Something to think about

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

The condition is "believe on the Lord Jesus". Obviously, failure to do that renders the promise inapplicable.

Amen, but we must always keep in mind that everyone has their own freewill to do as they very well please. People don't even understand what believe really means. Hence they don't know what the importance of baptism means. Hence the reason why someone isn't baptized they are not only not saved they aren't a follower of Christ.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

If someone in a family is lost it is by their own free will to reject the moving power of Jesus Christ. The message to the jailer was automatically saved through his salvation. Just like all Israel will be saved means every single Israeli no matter what. The all is always qualified by the holistic approach to the Bible. Bible is pretty easy to understand when we accept that it isn't fractured scriptures but it must be understood all together.

Yes indeed. But some scriptures we like, and some we don't like, such as the last half of Hosea 4:6. God isn't a Care Bear.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Yes indeed. But some scriptures we like, and some we don't like, such as the last half of Hosea 4:6.

Hosea 4:6

My people are annihilated for not knowing: because you thrust away knowledge, I will also cast you out, that you shalt be no minister to me: seeing thou you forgot the law of your God, I will also forget your progeny.

People tend to cherry pick the Bible apart, to create their own personal Jesus.

Some attend churches that are so dry that they have tumble weeds rolling down the aisle. House church which is more like group session around a coffee table, instead of power of the Holy Ghost and prayer. Teaching that the Bible must be understood how the Apostles taught it, not how John Calvin revamped it to get even with the Pope who excommunicated him. Our country was pioneered by Puritans, Pilgrims, Baptists, and Presbyterians. That is a main reason why Churchanity became the toilet bowl that overflows to create more schism, denominations, and organizations. They don't want book, chapter and verse. They convinced themselves that legalism was a necktie and a shoeshine. When legalism was going through the '"religious" motions of "telling" a person you love them, and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you accept their apology and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you will pray for them and never uttering even a lay me down to sleep prayer for them. Cry about long uncut hair, and a shoeshine, to discard standards of attire only to become a facade with hate in your heart, but honey on your lips. They say they have liberty, brothers looking like Jeffrey "the dude" Lebowski, and Sisters looking like Morticia Adams. Who greet you with buttery pancakes smothered in maple goo, and couldn't care less if you dropped dead. PTL Club, Jim and Tammy from Miami, spouting all the right Christainisms but their hearts were far from Him.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Hosea 4:6

My people are annihilated for not knowing: because you thrust away knowledge, I will also cast you out, that you shalt be no minister to me: seeing thou you forgot the law of your God, I will also forget your progeny.

People tend to cherry pick the Bible apart, to create their own personal Jesus.

Some attend churches that are so dry that they have tumble weeds rolling down the aisle. House church which is more like group session around a coffee table, instead of power of the Holy Ghost and prayer. Teaching that the Bible must be understood how the Apostles taught it, not how John Calvin revamped it to get even with the Pope who excommunicated him. Our country was pioneered by Puritans, Pilgrims, Baptists, and Presbyterians. That is a main reason why Churchanity became the toilet bowl that overflows to create more schism, denominations, and organizations. They don't want book, chapter and verse. They convinced themselves that legalism was a necktie and a shoeshine. When legalism was going through the '"religious" motions of "telling" a person you love them, and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you accept their apology and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you will pray for them and never uttering even a lay me down to sleep prayer for them. Cry about long uncut hair, and a shoeshine, to discard standards of attire only to become a facade with hate in your heart, but honey on your lips. They say they have liberty, brothers looking like Jeffrey "the dude" Lebowski, and Sisters looking like Morticia Adams. Who greet you with buttery pancakes smothered in maple goo, and couldn't care less if you dropped dead. PTL Club, Jim and Tammy from Miami, spouting all the right Christainisms but their hearts were far from Him.

What's really sad is some folks actually know better, but paddle their canoe down the drain to the Land of the Lost anyway.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

What's really sad is some folks actually know better, but paddle their canoe down the drain to the Land of the Lost anyway.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Some people in the pews will be covered in blood from head to foot.

"When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul."

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Amen, but we must always keep in mind that everyone has their own freewill to do as they very well please. People don't even understand what believe really means. Hence they don't know what the importance of baptism means. Hence the reason why someone isn't baptized they are not only not saved they aren't a follower of Christ.

