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Featured What is right with the church

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Benjamin, Apr 4, 2013.

  1. Benjamin

    Benjamin Well-Known Member
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    Anyone see hope through positive things happening in the church? I'm feeling I've heard about enough negativity lately towards the church from it's members as well as the atheists and thought it might be nice to hear some encouraging words for a change. ;)

    Anybody?

    ?
     
  2. awaken

    awaken Active Member

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    THe people are beginning to hunger for what is real!
     
  3. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Yes, allot are getting smaller & some are closing.
     
  4. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    The church today let's the culture of the world dictate our moral standards. So we use curse words to relate to the lost...

    Yea that is pretty good!
     
  5. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Yes, it is a minor point, but I see a definite improvement over the years in the role of deacons. Fifty or sixty years ago, many local churches had a group of deacons that were wanna be elders, and used cliques of power to run a church and a pastor that were not only absent from the church constitution, but from Scripture. Today, deacons in churches are doing what they should much more of the time, serving, guiding, and supporting the pastor.
     
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I agree! ...
     
  7. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Another positive point I see, is that more people per percentage of Sunday morning church goers are attending Wednesday night Bible study, which tells me there is an increase in interest in wanting to study Scripture.

    Another thing I notice is more people opening their Bibles and following the sermon, even writing notes in the margin more than they used to.
     
  8. beameup

    beameup Member

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    The Holy Spirit cannot operate in a top-down pyramid structure. "Evangelism" could occur, but no real growth among believers.
    A small group is the only way that the Holy Spirit can minister between believers. Unfortunately, very very few have discovered this.
     
  9. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Please, share your scripture in support of this idea.
     
  10. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    We are doing a much better job of discipling children on their level. When I came to Christ at 7 it was pretty much take this kjv, sit in adult service, and read away.
     
  11. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    The Holy Spirit can do has He pleases, and is not limited, especially by 21st century sales gimics.
     
  12. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    We also are doing much better at taking your money through online giving, auto deduct and credit card machines ;)
     
  13. Berean

    Berean Member
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  14. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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  15. Zaac

    Zaac Well-Known Member

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    :thumbs: Very true. deacons used to be a mess. It's refreshing to see them getting that they are servants.
     
  16. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    This may sound strange, but one positive in our church is that a higher percentage of members are attending Sunday services. Our overall membership flat over the past couple of years (we're an aging church).

    It wasn't too long ago that we were tickled if 50% of our members showed up on Sunday. It's a sad commentary that only half the members attended, but we were feeling pretty good because the percentage was lower in some other churches we were familiar with.
     
  17. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    Yes Benjamin,

    Because God has an eternal purpose in election and predestination we can know with certainty that the local churches are accomplishing God's will.
    Eph3:9-11
    Even if we live in a time of pruning off many of the false professors, the gospel is going worldwide as we speak.

    27 All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
    and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,
    28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
    and he rules over the nations.

    29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.
    30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord.
    31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
    declaring to a people yet unborn:
    He has done it!

    Even when mis-guided persons speak against God's control of all things...nevertheless He rules in the midst of His enemies:
    14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

    15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

    16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

    17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
     
    #17 Iconoclast, Apr 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2013
  18. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    In my church there are several encouraging things, but one in particular is that almost the entire congregation attends Sunday school in addition to the worship service, which means people are being discipled and they WANT to learn the word of God.

    Another thing is that all members are expected to serve in some way and not just be pew warmers.
     
  19. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    sounds good AmyG,all signs of life:wavey:
     
  20. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    I love my church. :love2:

    We also have a Sunday night bible study which is AWESOME!!!! Verse by verse and very deep. We get a good turnout for that too!
    And the men meet on Wednesday mornings (very early) for prayer.
     
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