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What are you looking for in a church? - 11/16/2009 9:43:52 AM
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Fritzpw_Admin
Posts: 8451
Joined: 2/28/2005
From: New Jersey
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quote:
Image is Everything: Christianity and the Church
Mark Dever - Pastor, Author
[Editor's Note: The following article is an excerpt from What is a Healthy Church? (Crossway, 2007).]
In fashion, movies, and marketing, image is everything. Did you know that image is everything in the Bible, too?
I want to look briefly at six moments in the storyline of the Bible that will help us to see that we want churches that increasingly reflect God's character as it's been revealed in his Word. The Bible does tell a story, you know. Our goal here is to see if we can discern what God wants for the church in this storyline.
Image Is Everything
1) CREATION
In Genesis, God created the plants and the animals "each according to its kind" (ESV). About humankind, Scripture reads, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness" (1:26). Man is not patterned after every other man. He is patterned after God. He uniquely mirrors, or resembles, God.
Given that we've been uniquely created in the image of God, humans must uniquely image God and God's glory before the rest of creation. Like a son who acts like his father and follows in his father's professional footsteps (Gen. 5:1ff; Luke 3:38), man is designed to represent God's character and rule over creation (Gen. 1:26).
2) FALL
But man decided not to represent God's rule. He revolted against God and went to work representing his own rule. God therefore gave man what he asked for and banished him from his presence.
Did humans preserve the image of God in the fall? Yes, Genesis reaffirms the fact that man is still made in God's "image" (5:1; 9:6). But both image and imaging are now distorted. The mirror is bent, you might say, and so a false image is portrayed, like a grotesque carnival mirror.
Read the rest of Image is Everything: Christianity and the Church
What are you looking for in a church? Good music? A happening atmosphere? A traditional order of service?
_____________________________
Fred "Fritz" Alberti
Director of Social Media
fritz@salemwebnetwork.com
Read today's Bible verse from my favorite online Bible
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/16/2009 10:14:30 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 7818
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From: Oklahoma
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One that is;
(Eph 4:12) for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
(Eph 4:13) And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
(Eph 4:14) so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.
(Eph 4:15) But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ;
(Eph 4:16) from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.
An ideal Church would be one that promotes Spiritual growth, now whether it has/is
"Good music? A happening atmosphere? A traditional order of service?", is beside the point. The gathering of the Saints is for Spritual growth.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/16/2009 12:50:19 PM
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Lapidoth
Posts: 4933
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: OKLAHOMA
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Personally?
TRUTH
not-perceived truth.
and what Ephesians says that rc points out.
_____________________________
Why does He keep quoting Torah? Doesn't He know He's about to abolish it?
http://www.tedpearce.com/Videos/TheForgottenpeople.html
BARUCH HABA BASHEM YAHUAH
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/20/2009 10:45:06 AM
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TnTX
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Joined: 11/10/2009
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Truth!!
We want (and I believe have now found) a church that focuses on growing Christians and not strictly reaching out to the unsaved.
We want a pastor who KNOWS God's Word and teaches line by line. We want a pastor who is not there to add his personal opinions but is there to speak God's Word and takes that seriously to the point of absolute reverence for God and absolute reverence for the position God has placed him in. We want a pastor willing to walk what he preaches.
We want a church that is focused on assisting the family in growing godly children and youth and not just entertaining them.
We want a church that is not there to tickle our ears and tell us what feels cozy.
We want a church that is serious about missions and outreach but doesn't make that to be the crux of the church service itself, i.e., reaching others is done through "Outreach" and not teaching dumbed-down messages to any unsaved people who might be there on any given Sunday. A pastor speaking a true, deep, Word-centered messages will reach both the saved and the unsaved groups.
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/20/2009 4:02:08 PM
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Johnny_
Posts: 695
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: California
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The sermon is the most important component I look for in a church. This is the reason I chose to attend Olive Branch Community Church. I was impressed by Pastor Greg Harris's knowledge of scripture and his no nonsense approach. He is certainly no comedian but he still gets my undivided attention. Pastor Harris kind of reminds me of John Piper.
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/20/2009 4:42:21 PM
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Lapidoth
Posts: 4933
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: OKLAHOMA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: TnTX
Truth!!
We want (and I believe have now found) a church that focuses on growing Christians and not strictly reaching out to the unsaved.
We want a pastor who KNOWS God's Word and teaches line by line. We want a pastor who is not there to add his personal opinions but is there to speak God's Word and takes that seriously to the point of absolute reverence for God and absolute reverence for the position God has placed him in. We want a pastor willing to walk what he preaches.
We want a church that is focused on assisting the family in growing godly children and youth and not just entertaining them.
We want a church that is not there to tickle our ears and tell us what feels cozy.
We want a church that is serious about missions and outreach but doesn't make that to be the crux of the church service itself, i.e., reaching others is done through "Outreach" and not teaching dumbed-down messages to any unsaved people who might be there on any given Sunday. A pastor speaking a true, deep, Word-centered messages will reach both the saved and the unsaved groups.
