Pre-Service Prayer in Apostolic Churches?

[MrsMcD]

Originally Posted by theoldpaths

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?

Not mandatory but we have pre-service prayer.

[BHILL]

Originally Posted by theoldpaths

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.

What does your Pastor do if your a saint who can't make it early for prayer? Ground you? I don't remember anything in the NT church about prayer before church.It would be hard to attend a church where the pastor keeps track of which saints come early to pray and which ones don't.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Moe

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?

Really, who are you?

You appear to be in rebellion yourself; rebellion against those with whom you may disagree. This is a disturbing trend and I suggest you get in line before it's too late!

Frankly, I have trouble with "rules" when it comes to things of the Spirit. I seek God in a fashion that satisfies my Spirit and enables me to be a conduit to encourage others (apart from my theraputic grousing on AFF!).

Do you have "rules" that state people are supposed to "worship?" Rules for raising of hands and rules for how the hands are to be raised? I've actually run into folks that will rebuke newcomers for not turning their palms in the correct direction.

I attended a church that had a stolen traffic sign directing people which way to run - a "One Way" sign. This may have been a good "rule" because things did get a bit congested in that corner. But some folks there really enjoyed making up other rules as well. And when they got tired of all the rules, then they just threw their hands up in the air and said "Anything goes..."

It gets a bit wearisome riding other people's emotional roller coaster up and and down. How about just encouraging people to pray? How about just making a comfortable and well ventilated room available and setting a good example by being open and inviting?

Most people who tend to come to a church are seeking something in the way of the supernatural and most of them are inclined to seek that through prayer. Why do you need a "rule" to tell people to do what they showed up to do in the first place?

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

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.

You just described my church

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

If pre-service prayer is mandatory, what happens if you can't make it? You're not allowed in the service?

How being forced to "run a lap" during the song service.

I heard of one preacher who used to point people out and tell them to "take a lap" if they weren't worshipping with the appropriate levels of enthusiasm. It sounded like my High School football coach. If you did something wrong you had to "take a lap."

That's one problem with silly rules. You end up with silly punishments for breaking those rules.

[Sister Alvear]

mandatory ????????????
No... however we pray but no one signs books and stuff like that...if signing a book or mandatory prayer is the law then I would say little is from the heart...(just my opinion)

[Sister Alvear]

You cannot force people to pray...you invite them to pray...

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

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.

I agree. It creates an atmosphere condusive to worshipping God.

BTW, all of the Catholic churches I have been to and grew up in are like that!

[Sister Alvear]

I love to pray and walk around praying a giving a hug to those that a hurting...but to force someone to pray sounds almost a Hitler type thing to me...
Prayer must come from the heart...I have been in churches that prayer was more a show than a biblical prayer.

[Sister Alvear]

We must learn the flow of the spirit and how to follow the flow...(Does that make sense?)