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Why is Church Attendance important to YOU???? (this is not an anti-church topic)


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#1 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 02 November 2014 - 08:52 AM

I have looked over my past postings and realized that the content of many of my posts where somewhat, if not outright,  "anti-church attendence."

   I have been a fool.

Everytime that I would attend Sunday Morning Services at 'such and such' Baptist Church, or any other denomination....I would slip into 'fault-finding mode'.

   But wisdom and conscience combine in me to conclude Church Attendence is vital for those who are able. 

   In my opinion, the benefit does not necessarily always come from the Sermon (alliterated or otherwise). Or the music. Or the Special Music. Or even the tithing. (Yes, I, too, have been hammered into guilt by the preaching of Malachi chapter 3).

   I have developed a bit of insight while sitting here at home and being my mother's caregiver.

  And what I have concluded is this: I have never been to a church service where I didn't feel much better afterwards!!!!! Never!!!! Even when I was in classic FAULT-FINDING mode.

   People need people.  Christians need other Christians......even if it IS simply sitting beside them while watching the stage production.

    I can tell ya one thing from straight-up experience: NO MAN IS AN ISLAND UNTO HIMSELF!!!

  Trouble is: I am somewhat of a non-sociable person. Oh, I am friendly and all of that. I am not rude to folks that I greet and meet.  But MY comfort zone is most pronounced when I am by myself.....no matter the occasion. Even a trip to Wal Mart stresses me out. But I MUST go to a store....so I won't starve. And in the same vein: I must go to a gathering of Christians.....so my spirit won't starve.

    I have been hyper-critical about the seromons I have heard. I know the reason. I feed myself vigorously (at times) with HIGH POTENCY Christian material such as written by AW Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Watchman Nee, etc etc etc.  And it is difficult  for me to glean much from a generic, alliterated sermon.  Or.....a sermon that takes simply one text and then expounds it for 30 minutes. Espeically after reading the writings of those great men of God whose love for God can be felt in their writings. There is no way that I could preach a sermon with as much vital information as I read in the great Christian Classics.

   BUT I STILL NEED CHURCH!!!  I need the social component of being with people of like precious faith.  Paul said this in First Corinthians: And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

   And THAT is exactly what I say everytime I come up with a lame excuse for not attending services. I am saying (without actually saying) that I have no need for other Christians.

    HOW SELFISH CAN I BE????????? Ohhhhhhhhhh.........I can be pretty intensely selfish. I am speaking the truth about what I have seen through much introspection. I heard it in a movie or somewhere: "I have seen the enemy....and he is me".   Now, by no mean am I taking away from the evil works of satan. I realize that he is the main enemy of our souls.  And I feel vulnerable to his attacks when I am out of fellowship.  THIS MUST CEASE!!!!! in my life!!!!  I am FULLY DETERMINED to KNOW CHRIST even if it kills me in so doing!!!!! Sounding a bit melodramatic aren't I??? Well, no matter. It's how I feel. 

   And now.....let me say this as well and as importantly: I NEED Y'ALL TOO!!!!!! I NEED you!!!! And right now, I need you to give me some feedback on why Church Attendence is important to you. What exactly, do YOU get out of attending a Church service???  Would ya do that for me?  This thread is NOT for debating the merits of home church versus regular church. I just need to have discourse with fellow online Christians......while I get read for Church this morning.


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#2 Candice

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Posted 02 November 2014 - 07:06 PM

Hi Kevin,
I like your new approach to this topic. I'm not bashing "going to church" I strongly believe we are simply commanded not to "forsake the gathering." This is a clear and simple commandment. Because, this is for our own good and the good of other believers.

I need to gather with believers so that I share our faith which certainly doesn't happen during the work week. We must support each other, which we do, in all ways. Even financially, if the need arises. The social time is necessary. To pray for each other is necessary. This is the "why" of the gathering of this church.

