General

Community Growth

kcstrobel — 2006-10-26T17:52:55Z

This is more of a question for continuing dialogue more than anything else, but I just wanted to throw out the question of community growth. What could it look like to have a community of people growing spiritually without giving up any of the classic Christian marks of a church? I'm not totally against giving those up, but it seems like the first question should include those things, things like biblical preaching, understanding of creeds, etc. Is there something fundamentally wrong with our model of church, or are we just missing an essential element to it?, may be the best way to ask this question. Any thoughts?

The Church That Lives

Angel Of Evidence — 2008-12-18T18:55:46Z

There must not be room for skepticism toward people that are vigilant on having their customs confessed and delivered with uncanny excuse of liking to go to church because it is a way of thanking God or it is how the people must be raised. The church that lives excuses those who are beggars among them, those who are asking favors any how. The church that lives introduces a favor of light that concludes that nothing good is impossible with God. People of a good church know that they can be at sake like pastoric residents of the world even if they do not handle a bishopric or tunic of representation of charisma of faith devoted to the disciplines and honors of God that sustain the very Christ as savior of the world, people of good church recommend that they applaud the victims who have conquered the evil passions despite being held down by them and then over exceedingly rejoicing in this way for one another, victim hood in good church should be held as custom for deluded and erased and put up forth an adventure for all church members to raise their level every Sabbath with enthusiasm held for council to all. The church of Christ denotes that people need to be defended in good ambitions, this is the opportune Christ demonstrated mainly. The church of Christ holds overall responsibility for it's new comers and elder folks alike. The church that lives is resurrected by conveniencing to renew the covenants of faith to God every Sabbath in dialect to presume to reorganize their lives with the decree and compassions of God offered and absolutely taken for granted with on go of providing really good ambitions alone in the sake of posture and pro example of virtue. The church that lives is cunning to the devil because such a church does not allow that the devil's warpits be made a thing for excused or deliberately accustomed for, in this case the only thing standing should be the will of God and the reverence toward destroying manipulations and it's gestures of frustrating good ambitions. The devil's warpits are crude and do not reign over an established person of honor and innocence for favor with God the Maker of Truths.

Seeking Spiritual Guidance as Community

emericko — 2007-11-29T01:14:52Z

Aloha from Hawaii! The leadership team of our Community will be going on retreat to pray/seek/discuss our vision for the coming year. Can you recommend any exercises or options for seeking His guidance & discerenment in the group setting?

Practicing the Christian Year

pbowman — 2007-07-17T15:10:14Z

I am considering proposing to our church that we begin practing the Christian Year as a tool for our spiritual formation. Does anybody use the Christian year in their congregation? Has anybody recently tried to introduce it to a congregation unfamiliar with it? How'd it go and how's it going?

Music, Tradition, and Why I Don't Know

ijustmatt — 2008-08-12T23:23:44Z

I am a musician and songwriter. It must mean something to know what you are... at least in a vocational sense, however that knowing is taken over most days by an extreme sense of failure and on a few days with small success. I used to think that such was the life of an artist. If any of you are artists out there then surely you know what i speak of, a warped sense of vindication because we see the world so much differently then everyone else, because they "just don't get it." We make something that has got to be the most genuis expression of art the world has ever seen... if only they understood. I hope you pick up on my dripping sarcasm. So... church formation. I know this seems unrelated but bear with me. In recent years I have discovered an odd phenomenon. While playing music both in the church and outside it I discovered that the word relevant/hip/cool make more appearances then most others. The young seem to have the final word on what we all need to hear be it music or teaching or what community looks like. I myself had never even considered church history or why we practice the things we do. How did the Bible come to be what it is today? Where did the sacraments originate? In a perhaps divine way my search for the traditions of my craft, of the art I create led me to wonder why we seperate the new from the old... as if we have found the answers no one else has in the history of time (or written the best song ever heard). So we strive for the most relevant, in order to show everyone that we understand what is going on... and the cost that I see is unity. Unity, however, is a tricky word. It certainly doesn't mean "same" and as far as I can tell doesn't mean perfect agreement. To me it seems to mean many different parts that create a very complex whole. Why do we marginalize those who think different from us? Is it because they "just don't get it." Are we not all from the same tradition? On a small scale the tradition that we believe that life in Christ is something worth searching for. On the much larger scale, of being a part of humanity created in the image of God, who loves. But I don't know... I think we need a community to answer these questions

Is there room for Prophets in the church?

Rusty_Wimberly — 2008-07-12T13:52:49Z

Not sure if this is the appropriate thread for this post, but it seemed the closest within this forum. This is a question I have been asking the church lately, seeing the reformation of the church and its changing face. I'm wondering if the church is ready to discuss this vital ministry to the Body Of Christ. Certainly its a valid New Testament, Biblical role in the church isn't it? I believe they are needed for the church to advance in the purposes of God and for unity to be displayed. Aren't we supposed to listen to prophets in the church, under appropriate conditions of course? I have been functioning in the gift of prophecy in the church for about 13 years now and have seen so many benefits toward the church. Among them comfort, encouragment, exhortation and spiritual direction. My heart is to see every church that so desires to begin to allow the prophets to speak, as Paul says. Lets respectfully discuss.

old church seeking a new pastor

smalltown — 2008-04-25T01:40:55Z

my church has been with out a pastor for a year or two, and and after a transitional pastor; we've begun to look. But we just dont seem to be finding a good fit for our church. I'm not technically part of the pastor search committee, but I'm concerned that everyone is just going to settle for someone just because we're weary of looking for so long. Any ideas for searching, anyone?

Resistance to Spiritual Formation

BCOwen — 2006-11-11T06:34:29Z

I just read Steve Porter's article 'Sancitification in a New Key: Relieving Evangelical Anxieties Over Spiritual Formation.' In this article, he identifies the some of individuals (Willard, Foster, etc), emphases, and practices (spiritaul direction, solitude, etc.) that are becoming the target of concerned evangelicals. Is anyone encountering significant resistance as they attempt to bring the insights of spiritual formation into their local church? If so, how has the resistance been addressed? My church is in the process of bringing some of this thinking into our church body and I'd appreciate hearing from anyone regarding their success and failure in this area.

church and what?

thomas — 2006-12-14T05:59:25Z

I am wondering do any of your churches attempt to place an emphasis on spiritual formation? If so, does this involve a certain kind of teaching, practices or disciples? I find that my church does think they are doing spiritual formation, but that simply means they encourage people to practice spiritual disciplines. Youralls thoughts.