Our Churches?

[AhnyerKeester]

I want to be in a church that is growing to be such a threat, because by her words and works, she is indeed showing the power of Christ.  In the same token, she then exposes the falsehoods of Babylon, in all her deceptive ways of pretending she has compassion and wisdom without any need for Christ.

Perhaps there is a church right now that doesn't look much like that but could start growing in that beautifully dangerous direction (nothing as asinine as blowing up abortion clinics but rather loving as Jesus did) if she only heard your prophetic call. Perhaps the pastor and elders need to hear your voice to know what the church has been missing. Jesus most often uses means and you might be it.

Go cause trouble.

[AhnyerKeester]

I now see that if the remnant of God are scattered everywhere as they have always been throughout history, then it is a very likely possibility that they are found in many churches, with others hibernating outside the churches.

Yes, but Jesus has initiated the return from exile and called his people to be part of churches and the Church.

We are to actually to get into the territories of wolves wherever they may be, and harvest the chosen ones of God for Him.  That would mean going into churches, learning from the godly while praying for the ungodly, and eventually showing what is good and evil.  This is what I would take to heart in my return, without either being blindly pessimistic or naive about it.

You're dangerous and the only proper way to deal with men like you is to put them in positions of leadership!

I don't know you and so am not calling you to ministry, but I know that kind of attitude. We've seen it throughout history. When it is found in the right men, God's men, it changes history and builds the Church.

[faithofjob777]

You're dangerous and the only proper way to deal with men like you is to put them in positions of leadership!  

I don't know you and so am not calling you to ministry, but I know that kind of attitude. We've seen it throughout history. When it is found in the right men, God's men, it changes history and builds the Church.

It sounds too flattering, but it is true.  I just have to believe that even a virtual unknown like me in a little town can still make a difference.  If I would just believe the vital role I should play as one of Christ's disciples, especially since He has said to His apostles that they would most definitely do greater works than what He had already done (John 14:12).  A puzzling even if strangely encouraging verse, it tells us that we should never underestimate Christ's power working in much higher ways through us, as He stands for us at the right hand of God and Father.  It is not about a mere lesson on self-esteem, without any foundation but the strength of the"inner man" secular pscyhology foolishly offers. Our foundation is sure, that we have victorious identity as true children of God with power because of Jesus Christ.

I am encouraged, though I have foolishly caused my own discouragement too many times.  Perhaps that is a sign of His power working in me---never to give up but to keep pressing on.  Confessing and repenting, I rouse myself to obey Christ once again with stronger hands and feet.  

I already know that the more I love the ways of God, the more I despise the darkness offered by sin and deception.  I just have to really know it by actually believing it is true through my obedience.  The real fruit of true wisdom is obedience; and yet obedience should be followed by greater wisdom from God, which should fully crush Satan under our feet.  

May all of us be known for our obedience and wisdom, empowered by the redeeming grace of Christ.  This is the greater work He is doing through us, all in honor of God's name.

Romans 16:19-20, 25-27

19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you...25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Jaime

[thisistim]

My wife and I met with the Session Monday evening and have been received as members of the Church. 

It was a beautiful experience.  I'll refrain from sharing the conversations we had and questions we had to answer, but suffice to say it was a wonderful time. 

I will share this: during our membership vows, the pastor was in the middle of the 2nd vow, which is;

Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

and my wife began to weep with joy.  As tears began to fill my own eyes, I looked around to see all of the elders wiping their cheeks.  The pastor's voice began to break and we had a rough time getting through the rest of the vows...in a good way.  At least for my wife and I, the gravity of the vows hit us as we realize the level of commitment that Christ requires to those who join a church and the importance of what we were doing.  We were glad to have been there Monday night and are glad to remain there in service and obedience for years to come.

We aren't naive about the realities of church life and we do not think that the PCA is without issues herself.  But it is such a relief in so many ways to find ourselves in a local church that loves God, loves each other, and loves others who is led by godly men.  Our joy abounds and we look forward to being a part of this congregation that we've already grown to love.

[gabby]

I've been holding off on replying to this because I thought pelleas might respond.  I think he knows a bit more about the leadership of the church than I do but I'll give it a shot.

What denomination is your church?   PCA

How old is the church?  It was established in 1978 or maybe a few years before that.

How long have you gone there?  Three years

What's the average attendance?  300? We only have 1 service.

What's your level of involvement? Active; communicant.  I'm in the church choir, serve on the worship team when it requires a female voice to sing.  I'm also on Shepherding Committee where I coordinate, while under elder and pastor authority, the visiting team.  I'm also in the Young Women's Community Group.