My husband and I have been having "home church" since last spring simply because we really dreaded going to the church we were attending. There's nothing wrong with going there. We made no real connections. The church is cold and this is admitted to by its own staff!!! Don't want to get off on that rabbit trail though....So, we just meet with a couple of neighbors...one is a couple with four kids and those kids come often and a gal who is married to an unbeliever. She received Christ a year or so ago. We just all feel that the churches were about filling seats and following the purpose-driven model that we did not like. We came together not to complain, but to meet or gather as commanded. So, its church. Although this may not be one's opinion as to a proper definition of church. We believe we are the church, each of us, and together we make up the church in our home or out in a bible study or wherever two or more are gathered.

For sake of convenience, this church gathering is good. We live 35 minutes from the town and in winter it is much easier for us to gather up here on the side of the Big Horn Mountains! I have extended invitations to a couple of people to join us. No one's taken us up on it yet since no one wants to come up here in winter.

I think we are all like-minded and have a desire to read the word and study and to share our lives together and being a small group is easier for doing that. I went to my neighbors yesterday for a get together with her extended family who were visiting from Cody, WY. They were all believers - women - and we sang worship songs, ate and laughed and some cried. Some topics were heavy. Some topics were light. We talked about the Lord. That's church too. At least it is to me.

I guess I think church is a gathering of believers - large or small. I must have a small enough group to feel part of and this just doesn't work for me in a large, formal traditional setting as much. Although, I do find this fine too at times.

Brother Kevin, I need you too and this group! It's "the church". I hope this is the feedback that you seek.

Love,
Candice
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#3 Charles Miles

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 08:57 AM

Our church is a small EPC Presbyterian church in West Point, MS.  Throughout my life, I have been to many churches, several denominations, multiple towns and states, but I think our church is one of the best, if not the best one I have ever attended.  Why do I say this?  Well, it is where I go now, it is a very loving church, the people here are faithful and they care about each other. We are small enough that everyone knows everyone.  At our church, we celebrate every Sunday and the worship shows it.  The other days of the week have activities such as Bible study classes, prayer meetings, dinners for eight, and other opportunities for small group meetings.  We are starting a group that will deal with grief and loss of loved ones.

 

We simply don`t have any divisivness or conflict within the congregation and all "pull together" on issues that concern the whole church.  I do wish we had a full time music minister, but we simply don`t have the money for that at this time.  It`ll come though.

 

I go to church to associate with other believeres and we all get uplifted as we all praise together.

 

Charlie


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#4 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 09:34 AM

I appreciate the wonderful feedback. And yes, Candace,  your reply......and Charlie's reply, are EXACTLY what I was aiming at when seeking feedback.

  Well, I went on to church yesterday (Sunday) and before I entered the door I committed myself to NOT finding fault with any aspect of the service. The sermon (alliterated....as I expected) was about Numbers 21: 4-9.......and entitled the "Serpent's Healing".

100_0590_zps1ec684ef.jpg

  I failed to fill out the little "Fill Out" sheet.

  I feel compelled to say this: The Pastor visited me about a month ago, maybe a month and a half, and when our conversation finally got around to Church Attendance an more pointedly, why I hadn't been attending.....his first words where: "You should see how many folks are there now!!!"  which is NOT something that you want to tell an anti-social type like myself. LOL  Of course, I realize that the Pastor didn't know that I have this thing about being in locations that are crowded with people.....I start getting nervous and unsettled.

   The most BENEFICIAL thing that I came away with yesterday at church was being around other humans. Or, if you prefer, other believers. Because, I have realized that the remedy for any anti-social disorder is NOT found in isolating one's-self. 

    I appreciate the replys.   kevin


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#5 Charles Miles

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 10:58 AM

Very interesting sheet of paper you have there! I have never attended a service that passed out a quiz about the sermon, but some have handed out the titles and main points of the message if anyone wanted them just as a study guide.  In our services I simply listen to a very knowledgable, spirit filled, messenger who discusses a passage, or a Biblical parable, and gives examples of how it applies to us today.  Often there are areas of a passage that are explained in ways that have never occurred to me and there doesn`t need to be a guide handed out for me to go home and study about the message.  I guess what I am trying to say here is that I think(so you already know this observation may be wrong), there is a difference between preaching a sermon and teaching a lesson.  I think they are similar, but the intake of information for me is different. A few ministers I know can do both things, but usually(in my limited experience), they do one much better than the other.