Amen.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Hosea 4:6

My people are annihilated for not knowing: because you thrust away knowledge, I will also cast you out, that you shalt be no minister to me: seeing thou you forgot the law of your God, I will also forget your progeny.

People tend to cherry pick the Bible apart, to create their own personal Jesus.

Some attend churches that are so dry that they have tumble weeds rolling down the aisle. House church which is more like group session around a coffee table, instead of power of the Holy Ghost and prayer. Teaching that the Bible must be understood how the Apostles taught it, not how John Calvin revamped it to get even with the Pope who excommunicated him. Our country was pioneered by Puritans, Pilgrims, Baptists, and Presbyterians. That is a main reason why Churchanity became the toilet bowl that overflows to create more schism, denominations, and organizations. They don't want book, chapter and verse. They convinced themselves that legalism was a necktie and a shoeshine. When legalism was going through the '"religious" motions of "telling" a person you love them, and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you accept their apology and never actually doing it, "telling" someone you will pray for them and never uttering even a lay me down to sleep prayer for them. Cry about long uncut hair, and a shoeshine, to discard standards of attire only to become a facade with hate in your heart, but honey on your lips. They say they have liberty, brothers looking like Jeffrey "the dude" Lebowski, and Sisters looking like Morticia Adams. Who greet you with buttery pancakes smothered in maple goo, and couldn't care less if you dropped dead. PTL Club, Jim and Tammy from Miami, spouting all the right Christainisms but their hearts were far from Him.

I've seen some dead house churches where all they do is sit around criticizing institutional churches. But I thank God that all aren't like that. I only know of two that I've seen that were Spirit filled, loving, and open to Jesus name truth. I pray that God would call an anointed bona-fide Acts 2:38 Apostolic to launch a house church network near me. I sincerely love house church when the Holy Spirit moves.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I've seen some dead house churches where all they do is sit around criticizing institutional churches. But I thank God that all aren't like that. I only know of two that I've seen that were Spirit filled, loving, and open to Jesus name truth. I pray that God would call an anointed bona-fide Acts 2:38 Apostolic to launch a house church network near me. I sincerely love house church when the Holy Spirit moves.

We had started doing cell groups during mid week. The presence of God was strong in the group I was a part of. The pastor dissolved them because they were not going in the direction that he wanted. Whatever that means.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by houston

We had started doing cell groups during mid week. The presence of God was strong in the group I was a part of. The pastor dissolved them because they were not going in the direction that he wanted. Whatever that means.

I really like cell groups too. But your experience is all too common. The first Apostolic church I attended had care groups, but they too were shut down because of the rumor mill and power grabbing. It ended badly. Every leader seemed to want to start their own church and have total power. It was sad.

In a house church network each house church has elders that perform all baptisms, gatherings, teaching, Lord's Suppers, and spiritual discipline. The Senior Pastor leads a house church of elders gathered on an off day. Each region has an elders gathering. Doctrinal teaching, any network wide projects, lesson series, overall vision for the network, campus services, and discipline of the elders is handled among the elders. The Senior Pastor might rotate through the churches in network throughout the year as a guest. The elders of a gathering normally offers him the floor. He might also sit in on difficult issues and biblical counseling.

I like this network system, but it isn't Apostolic in doctrine. The Senior Pastor is Southern Baptist, but the network in nondenominational, with each house church having it's own flavor based on membership backgrounds. I like bringing some Apostolic perspective to ours. Most are Reformed in theology, others are free-will, two are Spirit filled.

We're in transition right now because our Senior Pastor has voluntarily stepped down for 6th months over a marital issue. Hopefully it gets worked out and he's restored. The Senior Pastor of our Xenia, Ohio network is now acting Senior Pastor.

House church is no utopia, it's just what we believe is a more decentralized biblical structure with participative gatherings instead of sitting in a row of noses watching one man do all the teaching and ministry every service.

I'd do anything to see and attend a purely Apostolic house church network. I've considered returning to the UPCI, but the LORD continues to impress upon me to stay put with this mixed band of religious refugees.

But to each there own. House church definitely isn't for every one.