What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend?  RTS in Mississippi.

 How long has he been at the church? 2003

What about the leadership of the church?  Elders and Deacons, one pastor, one associate pastor, one RUF pastor.

[trogdor]

Christ Community Church
What denomination is your church?  PCA, recently was recognized as no longer church plant status
How old is the church? 8 years
How long have you gone there?  4
What's the average attendance? 50-75
What's your level of involvement? Pretty heavy, not in leadership but just in helping with ministry
What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend?  Knox Theological Seminary
How long has he been at the church? 8 years
What about the leadership of the church? we have three elders and 2 mean are being prepared to serve as Deacons

My dad was a southern Baptistish type pastor of a couple churches for most of my younger years. Church was all about revival, screaming and crying and sermons that threw guilt and emotion at you without any sense of discipleship. After he left the pulpit we went to various churches full of hypocrites and sinners and when I was old enough I left and became a selfish theological know-it-all. This lasted for 3-4 years until I rejoined my current church with all of its faults and flaws. I look back on how selfish and arrogant I was during that time and how I would tell people how I longed for a church that wasn't terrible with regret and shame. I hid behind my confession of my inability to look past people's fallen nature because it kept me from confronting the real issue of myself being self absorbed. I was pretty much an idiot, glad it didn't last.

[walkthehawk]

What denomination is your church? AMIA (Anglican Mission in America) www.theamia.org

How old is the church? Close to 10 years

How long have you gone there? A little over 4 years

What's the average attendance? 140 and growing. It started with 8.

What's your level of involvement? Lead a small group, on the Board of Trustees, and have had my hands in many other areas over the years.

What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend? Trinity seminary near Pittsburgh.

How long has he been at the church? Since it began.

What about the leadership of the church? Our pastor, our deacon, and the Board.

Here is our website: www.tcota.org I have a great love for this church. It was the first time church ever meant something to me. Mostly I would go out of obedience, rarely cause I wanted to or that I felt the church was doing something I could get behind. Great things are happening through this place.

[PeLLeAs5]

What denomination is your church?  -- The Church of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

How old is the church?  -- Since the days of Adam

How long have you gone there?  -- As far back as I can remember, but one might say I've been a member there from before creation.

What's the average attendance? -- Thousands times thousands

What's your level of involvement? -- As much as God is gracious to provide and my will is ready to offer.

What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend?  How long has he been at the church? -- Umm. . .Trinity?  Eternally.

What about the leadership of the church? -- It changes from time to time, but they all ultimately submit to the Head pastor.

:-D

[trogdor]

That would make for a great cheesy church sign or Christian T-Shirt!

[vincentdonofrio]

What denomination is your church?  Non denominational (Life Point Bible Church)

How old is the church? 3ish years old

How long have you gone there? 2.5ish years or so

What's the average attendance? 120 for the service, 95 for sunday school

What's your level of involvement?  Ruling Elder, some sunday school stuff

What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend? Oxford

How long has he been at the church? 7 weeks

What about the leadership of the church? 7 elders (including pastor), 2 deacons, 1 deaconess. Pastor has some liberty, but submits to the leadership of the elders

[Anoetos]

Notice: I have recently ventured back to Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church

[Rae]

Old thread is old, but I haven't been here in a while.

What denomination is your church? PCA
How old is the church? Planted in 2004, particularized in 2008
How long have you gone there? Since late 2005
What's the average attendance? ~125-150 each week
What's your level of involvement? Elder, music team leader, small group leader, occasional preacher
What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend? M. Div from Covenant Seminary
How long has he been at the church? Since day one
What about the leadership of the church? Total of 5 elders (One Teaching Elder, Four Ruling Elders) -- all in our 30s. One pastoral intern who'll be ordained as a TE before the end of the year and sent out to plant a new congregation. Four deacons-in-training.

[richard]

It doesn't look like I ever answered this?

What denomination is your church? CREC
How old is the church? Planted in Oct 2000, became of full member church in 2002
How long have you gone there? Since Feb 2001
What's the average attendance? including children, around 120 each week.
What's your level of involvement? I'm a deacon.
What, if any, seminary did your pastor attend? he went through Greyfriars at Christ Church in Moscow, ID
How long has he been at the church? He was sent out here (to VA) to plant it
What about the leadership of the church? pastor and two other elders, three deacons and one more 'being tested' (1 Tim. 3:10).