 

Maybe we can get some input from some of the ordained ministers on the board to discuss this topic, if I haven`t muddled it up too bad so far.

 

I am proud of your determination about finding a church suitable for you Kevin.  Attending a gathering of christian people who are all together to worship the Lord always brings joy to my soul and almost without exception I am blessed by the experience. I am so greatful to the Lord that I will worship with whoever wants to do just that.

 

Your brother in Christ,

 

Charlie


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#6 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 08:47 AM

Charlie, most of the churches down here pass out a 'fill out" sheet to be filled out while the sermon is being preached.  The even project the fill out sheet onto a big screen with a projector of some sort,

  As the pastor gets to each point, the  answers to each empty blank appear on the screen. I have been told that this is YET another tool to get the congregation to remember the main points of the message. Precisely the same reason that they use 'alliteration' (please refer back to the pic of the hand-out and notice that each point begins with the letter "R"....alliteration).  It would be easy for a sensitive soul like myself to feel like they are "dumbing down" the sermon  and making it palatable and digestible by all of the unwashed and uneducated masses.

   I never fill the things out.  I am busy reading the scripture text.......the preceding verses and the verses that follow to make double sure that everything is in context. 

   To be honest....I am not at all sure when "hand-outs" like the one pictured became popular. They are to be filled out DURING the sermon....so that, according to a few pastors, they can be inserted into a notebook and pulled out when needed.  Utterly useless  to me, but perhaps beneficial to many. Not sure. I don't see many pencils working when I take a moment and scan around the audience during the sermon. 

   I hear that next week, the sermon will be on the letter  "S"...which makes sense because this week it was on the letter "R".  (just kidding)


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#7 Charles Miles

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:16 AM

I`m sure many people may enjoy the "outline" type questions or notes, but I think it would be a bit distracting for me.  Although I will confess that I sometimes write down something the preacher says just so I`m able to go home after the service and study about it to a deeper degree. Once or twice in the past few years I have met with the minister later in the week and asked him to explain what he was saying, because maybe I misunderstood.  Our minister will usually spend several weeks on, say, John, and that way the congregation can read and study the whole book along with him.  

 

Still, I admire you for sticking with it and working through the minor things to be able to associate with a group of believeres.  Way too often people may look for reasons to be unhappy and then leave the church.  Kind of "not seeing the forest because of the trees" situation.  For the love I feel being in our congregation on Sunday mornings, it would be difficult to make me unhappy because of the way a sermon is delivered.  That may be easier for me to say because I have never encountered the outline sheet thing as of yet.

 

In Christ,

 

Charlie


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#8 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 05:14 PM

Thank you for your kind words, Charlie.  Yes, it is distracting to me as well.......but like you stated, maybe there are those who are helped by it.  Me?.....I just like good Bible preaching.  I like singing the old anthems and hymns of the Church.  I like some of the newer songs too, particularly the ones that are simply taken almost verbatim from the Book of Psalms and set to music.

    Since discovering for myself that 'isolation' is NOT the answer for a good wholesome Spiritual life and finally realizing....and coming to terms with the fact that people need people, I have decided to put my best foot forward and endure some things that I would otherwise be at odds with.

     All of y'all have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!


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#9 Ginger

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 06:16 PM

This may seem off topic in the sense of meeting at a set time with people to worship, and have specific preaching and or teaching on specific days.

 

I am not attending a local church and hopefully I do come together whenever possible with another Believer and that we come together in Jesus name.

 

So very thankful for several ministries that are online and for CMA forums.  No one is 'shoulding' on anyone and we can come here and be very open and I wonder how our Father and our Lord Jesus are being blessed ... the Holy Spirit ministers and we know that Jesus is our High Priest...

 

When a person is not able to go to a specific place at a specific time at a local church.... well, all I can do is what I'm able to do and GOD KNOWS gets me through so very, very much.  Grateful that Jesus is in us and with us.... thankful that we can praise God for His working in us and never leaving nor forsaking us.... so thankful to God for brothers and sisters in Christ and for His church ... Understand about the local churches and grateful .... and also for all God makes available to us.

