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Post by Scared on Jul 24, 2006 15:31:06 GMT -5
Well, I thought I already typed this message, but it doesn't seem to show up, so, here I go again.
I have settled it that I no longer will go to meetings. However, I've settled this before, told my husband, and then I end up dragging myself there, again. As far as I know, my husband very much plans on still going. This makes it very difficult.
I am curious to know what churches you others go to. As I have not left God, I DO want to have someone to gather with.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Jul 24, 2006 15:43:10 GMT -5
Ask your friends. Do you know any fellow Christians that seem to overflow with passion for Christ? Ask if you can tag along one Sunday. I'm sure they won't turn you down, and you can comfortably explore churches without feeling like you dont know anyone.
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juju
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Posts: 263
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Post by juju on Jul 24, 2006 17:46:11 GMT -5
There are probably people in your area who meet in a home to avtually study, and talk about the bible. At this point I would ask around....find one...then go with a VERY open mind.
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Post by Novel Idea on Jul 24, 2006 17:49:19 GMT -5
Well, I thought I already typed this message, but it doesn't seem to show up, so, here I go again. I have settled it that I no longer will go to meetings. However, I've settled this before, told my husband, and then I end up dragging myself there, again. As far as I know, my husband very much plans on still going. This makes it very difficult. I am curious to know what churches you others go to. As I have not left God, I DO want to have someone to gather with. Thanks in advance. This might not be an option for you but why move from one organized religion to another right away? Why not take some time off to discover what you want from a church? It might be that you have no need for any organized religion at all.
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Post by try this on Jul 24, 2006 18:06:51 GMT -5
Do this: Go to work (or wherever you spend a good portion of your week) and search for someone you would have seen as 'worldy' or 'an outsider' 5 years ago and ask them what they believe. Repeat as necessary. You'll learn from it and may even find a nice place to meet.
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Post by las logged out on Jul 24, 2006 18:16:14 GMT -5
Well, I thought I already typed this message, but it doesn't seem to show up, so, here I go again. I have settled it that I no longer will go to meetings. However, I've settled this before, told my husband, and then I end up dragging myself there, again. As far as I know, my husband very much plans on still going. This makes it very difficult. I am curious to know what churches you others go to. As I have not left God, I DO want to have someone to gather with. Thanks in advance. You can try a Baptist church?
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Post by What Hat on Jul 24, 2006 19:19:09 GMT -5
the answers above lack the most important thing to do have any of you thought that God is the one who should be consulted on this matter frankly I have found it a little astounding that Scared and the others who have posted on this thread that this was not considered
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well excuuuuuuse me
Guest
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Post by well excuuuuuuse me on Jul 24, 2006 19:33:52 GMT -5
the answers above lack the most important thing to do have any of you thought that God is the one who should be consulted on this matter frankly I have found it a little astounding that Scared and the others who have posted on this thread that this was not considered I'm sorry. I guess I'm guilty of assuming that anyone in this position would be seeking God. I thought this went without saying but obviously it's a new concept to some.
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Post by just me on Jul 24, 2006 20:00:48 GMT -5
Actually, its quite simple
grab the yellow pages, pick a church, and go
if GOD doesnt "speak" to you there, try another
repeat till GOD "tells" you that "you are home"
Or ask you sister's pastor, thats what I did ;D
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Post by from heaven on Jul 24, 2006 20:27:37 GMT -5
the answers above lack the most important thing to do have any of you thought that God is the one who should be consulted on this matter frankly I have found it a little astounding that Scared and the others who have posted on this thread that this was not considered [/ I'm sorry. I guess I'm guilty of assuming that anyone in this position would be seeking God. I thought this went without saying but obviously it's a new concept to some. Try a church that has it's headquarters in heaven! All we should care about is if God sees us, not some big wheel that sits on some earthly pomp.
