More on Housechurches(less on House-a-God's)

[ThePastorsCoach]

Aquila, I think you should put all this you have written and put it in a book with a few recipes for casseroles and offer them to the people in the Simple House Churches. If you put a little donation box at the back, you might get a few dollars to help you print more to tell the TRUTH about the wonderful Simple House Church! You might want to include a chapter on Anti-Tithe!
It is well written and I think people in Montana and North Dakota would love to sit down and read about this by candlelight in the dead of winter or maybe it could used as curriculum in the Simple House Churches meetings. I can tell you are a great thinker and writer!!

You guys are missing out on so much! You should go to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Savannah, Albany, New Orleans, Jackson, MS. Los Angeles, Harlem, Memphis, Washington, DC, NYC, Brooklyn, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami or somewhere near your little white house church meeting and visit an inner city store front church where they sing the praises of Almighty God and tears roll down their faces as they tell about the son that died of AIDS last week and the rent is due but God sent someone to pay it just in time. Hear the testimonies of healing and miracles of God's provision. Hear them preach the Word of God with powerful conviction and someone that has been an alcoholic for years tells of being sober for a year and how he preaches on the street every day to win people to Jesus. I wish you could see the hurting, homeless, broken and needy fall on an old wood altar and weep with all their heart and surrender their lives to the Living Christ!
Emotionalism - yes, very much so. They don't have the privilege of sitting on a couch in a suburban neighborhood attending a house church and eating casseroles afterward. They are stuck and so they sing and pray with much passion and rejoice and praise God and give him much thanks and praise for helping them and they do it with great emotion because WE ARE AN EMOTIONAL PEOPLE!
I certainly do not "glorify" the mega-church but I do know that ours sends multiplied MILLIONS of dollars (freely given) to missions and is building 150 houses now in Haiti and has sowed many millions in building....uhh.... Buildings for corporate worship (I would NOT want to call them CHURCHES because that would mean the people are NOT the church and only the building holds God's Glory!), Bible Schools, Children's Homes, fresh water wells and rescuing many young women from sexual slavery in Eastern European nations. Isn't that so bad and sad that a church of over 10,000 is changing lives, cities and nations, affecting presidents and Prime Ministers, rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying? What a shame that a MEGA-CHURCH is feeding the hungry weekly,doing jail and prison ministry, funds three large drug and alcohol treatment centers (started by member of FC) a home for unwed mothers and their babies, many community projects and hundreds of other ministries I could mention. I have preached, fed and clothed people in the buildings they have built in Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Haiti, and other nations.
So, forgive me for having a thought that a MEGA CHURCH can do something good!
Of course - they do not serve casseroles at the end of the teaching so...you might not even consider them a valid "CHURCH". ;-)

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by whoami

True.

Sadly, we have untold number of Christians who look one way in the church... but their homelife and home is a different story. At least in house churching you can get a feel for how someone lives.

[mfblume]

I also do not disparage mega churches, but neither do I with home churches, too. God works in various ways all at once.

[Aquila]

I knew a man named Scott who hosted a house church in Dayton Oh. He was nearly "prophetic" with how he ministered. I don't mean he'd tell us what God was saying. I mean the gathering would be standing, he'd be praying, and suddenly say, "You're hear and going through.......", and he'd read someone's mail. He'd listen to you talk and stare into your eyes, suddenly he'd address something spiritual that you were going through privately that wasn't even related to what you were talking about. He reminded me of an elder I knew at the first UPC church I attended. Scott had resigned from a traditional pastorate in TN and hadn't attended a traditional church in over six years when I met him. The man truly and intimately walked with Jesus.

[whoami]

Who ever said that mega churches are incapable of doing anything good?

And WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST CASSEROLES!!!!!

Originally Posted by AtlantaBishop

Aquila, I think you should put all this you have written and put it in a book with a few recipes for casseroles and offer them to the people in the Simple House Churches. If you put a little donation box at the back, you might get a few dollars to help you print more to tell the TRUTH about the wonderful Simple House Church! You might want to include a chapter on Anti-Tithe!
It is well written and I think people in Montana and North Dakota would love to sit down and read about this by candlelight in the dead of winter or maybe it could used as curriculum in the Simple House Churches meetings. I can tell you are a great thinker and writer!!