 

Some people come together via email, personal messages, posting or telephone.  It surely is not the same as coming together face to face but God graces me with a smile and also just graced me with gratitude.

 

So the church that Jesus is building and the gates of hell will not prevail against may be so much more than I can comprehend and only post as a sister in Christ who is just giving thanks for every person saved by the blood of the Lamb and that is their testimony and that Christ lives in every person He saved.

 

In this age things are very different than when Heb.10:25 was written.  We do need to come together in Jesus name is what I do think on and have read and listened to how the context of Heb.10:25 can be taken out of context and used to manipulate as some may have done or do.

 

So enjoy the shares that have been written by each of you.  Reckon we are in Christ and that we share and fellowship as we pray and post.

 

Grace and peace from our Lord is very precious and two or three coming together in the name of Jesus via posting is something I give thanks to our Lord for too.  :-) WOW,  we can be so grateful for CMA forums, and for one another!

 

Thanks for the topic Kevin and Candice, and Charlie for your shares ... blessings are abounding.

 

God KNOWS.

 

God bless.

 

Bless God.

 

By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

gratefully your sister,

Ginger


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#10 Candice

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 07:04 PM

Kevin, I am posting something along the line of your post here. I wonder if your "fault-finding" isn't simply a gift of discernment. This, if not practiced in the Spirit, will turn negative.

That fill-in is hilarious. I've never seen one quite like it. But, I think the pastor is well-intended in his own way. I supposed it's how he's learned to sermonize.

:)
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#11 Candice

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 07:20 PM

Just sayin':  isn't this the church?

Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Mathew 18:20


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#12 chipped china

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 07:21 PM

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

 

I think most of you have already heard my views on church before so I won't rehash a lot of it. Like Candice mentioned we are not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together and what ever form that takes for each person is good. It's all about being more conformed to the likeness of God, growing in our knowledge of Him, and loving one another. I personally enjoy church services, they are just too early for me these days and since I read the bible and listen to teachings several hours a day, bible studies in a small group work best for me. I want to be able to talk about what I'm learning and hear what others have to say about their walk. I like interacting deeper than just sitting next to someone for an hour listening. I'm alone so much and often when the Spirit puts something in my heart I want to share it and the dogs just don't understand. ha. I think the main desire of Jesus is to have an intimate relationship with us. Through that comes His fruit and still small voice. Something I got reminded of last night in our bible study that is so important is that we must be right with God. We need to give him our pride, bitterness, hardness, and other sins for Him to have communion with us. Then He can fill us with His blessings that brings us peace and draws us even closer to His Holiness.


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#13 Ginger

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:10 PM

Thanks Candice and Bets!

 

Candice I was thinking of the verse you posted before I posted.... <grin>...

 

And Bets, tis so wonderful to be able to share in depth.  I've attempted to get a couple of friends to come together and us just get into the Bible and trust the Spirit being with us.  Seems the Holy Spirit will work as He sees fit with these dear ladies and with me too.  Sometimes I've almost given up over something happening or not happening and then Dear Lord always comes right in with a person sharing something or answering a prayer and lets me have a re-look at whatever .... Well, that may not make much sense so ask the Holy Spirit to just be blessed and Him let us know what He wants us to know.... and I'm re-graced with gratitude too... there are some perks in being over 70.  Just had the phrase "I'll fly away O glory, I'll fly away... well, God does smile on us and knows each of us more intimately than we can ever know another....

 

Just have to add, Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word...

 

Bits of hymns coming to mind are really nice too..... :-) 

 

Thank you both for sharing and blessing.


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#14 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 05:53 AM

Great replies and feedback. y'all!!!! Thank you.  I appreciate the involvement.  Kevin



#15 Candice

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Posted 06 November 2014 - 09:45 PM

Kevin,

The "letter of the week" thing in the alliterated sermon reminds me of Sesame Street's "the letter today is E - for Elmo"!!!!