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Post by howie on Jul 24, 2006 20:31:43 GMT -5
the answers above lack the most important thing to do have any of you thought that God is the one who should be consulted on this matter frankly I have found it a little astounding that Scared and the others who have posted on this thread that this was not considered [/ I'm sorry. I guess I'm guilty of assuming that anyone in this position would be seeking God. I thought this went without saying but obviously it's a new concept to some. Try a church that has it's headquarters in heaven! All we should care about is if God sees us, not some big wheel that sits on some earthly pomp. OK, You might say it is a church that was already started 1980 years ago, when Jesus went out to preach. So then, it could not rightfully be called a new church as it has been around since the beginning.
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Post by trigger on Jul 24, 2006 20:37:58 GMT -5
Sorry to be so blunt, but what ever happened to God just speaking to you whenever and wherever, whether it be within the walls of a church, out under a tree somewhere or in your very own home? God may very well speak to you in a church, in any given church, but you don't have to be attending one for him to speak to you. You say you have not left God so are looking for people to meet with. Please don't be offended, but I don't think you need people to meet with in order to not "leave God". I left the 2x2s about a year ago and have not taken up attendance anywhere else. I just don't feel the need to as I find all I need in God alone. Perhaps you are different and I should not judge, but I just had to put in my two cents worth.
All the best to you. Trigger
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Post by happy on Jul 24, 2006 21:17:51 GMT -5
I like having a regular church place too. I just thought about those whose lives I admire for the Christian attributes and asked where they go. It has been a good thing for me. You'll find things you love and things you hate and you'll realize there is no perfect group of people. Good luck.
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Bonnie
Senior Member
Posts: 212
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Post by Bonnie on Jul 24, 2006 22:15:55 GMT -5
Scared
I really can understand where you are coming from. I was scared because I didn't want to jump in and get caught up in something that I felt I was stuck in, again! I also was scared that the friends might be right that there wouldn't be another church that could measure up, (although I really didn't think so).
Take some time, just you and your God. Give Him the time He needs to settle your heart mind and soul down. Get grounded, and feel the pure joy of just being with Him.
After about a year, I felt a true want, to be with other believers again, so started praying that if there was a place God wanted me to please help me to find it. It took a few months of prayer and then I happen to be talking to a aquaintance and in the conversation found out that she was commuting quite a distance because of how much they liked a particular church in the area. It just so happens that this church was one that I was looking at their web site that morning. I felt God had given me His go a head.
I can say that each Sunday I kept going thinking there would be something to turn me away, there wasn't.
It is a Bible Church, doesn't have one denomination, reaches out to not only those who attend but those in the community. Doesn't take up a collection but has boxes in the hallways, never asks for money, has probably upward of 3,000 who attend three different services and truly is a teaching church.
God will lead you, just let Him. He wants you to be happy in your service, but I feel we need to be happy in our relationship with Him first.
Love in Him Kathy
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Post by a believer on Jul 25, 2006 16:13:18 GMT -5
Baptist churches seem to have good solid Bible teaching. There style of worship can vary from quiet conservative to free. I like well known denominations, small groups that are separate from mainstream churches and not accountable to a larger body have the danger of going off on their own. Try a couple of Baptist churches on your area. Don't stop at the first one, but try a few to see what you are comfortable with.
Sorry some of the answers on here have not been helpful to a perfectly honest question.
All the best.
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Post by I dont need on Jul 25, 2006 16:34:48 GMT -5
Having finally gotten out of a "church" that has screwed up everyone for generations in my family, "needing a new church" is like needing another hole in my head! I don't want to see another church as long as I live. I realize I'm in the minority among people visiting this board but sometimes wonder if there are others who feel the same?
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Post by church on Jul 25, 2006 17:03:49 GMT -5
The meetings are not a church, they are a cult, that is why they screwed up your family. A church frees, because Jesus frees.
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Post by Scared on Jul 25, 2006 17:06:16 GMT -5
Thank you to those who have actually answered my question. I was asking what other churches some of you attend. I wasn't asking for opinion on whether or not I should be going to a church or not.
I do welcome any other posters who can appropriately respond to my original post.
