A small county church

Since being on BB I have thought a lot about the churches with a big membership, missionaries, tithes, etc. Also the doctrines of pre-trib, mid-trib and post-trib and dispensationists, thousand year reign, wrath of God, Free-willers, Calvinists and have wonder what kind of sermons would be preached in these large membership churches. In my own experience I have learned that if you get too deep in Revelations you begin to lose the crowd. You can see their eyes began to wonder and they start to become uncomfortable and after you have entered out in a subject you have to finish or they will began to think you are not very understanding of the Scriptures. I listen today when one of our visiting preachers was up and what he was preaching which consisted of when Jesus left Heaven, took a body of flesh and made a little lower than the angels so He could die for all of our sins and if we would only believe from the heart that Jesus was the Christ and accept in our hearts and be "born again" then we could have a home in Heaven where there would be no tears or death, just peace and joy forever. This preacher also explain that if we didn't believe in Jesus and if death caught us that way then we couldn't go to Heaven and there was a place called Hell where all the unbelievers would end up. He said that God didn't want us to go there but rather choose Him and live forever and when we met the natural death an angel from Heaven would decent from Heaven and carry our souls to a place where Jesus was, where we would rest until the resurrection day and then by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, He would quicken our mortal bodies, change them to a spiritual body and rejoin our soul with the body and then the whole man would go to Heaven to live forever and sing a new song, "I have been redeemed, both soul and body". There was much more to his sermon but it mostly was about Jesus and His love for mankind and Heaven with a street of gold, God sitting upon His throne and knew the hearts and minds of all men, angels flying in Heaven, a number that no man could number clothed in white. Then I thought that is the message that needs to be taught to men and women much more that the dispensations of time, the tribs, the open theist and many other terms I have learned since coming here. Don't get me wrong for it has been a learning experience for me since I been on here. It has caused me to study all these terms, some man made and some Scripture but all are being discussed though out the world so I need to know what is being taught so I can study to see if I need a defense against some of it or do I need to embrace some of it. It turns out to be both. Even though I have disagreed with many on BB and have agreed with many, I have found most to be sincere in their beliefs and their commitment to God and that is what is important. I guess what I am trying to say is that the message in the many small country churches throughout the land have a beautiful message for mankind. I will end this with a thought "make it as sure as you can for you only pass this way but once" God's blessings to you all,
BBob

 

No way Still have some debating to do.

 

Hope:


Feed the sheep
Feed the lambs

lot of love in that statement, you harbor a lot of things like that? {SNIP}

(Personal Attacks are not welcome and are violations of BB rules. Do not post entire blocks in bold. It is considered rude.)

[ April 25, 2006, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: TomVols ]

 

Acts, chapter 2

"17": And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Our attendance is between 80 and 100+ on Sunday. If you don't understand that your members need to be taught and refreshed of the message of our eternal home and what we need to look forward to and the message of eternal punishment if people don't repent so they can teach others around them including their families then "Hope of Glory then I think you are lacking.

BBob

 

I think my congregation would walk out on you, know they wouldn't come back.
You have a lot to learn if you don't think the saved need to be fed and you must have a "cold" church. If everyone in your church are the saved then you are doing no good. Where you going new members from? I don't like your way of preaching you sound like other denominations I know of. If you can't feel your salvation and your church sermons then I want no part of it.

1 Corinthians, chapter 2
"4": And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:


Colossians, chapter 2
"1": For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

"2": That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

"3": In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

"4": And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

1 Timothy, chapter 6
"1": Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

"2": And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

"3": If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

"4": He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

"5": Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

"6": But godliness with contentment is great gain.


1 Corinthians, chapter 2
"1": And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

"2": For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

"3": And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

"4": And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

"5": That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Seems to me you need to be careful you not fall in the snares of the devil. I try to follow the example set by Apostle Paul in my preaching that it be not with enticing words of man's wisdom. Also, he said I received it not of man but by the revelations of Jesus Christ. "take heed".

[ April 26, 2006, 08:34 AM: Message edited by: blackbird ]

 

I looked at your profile and see you are not a Pastor, or at least it don't say so. How long you been a Christian?

[ April 26, 2006, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: blackbird ]

 

Thanks TT;
I agree and that is why we all have different gifts. Sometimes I don't get a lot from a sermon but look back over the house and there are many who are really receiving it. I learned that God does the feeding through us and to be content with what I have.

 

Of course, I only gave you what one sermon was and thought it was a good message for the saved and unsaved. Feeds the souls for the saved and tells the unsaved what they need to do to be saved.

 

I pray that things will go well with you and your church. We have members and also our church is open to the public and that is how we reach the sinners, and the life we life before them everyday. God Bless and take care,

 

If you go across Peter Fork Mountain just about 15 mile I guess. Do you know Mike Smith?