This is all fine and good if it wasn't as someone said earlier, a contest of who can be the loudest, who can rebuke the debbil the strongest, and who can bind and release, and move and shake, etc.
How do I know this? Because I used to be a thoroughbred in that category.
I agree it purges all thoughts and carnality, especially arriving on time to prayer when the Broncos lose.
Another thing, mandatory? No it is another one of those things mentioned from the pulpit that if you do not participate you are cold and dead and on your way to being lost, same with tithing, being there on church work day, and singing in the choir.
Is is just me or has anyone noticed that more and more people war against any kind of rules. is it just a spirit of our day or what? examples, school kids, parents and kids against teacher rules. Church members against any rules, Nation against conservative rule, kids against parents rule, wives against husband rule (of any kind) worker against any corporate rule.
Not trying to stir the pot just seeing a very disturbing trend that is not letting up. Where will that leave my grandchildren. To me it just a strong foothold for the enemy. But then, who am I?
Perhaps by teaching that the bible shows the necessity of it; if a saint then still does not obey after being taught the necessity of it, then perhaps it is time for the Pastor to obey what it teaches him to do, when a saint does not obey.
My church does as well.
The necessity of pre-service prayer? Where in the bible does it show that? Teach the necessity of prayer? Sure, but you are talking about legislating something that the bible does not mention being mandatory....that is praying before a service...just before a service AT the church building grounds...not in the car..not at home...not earlier in the day.
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
I was just wondering how many Apostolics in here, in your churches, do you have pre-service prayer that is manditory for the born again saints in your church?
We have intercessory prayer before our Main Sunday service. Not everyone comes but those who do touch the throne of God. I just love pre-service prayer.
I don't believe in "mandatory" pre-service prayer. We serve God out of a willing heart. When "things" are made to be "madatory", whether it be prayer or giving... it comes a ritual void of power. I do believe we should enter a worship service prayerfully but to "mandate" a time of prayer is a vain attempt to force spirituality. Prayer, like everything else we give to God, should be offered out of willingness and a desire to please God. We serve God because we love Him, not because we are "required" to serve Him.
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"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him...." -Psa. 37:7
Waiting for the Lord is easy... Waiting patiently? Not so much.
Just as affective as prayer before service is to have a "prayful" atmosphere in the auditorium before service.
Dimmly lit lights, soft music and hushed talking. Those that want to pray in there can or just sit and gather your thoughts and focus on the service that is about to start.
One thing that I HATE is walking into a service and the whole place sounds and looks like a convention. Laughing, kids running around, talking about any and everything!
Sometime walk in your service and pretend you know no one and are a visitor and see how YOU would feel.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
Just as affective as prayer before service is to have a "prayful" atmosphere in the auditorium before service.
Dimmly lit lights, soft music and hushed talking. Those that want to pray in there can or just sit and gather your thoughts and focus on the service that is about to start.
One thing that I HATE is walking into a service and the whole place sounds and looks like a convention. Laughing, kids running around, talking about any and everything!
Sometime walk in your service and pretend you know no one and are a visitor and see how YOU would feel.
So do you think the sanctuary should be just that, a sanctuary, and all the fellowship between the saints (chitchat) should be done outside the sanctuary?
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
So do you think the sanctuary should be just that, a sanctuary, and all the fellowship between the saints (chitchat) should be done outside the sanctuary?
I honestly do.
I've only attended ONE church that was like that and it was so refreshing. You could talk all you wanted to out in the foyer, but once you entered the sanctuary it was respected as that.
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Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
We don't have pre service prayer. And mandatory? No, it wouldn't be if we did have it.
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You become free from who you have become, by becoming who you were meant to be. ~Mark from another forum I post on
God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. ~Romans 3:24 from The Message
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My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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