Thanks.
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Post by selah on Jul 25, 2006 17:11:22 GMT -5
I would suggest finding an Alpha Course near you. It's a 10 week course about basic Christianity. Many different denominations run this course, and there is no obligation to join the church that is hosting it. This gives you freedom to examine basic doctrines and to meet people with spiritual interests...believers and non-believers. It's a good transitional thing to do. alpha.org/default.aspI used to be a facilitator for the Alpha Course, and I highly recommend it. Blessings, Linda
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Post by I dont need on Jul 26, 2006 9:19:23 GMT -5
Thank you to those who have actually answered my question. I was asking what other churches some of you attend. I wasn't asking for opinion on whether or not I should be going to a church or not. I do welcome any other posters who can appropriately respond to my original post. Thanks. Sorry, my response wasn't appropriate to your post. I do hope you find what you're looking for!
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Post by selah on Jul 26, 2006 9:27:51 GMT -5
Hi Scared...
My home church is a Pentecostal church, but I often attend other denominational/inter-denominational/non-denominational and community Christian services and events.
I have prefered to be involved in things that are interdenominational...home bible studies, Alpha Course, Prayer Events and so on. However, having a home church base has been a good thing too.
Blessings to you, Linda
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Post by Which on Jul 26, 2006 11:17:28 GMT -5
Hi Scared... My home church is a Pentecostal church, but I often attend other denominational/inter-denominational/non-denominational and community Christian services and events. I have prefered to be involved in things that are interdenominational...home bible studies, Alpha Course, Prayer Events and so on. However, having a home church base has been a good thing too. Blessings to you, Linda Do you need a church or do you want a church?
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Jul 26, 2006 17:35:26 GMT -5
Personally, I think church is important..... I'm not saying that if you don't go, you're going to hell, but I think that having a group of people to gather with (be it private and small or open and big) to have spiritual fellowship and encouragement is something God intended us to have.
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Post by selah on Jul 26, 2006 19:38:28 GMT -5
Yes, I do agree with you withopeneyes. We are living stones and we're to be built together. In Israel, the stones that lay by themselves and are not built together with others are literally called "dead stones".
We are supposed to be a family in the Lord, so that means being together. There are lots of good reasons for that. Families work together, play together, laugh and cry together...and through all these things they grow and mature together.
Blessings, Linda
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2006 19:50:22 GMT -5
Withopeneyes wrote "I'm not saying that if you don't go (to church,) you're going to hell"
But I have often wondered about people who hate church, but love the idea of heaven. Was it not Paul who said that heaven is not about food and drink? It says in Revelation that the redeemed sang the song of the lamb who was slain from the foundation of the church - a hymn in fact. It states that the redeemed wore the garment of Christ. But it speaks of those rejected by God, and God saying "I never knew you."
In short, heaven is a church, and I cannot see how people who hate church in this life, and who never sought God, would feel at home in heaven.
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Post by Rob O on Jul 26, 2006 20:05:17 GMT -5
Bert,
Try this...church congregations on earth are composed of sinners. People still hurt each other. Some still try to control others. Some are judgemental. Some excluding of others who are in Christ. Some are betrayed by their leaders. There are many reasons why genuine Christians who love God may find it difficult to be involved in an earthly congregation. (And don't conflate "avoiding church" with "hating God".)
But none of this will occur in Heaven.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2006 20:29:44 GMT -5
Hi Rob - paraphrasing Paul here - do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Within the churches of Revelation it speaks of those who most likely fit your description of sinners. But there were those who were true, and their role was to stay where they were, regardless. God wants a church, and God needs people to be examples. Sometimes, perhaps many times, the struggles sincere people endured related to coping with the tension and discouragement of insincere people. Paul endured that, so too perhaps did Jesus.
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Post by Rob O on Jul 26, 2006 20:36:01 GMT -5
What makes you think this always has to be in an organized structured group? Fellowship can occur when just two people of like mind meet even informally over a coffee.
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