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#16 Ginger

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Posted 07 November 2014 - 02:42 AM

... well, I had a thought come to mind and looked up something so I can have  some 'E words' to think upon ....
 
??l (written aleph-lamed, e.g. Ugaritic: , Phoenician: ,[3] Classical Syriac: ??, Hebrew: ???, Arabic: ??? or ???, cognate to Akkadian: ilu) is a Northwest Semitic word meaning "deity".

•El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
•El Elyon (The Most High God)

EL and ELOHIM: The word El is used for God about 238 times while Elohim is used about 2,600 times. In the Bible Elohim has two distinct meanings. First it is a plural form (-im and -ot are the standard Hebrew plural endings) of the word "god" in the Hebrew and the Canaanite languages which is rendered "el" in the singular (when the word "el" is used for the One True God it is always capitalized = "El"). An example of the first meaning used in the plural form can be found in Deuteronomy 5:7: You shall have not other false gods [elohim] before me. But the most common use of Elohim is its second distinct meaning when it is used as a personal name for God or when referring to God as the true God among false gods. Thus it is used in Genesis 1:1: In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth ..., and also in Joshua 24:19: You cannot worship Yahweh for He is a holy god [elohim].... There is no explanation why the plural form is used for the One True God (as it is in Genesis 1:1). However, scholars from the times of the Fathers of the Church have suggested that the plural form suggests the mystery of the Trinity which was hidden in the Old Testament to be revealed in the New.

•El Roi = "God Who Sees": Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are a [El Roi] God who sees'; for she said, 'Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?' Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [well of the living one who sees me] (Genesis 16:13-14).

•El Shaddai = "God Almighty" or "God the All-Sufficient One"; the etymology is so ancient that Biblical scholars do not agree on the meaning of this name: I AM El Shaddai. Live in my presence, be perfect, and I shall grant a covenant between myself and you, and make you very numerous. And Abram bowed to the ground (Genesis 17:2-3).
 


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#17 elizabethcog

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Posted 08 November 2014 - 04:54 AM

I go to an imperfect church where imperfect people go, we together learn and hear God's Holy word,we share our troubles and joys and struggles and pray pray pray.... I am to keep my eyes on Jesus the perfector of us all and cast all my anxieties on Him because He cares for me(1Peter)(us) WE sing and laugh and cry and listen...we come early and stay after worship ,we look and seek the lost,we share clothes and food with anyone who needs it in our little pantry in the little church on the corner in the "poor" part of town where we live,we bring vegetables to the foreign men who own the little store across the street(they eat no meat) and we share the love of Jesus with them as we talk with them on Sunday.I thank God for this gathering place of His believers and those who have yet to believe many times a day,I thank him for the trials we faced in other places as He used for our growth and pray we might all find a worship home where God will be glorified and I pray to keep my eyes on Jesus.....
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Jesus and Jesus alone saves=D

#18 Ginger

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Posted 08 November 2014 - 09:52 AM

Elizabeth, your post brings the beauty of the Lord to mind.... thank you for sharing.

Many thoughts can come into a person's mind while thinking about church. For me the thoughts and the being of church are Jesus and His body. All Believers over all the earth.... being living stones.... living sacrifices and being human beings who have the Holy Spirit in our spirit building and molding us to conform to Christ image and that He will complete the building of His glorious church. Thoughts about the mystery.... there are many verses where Paul uses the word mystery and this one verse stands out for me; Eph_5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

So with my wee brain I contemplate alikeness similar to a human body. There are too many cells to count that makeup various parts of a human body and yet God is the creator and the designer of the first human. Adam was created, Eve made from Adam and all the things God has been doing since let the church begin to be built.... and somehow God will make all things plain in His way and we will know experientially what the finished building of His church will be... Till then I just thank God for making us a part of Him and look at aspects of His church with a very limited view.

Keeping my mind fixed on Him by His grace and tender mercies....

Imagining the glory that Peter, James, and John saw on the mount of transfiguration comes to mind as I contemplate Christ's body....

So all I know is "God Knows"....

Will continue to think on the beauty of the Lord and His church..... And us being living stones....

So much for musing....

Thanking God and CMA for a place where we can share.