Christ First Forum

I voted a small church, for the reason of how close everyone is, but sometimes I wish I belonged to a larger church where things were a little more lively.

I am attending a First Assembly of God Church. My mom and I went "church hunting" back in November. We looked in the phone book, went to several and found this one. (I was going to a different one months before that, but things started happening there...that I thought was fake, as well as I didn't have faith in the pastor anymore. I even told him about it, when he called to ask why I wasn't going anymore! I didn't think that I had the guts to do so, but I felt that he needed to know what I didn't believe.) Basically, most of the whole services ended up to be only about seeing people being "slain in the spirit". I told him that I can see that someone could be so overwhelmed and pass out, but how did they pass out...fall directly back...with their bodies stiff and straight legs and someone was always there to know who was going to do it! He said that they "know" who to expect. Anyone that I ever saw pass out, collapsed in a limp state! Plus, the scripture readings were gone. Then, he was saying that he knew that someone had a problem with their elbow in the service. He kept asking until someone came forward to get prayed upon. The following week it was for someone who had a stomach problem. That was when I left.

We love the new church and preacher. He teaches from the Bible and really explains it, so that we can understand it. He leads us to other scriptures, so that we can see how they are related to the topic he is talking about. I was water baptized there in January. Btw, that was the day that I gave myself to the Lord and my life changed. I can't even describe how much I felt the weight of my shoulders lifted after that! I prayed and just totally gave all of my worries to Him. After that, He was all that I could think about! I wanted to read the Bible and catch up on all that I have missed all these years (I will be 36 on Saturday). My mom, aunt and I had intense Bible studies at my house for months...I just couldn't get enough of it!

A few times in the past couple of months, one of the choir members spoke in tongues and someone in the pews interpreted. It was always during the pause in between the last two songs, that this happened. I have some questions about that. I am not sure about how I feel about it. The interpretation was usually that God loves all of us and to tell others about it. Also, to not hold back and praise Him. One of my students (I am a teacher) told me that they went to this church before. He is a believer and said that a woman took him into a room and told him that if he prayed hard enough, he could get the gift of speaking in tongues. He said that he did.

I am sure there is probably a thread about it on here, can anyone direct me to it?

Btw, my pastor is going to retire in a few months. He says that he has been there for 20 years and it is time for someone else to come in. He has preached about endtimes and I think this is the worst time for him to leave! The elders are trying to talk him out of it. I just wonder if there is more going on?

Lynn, that was a very interesting post! :)

Lynn, Thanks for your testimony and it is clear that the Lord is working greatly in your life.

If you want to look up a topic on any subject matter, go to search at the top of your index page and click it. Then tyoe in the words that you would like to find something on.

For instance: Speaking in tongues. it will then take you to threads that have that subject.

This is one that might show up: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues)http://www.christfirstforum.com/post6959.html?hilit=speaking in tongues#p6959

januarie wrote:Lynn, that was a very interesting post! :)

Thanks. I knew that it was a bit much for a first "real post". But I wanted to share my thoughts. I spoke my pastor's daughter today. She told me that he wants to retire because he is 66 years old and feels that it is time for someone else to step in. He says that he would like to stay on as a senior pastor, if the new pastor is alright with it. He may be leaving around his birthday in February. We shall see?

Remnant wrote:Lynn, Thanks for your testimony and it is clear that the Lord is working greatly in your life.

If you want to look up a topic on any subject matter, go to search at the top of your index page and click it. Then tyoe in the words that you would like to find something on.

For instance: Speaking in tongues. it will then take you to threads that have that subject.

This is one that might show up: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues)http://www.christfirstforum.com/post6959.html?hilit=speaking in tongues#p6959

Yes, I really believe that the Lord is working with me so much in my life!! I praise Him everyday for it! I am so thankful, for all that he has done for me!!!!!

Thanks for the help in searching the topics. (I didn't notice that yet, I was too busy in searching the titles of the threads, lol.) I will check it out.

Jeani wrote:Lynn,

I think you were very 'wise' in leaving the church with the 'slaying in the Spirit.'

Also, you were very 'bold' to tell the preacher,and I believe you were very right to do so.

I attend a Baptist Church (which I also like the non-dem. too),and we believe in the 'indwelling of the Holy Spirit.'

We believe there's nothing we can do to be save by Christ because He did it all on the cross.

He's the one to hold our salvation so there's no work for us to do to hold our own salvation.

The scriptures I repeat often,and love the most is Ephesians 2:2-9

For by grace (uncondional love) you have been saved-through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

not of works, lest anyone should boast.
***************************************************************************

Thanks, I think it was a good decision too, in leaving that church. I am still trying to get a friend of mine to leave. She doesn't agree with some of the stuff that goes on, but she thinks that the pastor is uplifting and powerful and that she likes what she gets out of going.