You guys are missing out on so much! You should go to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Savannah, Albany, New Orleans, Jackson, MS. Los Angeles, Harlem, Memphis, Washington, DC, NYC, Brooklyn, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami or somewhere near your little white house church meeting and visit an inner city store front church where they sing the praises of Almighty God and tears roll down their faces as they tell about the son that died of AIDS last week and the rent is due but God sent someone to pay it just in time. Hear the testimonies of healing and miracles of God's provision. Hear them preach the Word of God with powerful conviction and someone that has been an alcoholic for years tells of being sober for a year and how he preaches on the street every day to win people to Jesus. I wish you could see the hurting, homeless, broken and needy fall on an old wood altar and weep with all their heart and surrender their lives to the Living Christ!
Emotionalism - yes, very much so. They don't have the privilege of sitting on a couch in a suburban neighborhood attending a house church and eating casseroles afterward. They are stuck and so they sing and pray with much passion and rejoice and praise God and give him much thanks and praise for helping them and they do it with great emotion because WE ARE AN EMOTIONAL PEOPLE!
I certainly do not "glorify" the mega-church but I do know that ours sends multiplied MILLIONS of dollars (freely given) to missions and is building 150 houses now in Haiti and has sowed many millions in building....uhh.... Buildings for corporate worship (I would NOT want to call them CHURCHES because that would mean the people are NOT the church and only the building holds God's Glory!), Bible Schools, Children's Homes, fresh water wells and rescuing many young women from sexual slavery in Eastern European nations. Isn't that so bad and sad that a church of over 10,000 is changing lives, cities and nations, affecting presidents and Prime Ministers, rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying? What a shame that a MEGA-CHURCH is feeding the hungry weekly,doing jail and prison ministry, funds three large drug and alcohol treatment centers (started by member of FC) a home for unwed mothers and their babies, many community projects and hundreds of other ministries I could mention. I have preached, fed and clothed people in the buildings they have built in Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Haiti, and other nations.
So, forgive me for having a thought that a MEGA CHURCH can do something good!
Of course - they do not serve casseroles at the end of the teaching so...you might not even consider them a valid "CHURCH". ;-)

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I also do not disparage mega churches, but neither do I with home churches, too. God works in various ways all at once.

My only issue with larger churches is the biblical mandate. Please note how Paul breaks down church gatherings:

I Corinthians 14:26-38 (New King James Version)
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

You'll notice... these are the "COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD". If a church is too large to faciliate these interactive meetings, and they don't have a system for providing them... are they not defeating the purpose of "body ministry" that is part of the Lord's commandment regarding our gathering???

Just a thought...

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Aquila

My only issue with larger churches is the biblical mandate. Please note how Paul breaks down church gatherings:

I Corinthians 14:26-38 (New King James Version)
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

You'll notice... these are the "COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD". If a church is too large to faciliate these interactive meetings, and they don't have a system for providing them... are they not defeating the purpose of "body ministry" that is part of the Lord's commandment regarding our gathering???

Just a thought...

I think anything can be facilitated. The church leadership has to be open for such things and allow room for it.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by AtlantaBishop

Aquila, I think you should put all this you have written and put it in a book with a few recipes for casseroles and offer them to the people in the Simple House Churches. If you put a little donation box at the back, you might get a few dollars to help you print more to tell the TRUTH about the wonderful Simple House Church! You might want to include a chapter on Anti-Tithe!
It is well written and I think people in Montana and North Dakota would love to sit down and read about this by candlelight in the dead of winter or maybe it could used as curriculum in the Simple House Churches meetings. I can tell you are a great thinker and writer!!

You guys are missing out on so much! You should go to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Savannah, Albany, New Orleans, Jackson, MS. Los Angeles, Harlem, Memphis, Washington, DC, NYC, Brooklyn, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami or somewhere near your little white house church meeting and visit an inner city store front church where they sing the praises of Almighty God and tears roll down their faces as they tell about the son that died of AIDS last week and the rent is due but God sent someone to pay it just in time. Hear the testimonies of healing and miracles of God's provision. Hear them preach the Word of God with powerful conviction and someone that has been an alcoholic for years tells of being sober for a year and how he preaches on the street every day to win people to Jesus. I wish you could see the hurting, homeless, broken and needy fall on an old wood altar and weep with all their heart and surrender their lives to the Living Christ!
Emotionalism - yes, very much so. They don't have the privilege of sitting on a couch in a suburban neighborhood attending a house church and eating casseroles afterward. They are stuck and so they sing and pray with much passion and rejoice and praise God and give him much thanks and praise for helping them and they do it with great emotion because WE ARE AN EMOTIONAL PEOPLE!
I certainly do not "glorify" the mega-church but I do know that ours sends multiplied MILLIONS of dollars (freely given) to missions and is building 150 houses now in Haiti and has sowed many millions in building....uhh.... Buildings for corporate worship (I would NOT want to call them CHURCHES because that would mean the people are NOT the church and only the building holds God's Glory!), Bible Schools, Children's Homes, fresh water wells and rescuing many young women from sexual slavery in Eastern European nations. Isn't that so bad and sad that a church of over 10,000 is changing lives, cities and nations, affecting presidents and Prime Ministers, rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying? What a shame that a MEGA-CHURCH is feeding the hungry weekly,doing jail and prison ministry, funds three large drug and alcohol treatment centers (started by member of FC) a home for unwed mothers and their babies, many community projects and hundreds of other ministries I could mention. I have preached, fed and clothed people in the buildings they have built in Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Haiti, and other nations.
So, forgive me for having a thought that a MEGA CHURCH can do something good!
Of course - they do not serve casseroles at the end of the teaching so...you might not even consider them a valid "CHURCH". ;-)