Welcome TnTx.
I rejoice with you that you found a good church.
_____________________________
Why does He keep quoting Torah? Doesn't He know He's about to abolish it?
http://www.tedpearce.com/Videos/TheForgottenpeople.html
BARUCH HABA BASHEM YAHUAH
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/21/2009 6:28:11 AM
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souljaboy
Posts: 64
Joined: 11/3/2009
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I am looking for a church that is full of dead people!!
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/21/2009 12:14:04 PM
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drfuss
Posts: 130
Joined: 3/9/2006
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I look for a well balanced church concerning:
Expository preaching vs topical preaching
Traditional music vs contrmporayr music
Out reach to sinners vs Christian growth
Unfortunatly, most churches are unbalanced towards one or the other of the above ministries. IMO, it is the responsibility of the senior pastor to see that there is a balane in the above ministries so that all Christians can be stiritually fed. Few pastors see is this way.
If a pastor is strong on expository preaching, he usually believes that type of preaching is all the church needs. If he is strong on topical preaching, he see no need for providing expository preaching. To provide a balance, the pastor should have a minister on staff (or visiting minister) who can provide the other type of preaching. Most pastors are afraid to provide this balance for fear that a part of his church will be spiritually fed by the other minister rather than the pastor. It is the senior pastor's responsibility to see that a balance is available in the church, not necessarily to provide it himself. If he tries to provide both himself, he will probably be unhappy and do neither one well.
Concerning the music, I can see the reason for going towards contemporary music since that is what the younger generation considers music. Since many churches are competing for the younger generation, most churches go completely to contemporary music with the rock beat that irritates seniors. Again, the pastor is responsible for providing some traditional music so that older Christians can worship God during a music part of a service. Having a seniors group with traditional music meeting monthly on a Sunday evening of during the week is an option.
Concerning the third category above, we have gone from a pastor from one extreme to another pastor in the other extreme. Christians with outgoing personalities tend to like the evangelical only approach. The pastor sends the message that introverts who are uncomfortable with being outgoing, are less spiritual. On the other hand, the introverts provide stability in the church and are not as likely to cause problem as the extroverts.
I am sure there are other ministries that need balance for the good of the church, but these are the ones I have noticed.
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/23/2009 8:03:34 PM
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souljaboy
Posts: 64
Joined: 11/3/2009
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I look for a church that doesn't have "a pastor". They have a plurality of Elders and the fivefold ministries of Ephesians operating.
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RE: What are you looking for in a church? - 11/24/2009 2:29:29 AM
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kernsfamily
Posts: 532
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
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I wasn't really "LOOKING" for anything...other than solid, biblical teaching from the pulpit.
I really have no preference to "music style". (I'd rather not hear screeching "head banging" music, though...at least not in church)
I have no preference to "order of worship".
And, all of those other things, that most Christians tend to "get used to" a particular way....and eventually, end up believing that they way THEY have always done things...it's the 'right way', and all other ways are 'wrong'.
I have absolutely NO complaints about what our church does at all. (and, that's not uncommon at our church)....my wife has been in Baptist churches all her life....and, griping and complaining is all she's heard at most....though, at our current church, RARELY is there ever "complaining or griping"....(perhaps because there are DOZENS of other churches in close proximity to our church may be a reason.....there's plenty of other churches to choose from if you don't like it....for whatever reason)....
The music? Quite "Traditional" sounding....but, still contemporary enough that we sing new hymns and songs (there are plenty of NEW songs that don't include repeating choruses over and over)...we have a GREAT choir!
we have a great "mix" of seniors, middle aged, young, old, students, young marrieds, single adults of all ages...etc...etc..., and all are equally ministered to....with specific ministerial teams devoted to all.
Order of worship? On any given Sunday, that can vary somewhat.
Our pastor, and others who deliver the sermon from the pulpit, delivers a biblically-strong, message. And, same thing goes for the teachers in our sunday school class (the teaching in our particular class is all expositional).....the pastor's messages are usually, but not always, "topical".
The message isn't "dumbed down", actually, it's quite the opposite....though, EVERY sermon segues into the need to accept Jesus as your savior. (it's not assumed that all listening are "saved")....
The church RELENTLESSLY reaches out into the community, the nation, and the world to unashamedly preach the Word of God. All the while, those who are in the church, are built up, and discipled....whether they are are Pre-Teen Daughters in the small group discipleship they go to on Monday afternoons, to the men's/women's ministry and so forth.
I think we have a great "balance"....some who come may disagree. And, that's their opinion.
SO, what's "wrong" with our church? In a church that's about 800,000 square feet (actually larger now), walking from one end to the other is quite a hike! Not to mention, when you do walk from one end to another, it usually takes quite a while, as you always run into at least a half-dozen or so good friends who you want to chat with...and visit with, along the way....a 7 minute walk turns into 30 minutes quickly!
that's all I can think of to "complain" about.
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
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