Yes, I was bold, lol. But, honestly, I felt if I didn't mention to him that I wasn't "buying it", then I wasn't doing my part in defending the truth. I was hoping that maybe he would see that all that "hoopla" wasn't necessary and could turn people away from accepting Jesus as their Lord...if they saw it also. Like I said, the scripture teaching started to not exist in the services. It wasn't like I was trying to be "above him"...I was more concerned with others not hearing God's Word. Btw, I also didn't like that we were told to bring a "card offering with donations" for his wife's birthday. If he had not asked for it, during the sermon, I probably would have done it anyway! That was when I started to doubt him.

I went to a Baptist church 10 years ago, when I lived in the South and I loved it!!! That church was the first one that I went to as an adult, that really made me want to worship Him. I looked forward to going to church each week! (I live in Pennsylvania now.)

Your scriptures were uplifting!! Thank you so much!

God bless you, Jeani!

Lynn

I guess I go to what's called a 'Mega Church'. I prefer one smaller...you get to know people better. But it took me years, in Louisville, to find one which taught the Gospel. At least the Pastor preaches on faith, repentance, salvation, etc--not wishy washy. Most of the big wigs from the Southern Baptist Seminary (here in Louisville) go to this church too. So we get lots of "education". The deacons are very accessible, friendly and many of them have a serving spirit.

My church bills itself as "one church, seven locations". Which means we have several "extended sites" and one specifically that's a church conducted in Spanish. About once a quarter, we all try to meet as one body. I guess it's ok...but you really don't get to meet anyone. You see their faces, that's about it.

I've met with my Pastor a couple of times--I know he's busy, but in a smaller church it's much easier to have a personal relationship with your Pastor. I have tried not to "bug" him. We don't really have "Wednesday night services", and that bothers me. However, there's more study groups for men, women and teens. But it's more on specific issues--rather than strictly Bible study. I guess it's incorporated into the study--but it's subjects on "How to be more faithful in your marriage" or something like this.

I used to go a Men's study group--but then it started veering off into "goofy land". Not meaning anything bad, but the Scriptures were not specific and definitive enough that was being taught. Many of those lesson were conducted by volunteers--average Joes--so I don't specifically blame the church--only that some of the "birds they try to launch really don't fly". I haven't been to one of these in a long time.

It took me years to find a church that taught the Scriptures during a service. I went to one church one Easter--a Methodist Church--where the Pastor barely referenced a passage. But provided anecdotal stories, discussions of everything other than Christ and jokes--I was waiting for the dancing bear to come out for entertainment.

Another church, Baptist (not sure if it was Southern) where you got a lecture how much more affluent Baptists were--and it's beginnings in this country were hard working, not so well off to do farmers...etc. That would have made an interesting PBS documentary, but I didn't appreciate the lack of Scriptures discussed.

A lot of churches you'd go in and in about 10 minutes get a feel for it. It's a tense feeling. Likely means not very friendly, etc.

Anyway, it's really, really hard to find a gem these days. I rank my church just a bit over "OK" because of the lack of real Wednesday night services.

The smaller churches in my own town seem to be 'clicky' and I recently left a big mega church. The mega church has lost many attenders. I called a mid size church because I wanted to clarify some questions...they never returned my call. My daughter is on me to hurry up and find a new church, husband is inviting me back to his RCC,(no way!) but I am not feeling God in selecting any one church to attend right now. I have been doing a Bible study on the book of Romans on Sundays but still looking. I want the firm foundation that I found in the Southern Bapitst, yet I want acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit and even a prayer language and more intense worship time...not falling on the floor but just people actually looking alive and giving the praise and glory back to God. If you have suggestions you can PM me, as not to fill up this thread. God bless you all. Pat

I voted for medium .... doesn't really matter though as long as the church has annointed worship, teaching, and preaching the Word.
Home groups are very important, and to change home groups every 6 months to get to know people personally, and avoid clique-pews.

TO ALL ... If we refrain from attending Church while we grow in Christ on the 'outside' , how can the Body grow and flourish? Are we bound and gagged? If so, keep looking for the place where the Body is functional, and involved in community outreach. If you're a musician, join the worship team. If you have other gifts, be active and bold. The times are coming when the mature Christians will be accountable for the little lambs who are floundering in their milk. We MUST teach, exhort, reprove, encourage, pray for, lift up, and love all those 'who have an ear'.

I've never thought about it much, as I have always seemed to be drawn to churches based on their doctrinal beliefs, whether or not they preached the true gospel, whether or not they observed the Sacraments, and whether or not they practice church discipline. I guess I've ended up in small churches as I am drawn to the Reformed/Calvinistic churches, and they tend to be small. Come to think of it, I guess I would feel a bit lost in a huge church.

Hi 'reformationrat' strange name.. are you a Lutheran? Nice to meet you. You can call me Doug