Featured Where do some preachers get their "papers"?

I don't consider this "figured out" as there is still no functional shepherds. You have sheep tending sheep. If the small group leader does not have teaching skills or shepherding skills the small group is functionally weak and perhaps doctrinally unsound since people may be creating application via feelings of the heart rather than solid doctrine. The Bible tells us our heart is desperately wicked which means it will naturally create doctrines that are man-centric and God becomes the magic genie who grants wishes to those who accept him.

I propose that mega churches fail to create the community that will stand firm in the fight against sin. Many attendees will become disillusioned and isolated.
But, "small groups" has certainly been a corporate policy in churches.

 

This is sad!
My father pastored for 20 years in a church of 20 members, getting paid $50 a month. The church goers were spread out over a 50 mile radius (very rural). My dad worked odd jobs to cover expenses and he still found time to visit the congregants. It's likely why I find today's excuses to be just that. Excuses.

 

Mega church pastors don't shepherd. They manage, or administrate. I asked the newly elected pastor after John Piper how he was going to keep in touch with people in the pew, and he literally said he did not understand my question.

 

Once a church grows beyond about 100 regular attenders, the Pastor is no longer able to shepherd all of them. And sometimes, when a crisis occurs within a family, all of the Pastor's available time for shepherding is taken up by one family. When I was in a hospital, every Pastor and staff member visited with me or my wife. When I came home to convalesce, many of the Elder wives prepared meals so my wife would have more time to provide care for me.

How big was our church at the time? Somewhere north of 1000 regular attenders. Just because large churches accomplish the needed services differently, does not mean they are not faithful servants of Christ.

 

Apostle Silverhair … Apostle means “one sent”.

 

I may be old and have the right colour hair but I'm not quite old enough be qualify for that title. But on second thought perhaps I should just be sent to a far province.

 

And I grew up in a hierarchical Catholic Church where they claimed that they were the true church and you had to fall in line, if not you were threatened with excommunication. I also felt I was lied to. That evokes hate, disgust and distrust… especially when you find out they are nothing more than a bunch of pedophiles!

 

That would take allot of work!

 

I asked one pastor (a product of the SBC seminary In Kentucky) what makes his church so much better than other churches in the area and he told me to Reference the website… LOL

 

Getting to be the principle teaching pastor looks good on his resume plus he is going full out to get his PhD so he doesn’t have the time for the community. But that was a good observation you made.

 

HOW I LOST A FRIEND

Years before I was saved, a now-ormer friend invited me to go with him to his church, a "Holiness" congregation, telling me their object was to praise & honor God. Shortly after an opening hymn, the preacher began his sermon, not once saying "Open your Bible to..."or similar. After 2 or 3 minutes, he was shouting, & a coupla minutes later he was screaming incoherently, & several parishioners were scooting on the floor, cutting dust angels & yelling themselves.Soon, almost everyone was on the floor, writhing. I thought, "How is this praising or honoring GOD ? I walked outside until the chaos & the service were over , in about 15 minutes.

My companion asked me why I hadn't joined in, as anyone was welcome. I replied, "Reminded me of an acid party or funny farm. Couldn't understand a word, & I'm wondering hor that was honoring God. He started berating me, calling me ungodly, of the devil, etc. I had enough, so I said, "Listen; I'm not a veterinarian, but I know a horse's *** when I see one!" Took him on home in silence, never spoke to him again.

 

Some seminaries teach their students to be "hackers", that is, preach like "For God so loved the world -AAGH-that He gave His only begotten Son_AAGH-..." That's phony as a $3 bill & cheapens the message.

 

Never heard of that

crazy