Your condescending remarks hurts your presentation.

[ThePastorsCoach]

I will go on record for saying, I hate casseroles!
I think they were thought up and made by Yankee troops and served to the Confederate prisoners of war to poison them after they made them recant from being so emotional in thier prayers and praise unto God and for attending worship services in buildings made by men and calling it a CHURCH!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by AtlantaBishop

Aquila, I think you should put all this you have written and put it in a book with a few recipes for casseroles and offer them to the people in the Simple House Churches. If you put a little donation box at the back, you might get a few dollars to help you print more to tell the TRUTH about the wonderful Simple House Church! You might want to include a chapter on Anti-Tithe!
It is well written and I think people in Montana and North Dakota would love to sit down and read about this by candlelight in the dead of winter or maybe it could used as curriculum in the Simple House Churches meetings. I can tell you are a great thinker and writer!!

You guys are missing out on so much! You should go to Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Savannah, Albany, New Orleans, Jackson, MS. Los Angeles, Harlem, Memphis, Washington, DC, NYC, Brooklyn, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami or somewhere near your little white house church meeting and visit an inner city store front church where they sing the praises of Almighty God and tears roll down their faces as they tell about the son that died of AIDS last week and the rent is due but God sent someone to pay it just in time. Hear the testimonies of healing and miracles of God's provision. Hear them preach the Word of God with powerful conviction and someone that has been an alcoholic for years tells of being sober for a year and how he preaches on the street every day to win people to Jesus. I wish you could see the hurting, homeless, broken and needy fall on an old wood altar and weep with all their heart and surrender their lives to the Living Christ!
Emotionalism - yes, very much so. They don't have the privilege of sitting on a couch in a suburban neighborhood attending a house church and eating casseroles afterward. They are stuck and so they sing and pray with much passion and rejoice and praise God and give him much thanks and praise for helping them and they do it with great emotion because WE ARE AN EMOTIONAL PEOPLE!
I certainly do not "glorify" the mega-church but I do know that ours sends multiplied MILLIONS of dollars (freely given) to missions and is building 150 houses now in Haiti and has sowed many millions in building....uhh.... Buildings for corporate worship (I would NOT want to call them CHURCHES because that would mean the people are NOT the church and only the building holds God's Glory!), Bible Schools, Children's Homes, fresh water wells and rescuing many young women from sexual slavery in Eastern European nations. Isn't that so bad and sad that a church of over 10,000 is changing lives, cities and nations, affecting presidents and Prime Ministers, rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying? What a shame that a MEGA-CHURCH is feeding the hungry weekly,doing jail and prison ministry, funds three large drug and alcohol treatment centers (started by member of FC) a home for unwed mothers and their babies, many community projects and hundreds of other ministries I could mention. I have preached, fed and clothed people in the buildings they have built in Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, Haiti, and other nations.
So, forgive me for having a thought that a MEGA CHURCH can do something good!
Of course - they do not serve casseroles at the end of the teaching so...you might not even consider them a valid "CHURCH". ;-)

I feel you dear brother AtlantaBishop. I've attended WONDERFUL small, medium, large, and mega churches. However, I'm concerned with "biblicity" (Is that a word? lol). We have inherited the way we do church from the Catholics, who inherited it from the pagans and Judaizers. How do we deal with Paul's MANDATE?

I Corinthians 14:26-38 (New King James Version)
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

You'll notice... these are the "COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD". If a church is too large to faciliate these interactive meetings, and they don't have a system for providing them... are they not defeating the purpose of "body ministry" that is part of the Lord's commandment regarding our gathering???

The Bible tells us what our meetings should be like... and it doesn't describe the traditional meetings most Christians would call "church".