Jesus>Religion

[joi]

When we make a cup of tea with loose tea leaves, we pour hot water over the leaves and let it steep for several

minutes to leach out the taste.

This is the way the Word works. We steep ourself in it to leach out the true meaning of that Word. When we get

something from the Holy Spirit in doing this, we are more able to pass it on to others. When we read the Word and do

not really understand what God had there for us, it is impossible to pass it on as truth and teach others through it.

Sometimes what we pass on is not necessarily dealing with the salvation message. Some of the time we learn something and pass it on that we did not even know God was using.

Some plant, some water and but God gives the increase.

Study to show yourself approved unto to God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15

[vlad]

I belong to the Russian Orthodox Church and my friend is a Catholic and we have nothing against religion or churches. I think too much perfectionism may lead to misunderstanding and pessimism. We are human beings after all and we are not expected to be absolutely perfect. Who are those people in the Churches? Are they saints? No, they are sinners who repent their sins and try to be better.

[enoob57]

I belong to the Russian Orthodox Church and my friend is a Catholic and we have nothing against religion or churches. I think too much perfectionism may lead to misunderstanding and pessimism. We are human beings after all and we are not expected to be absolutely perfect. Who are those people in the Churches? Are they saints? No, they are sinners who repent their sins and try to be better.

We are not the example as Christ has taught! He being the only sinless man/God of eternity! A destinction vital toward belief in Him that we through His life example might know how to really live here! Love, Steven

[Fez]

You cannot lump all churches into the same boat.

If you chose not to attend a church, fine, but perhaps you have not yet found the right one for you?

As for spreading the word. Our church works from Mongolia, to Madagascar, to Zimbabwe and in Mozambique. And recently the Bahama's and New Zeland.

We go to church to learn, then we go.......

Where are you spreading the word?

Not sure who you are addressing this to. I'm going to go ahead and take it's me (or maybe both).

"You cannot lump all churches into the same boat"

No you can't, but I am talking about my personal experience and there are alot of people that feel the same way. If not just go to www.simplechurch.org or any organic/simple church sites. Check out George Barna's research on the subject. BTW Barna is one of the leading christian statisticians out there and his research is used by just about every major christian news group out there. (p.s. he also co-wrote Pagan Christianity)

Our churches are growing in leaps and bounds.

"If you chose not to attend a church, fine, but perhaps you have not yet found the right one for you?"

As far as attending a church, I'll explain more about that later. But I don't think I said anywhere (nor did the OP) about not attending a local assembly. And since when should we choose a body of believers like we are in a cafeteria picking food?

We should be choosing a church because it is bible based and Holy Spirit driven. So churches out there are full of law and dogma. My point was that we should be chosing a church that is soaked with the Spirit. And then we should contribute our time and efforts to it, and not just sit back and become a Sunday Christian

"As for spreading the word. Our church works from Mongolia, to Madagascar, to Zimbabwe and in Mozambique. And recently the Bahama's and New Zeland."

That is awesome!! I think we all should do more in supporting foreign missions, but that doesn't take place in personally spreading the word, and I think that is what the OP was getting at. Too many times we think writing a check is evangelism, and it's not.

Of course it does. And as to personally spreading the Word, this we should be doing through word and deed in our daily lives. We are after all the lamps on the hill

"We go to church to learn, then we go......."

Ok, I'm lumping this with the whole attending church comment. Where in scripture do we "go to church"? There is nowhere in scripture that describes a church as a place. It's a people. We are the church! We assemble together as commanded in scripture. We assemble to corporately pray and worship together, to edify one another, to attend to each others needs, and to share a meal together. Atleast that is what the first century church did.

"Where are you spreading the word?"

Work mostly since that takes up the majority of my time. And watching someone who a year ago didn't know Jesus from Moses to now talking non-stop about what he read in the Bible last night and going to different congregations sharing his testimony is awesome!! Watching God work in this young man's life and seeing how it's effecting his wife and children is just amazing. To God all the glory!!

Work also takes up the majority of my time, but that does not mean that every day I should not be an example to others of what it is to walk the Way.

[Matthitjah]

A couple of good answers on redemption but it's not hitting home for me.

What preceeded the plan of redemption that we see forshadowed in Gensis 3:15?

What are we redeemed unto? What did sin break?

Peace,

Dave

[~candice~]

A couple of good answers on redemption but it's not hitting home for me.

What preceeded the plan of redemption that we see forshadowed in Gensis 3:15?

What are redeemed unto? What did sin break?

Peace,

Dave

Reconciliation and fellowship with the Lord

[Matthitjah]

A couple of good answers on redemption but it's not hitting home for me.

What preceeded the plan of redemption that we see forshadowed in Gensis 3:15?

What are redeemed unto? What did sin break?

Peace,

Dave

Reconciliation and fellowship with the Lord

Bingo! Get that woman a ceeeegar and a cupie doll. (just don't let her smoke it while she's preggers)

We are redeemed unto relationship.

There is another group involved in the redemption unto relationship besides ourselves and God.

What is this other group?

peace,

Dave

[enoob57]

A couple of good answers on redemption but it's not hitting home for me.

What preceeded the plan of redemption that we see forshadowed in Gensis 3:15?

What are redeemed unto? What did sin break?

Peace,

Dave

Reconciliation and fellowship with the Lord

Bingo! Get that woman a ceeeegar and a cupie doll. (just don't let her smoke it while she's preggers)

We are redeemed unto relationship.

There is another group involved in the redemption unto relationship besides ourselves and God.

What is this other group?

peace,

Dave

Matt don't give her that ceegar! She's trying to quit!

[nebula]

We are redeemed unto relationship.

There is another group involved in the redemption unto relationship besides ourselves and God.

What is this other group?

The body of believers?

[Matthitjah]

We are redeemed unto relationship.

There is another group involved in the redemption unto relationship besides ourselves and God.

What is this other group?

The body of believers?

Close, but sin broke another relationship as well.