House church or excuse?

[J.A. Perez]

Originally Posted by Cracker Barrel

I may not be on the road but I know where is.

I hesatated asking this but, are you even in church?

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

Really? Thinking that a big building glorifies God more than small groups meeting together does.
God does not receive more glory with big buildings man does. Larger groups loose the evangelistic mindset that are found in smaller groups. Better to have hundreds of small groups that are reaching friends and neighbors, than one big building with thousands were one gets lost in the crowd.
Larger groups, grow based on programs and the reputation of one or two leaders (preachers/pastor) than the love of Christ. Where as house churches grow based on love one to another, and study of the bible.
Sorry if that sounds too simplified, but I have experienced them all, I am not speaking off the top of my head here. As a young pastor starting a new church my goal was to get enough people to afford a building that could seat more people. Now later in life I see the error of that thinking. Today I would much rather see hundreds even thousands of house churches that gathered quarterly for fellowship, than gather all the house churches under one roof with a small ministry team.
House churches or excuses? The question should be why are you not reaching your neighbor on a one to one bases leading them to Christ rather than trying to get them to attend your church? Why are we more concerned with the size of the church we attend and eloquence of the preacher and worship team, than personal relationship with God. Why is the conversion of a sinner based more on the church we attend rather than your own personal witness? Why is it that our evangelistic efforts for most must be conducted across town because our neighbors cannot see Christ in us and would reject our witness?
If it is possible to merge the two, house churches and the church building and assembly great. But if not I will take house church groups over the mega church setting any day of the week.

Beloved, I agree with the precept of smaller congregations IF teaching the
apostolic doctrine within the FULL Ministry is implemented. If it is not, then the
same problems encountered in a large congregation will be evident.

King David gathered material so that his son,Solomon, could build the Temple.
It is not so with the Church: we are called to gather BELIEVERS so that the SON
may build the Temple with LIVELY STONES!

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

Beloved, I agree with the precept of smaller congregations IF teaching the
apostolic doctrine within the FULL Ministry is implemented. If it is not, then the
same problems encountered in a large congregation will be evident.

King David gathered material so that his son,Solomon, could build the Temple.
It is not so with the Church: we are called to gather BELIEVERS so that the SON
may build the Temple with LIVELY STONES!

We are the temple not a building on the street corner, nor even house churches. Only one passage in all NT tells us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together, yet it does not specify frequency or where. Yet we are told that when two or three are gathered Christ is in our midst.
Yet what we are commanded to do more than once is to GO into the world.
Not sure what you mean by FULL MINISTRY being implemented.

[good samaritan]

God will take care of the facilities if we take care of the kingdom. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto to you. Martha was cumbered about many things, but Mary chose the good part. Facilities are necessary, but it must not be the objective.

I personally think many misunderstood what cracker barrel was implying. We should be extravagant when it comes to God. That doesn't mean that we are to be vain, but instead that we should put our money where our mouth is. If I proclaim that God is first in my life then it should be proven by fruits in my life.

I know some who if their spouse hints that they want something then they run to get it. I think that is part of a love relationship (of course within reason) We should seek the favor of God. P.S. I am not insinuating that God desires big buildings.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

We are the temple not a building on the street corner, nor even house churches. Only one passage in all NT tells us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together, yet it does not specify frequency or where. Yet we are told that when two or three are gathered Christ is in our midst.
Yet what we are commanded to do more than once is to GO into the world.
Not sure what you mean by FULL MINISTRY being implemented.

Good point. We are commanded to not forsake the assembling and there is no frequency described. We should be faithful to assembling no matter the frequency. Even the more as we see the day approaching. I don't think that the early church had a Sunday and Wednesday routine as we do today. They probably were more connected than that. They where the church.

The church should realize their identity and be the church. Our church families should be yoked together with cords that cannot be broken. We need one another for fellowship and productive ministry. Thank God for the church!!!

[Praxeas]

make the images bigger!!!!!!!

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

make the images bigger!!!!!!!

I'll try to do better next time.

[Praxeas]

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

We are the temple not a building on the street corner, nor even house churches. Only one passage in all NT tells us to forsake not the assembling
of ourselves together, yet it does not specify frequency or where. Yet we are
told that when two or three are gathered Christ is in our midst.
Yet what we are commanded to do more than once is to GO into the world.
Not sure what you mean by FULL MINISTRY being implemented.

Yes, we are the Church. We are the lively stones...and we are being built
upon with other lively stones.

The full Ministry comes into play with "...the perfection of the saints, the
work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ." Without the
FULL Ministry, however, one will only "GO into the world" as one individually
understands and is compelled; but not as a body (Church).


...we are edified to a certain point, but not sufficiently taught how to work
the ministry (of the church), and our perfection is minimal.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

We are the temple not a building on the street corner, nor even house churches. Only one passage in all NT tells us to forsake not the assembling
of ourselves together, yet it does not specify frequency or where. Yet we are
told that when two or three are gathered Christ is in our midst.
Yet what we are commanded to do more than once is to GO into the world.
Not sure what you mean by FULL MINISTRY being implemented.

Yes, we are the Church. We are the lively stones...and we are being built
upon with other lively stones.

The full Ministry comes into play with "...the perfection of the saints, the
work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ." Without the
FULL Ministry, however, one will only "GO into the world" as one individually
understands and is compelled; but not as a body (Church).

...we are edified to a certain point, but not sufficiently taught how to work
the ministry (of the church), and our perfection is minimal.