Curious about different church beliefs?

[Tari]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this. I think it's important to have insight about this. Finding a church can be a major decision in a persons life. Depending on their own beliefs, hopefully with enough information they can make the right choice. This thread was not put up for debate purposes. I hope many others can also share information about their church etc...

Thanks and Love to y'all!

[EricH]

I'm curious about what people have to say about their own church. If or why they believe it's the right choice for them. Please share some of your thoughts about this. What are some specific beliefs your church teaches about such as:

Do they teach about the rapture?

Do they encourage spreading the word about the return of Christ?

Do they encourage reading the Bible?

Do they assure that you can be saved, by taking certain steps?

Are they strict about their teaching or not?

Do you believe your own church is a "true church", and if so why?

Currently I don't belong to any church. So your opinions might help me choose one. I totally respect people's love for their own church, whether or not I agree with their teachings.

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I belong to the Evangelical Free Church of America. You can see the doctrinal statement for yourself on the web site for the EFCA

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EricH,

Thanks I'll have to look that information up? Does Evangelical Free believe in say the rapture? No arguments here just plain and simple questions.

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The free church holds to imminency. They encourage each individual to determine for themselves the part the rapture plays in this

[Tari]

Thanks ericH,

I might have to research the local, Evangelical Free churches.

appreciate it!

[Trust & Obey]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this. I think it's important to have insight about this. Finding a church can be a major decision in a persons life. Depending on their own beliefs, hopefully with enough information they can make the right choice. This thread was not put up for debate purposes. I hope many others can also share information about their church etc...

Thanks and Love to y'all!

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Tari, I think it is important to find a Church where you are comfortable. That means, that lines up with how you view Scripture, Worship, the gifts of the Spirit, and evangelism.

There are different denominations for a good reason. People have different persuasions about "how to" do this or that.

For example... do you need to wear a jacket and tie? Or, are shorts and flip/flops okay?

Then, there are different doctrinal persuasions that affect a believer's world view.

I would never hesitate to invite someone to Church with me and encourage them to attend where I do, but I'm not into "sheep stealing."

I guess what I'm trying to say is this. Since you are a believer... and have formed opinions on the word based upon your own private study... then you should seek out a fellowship that agrees with your understanding of Scripture as God has revealed it to you.

Taking Rob as an example, since he feels that worship should be on Saturday he feels comfortable in the SDA Church. I, personally, do not hold that view and thus would NOT be comfortable in the SDA Church.

So, you see, denominations are there for a good reason and I think they serve a good purpose. ITrouble begins when we get into the "I'm of Paul, Apollos, Cephas" carnal mindset where we esteem our "denomination/fellowship" as more godly than the others.

God bless you in your search.

[Trust & Obey]

Oops

[EricH]

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Say "excuse me"

[Christ's Free Servant]

I belong to the Evangelical Free Church of America. You can see the doctrinal statement for yourself on the web site for the EFCA

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That's a really good church! I love Chuck Swindoll!! He is so practical!!

[Christ's Free Servant]

Christs Free Servant,

How were you able to find this group? How did they pull themselves together? Was it like advertising in the newspaper or what?

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Tari,

My husband and I and our four children were attending a local Baptist Church. We are not Baptist, but it was the closest thing we could find at the time to what we had been raised under. It was good at first, but then the world began to creep into the teaching and the worship and serious Biblical teaching, ministering to needs, fellowship, etc. kind of took a back seat. Our children were in college (3 out of 4 were) at the time and the church just wasn't meeting their needs. They wanted more of God and more Bible study and more Christian fellowship. We asked our SS Superintendent if we could teach the College Class, and instead he assigned us to the old people. The next year was the same thing. But, God kept putting a burden on our hearts to minister to college-age adults, so we prayed about it, and God gave us a vision of a home Bible study group.

So, one day we approached our children and told them we were going to begin a Bible study in our home for them and their friends. Our youngest son was walking away from the Lord at the time, so he wasn't interested. Our daughter was in TX on semester missions. Our middle son and his new wife had plans for the evening of our first study, so we began with our oldest son, his fiance and some of her friends, plus the friends of our daughter. We had nine people that first night in January of 1999 on Super Bowl Sunday. Our oldest son, when asked if he invited any of us his friends, kind of wrinkled up his face and stated something to the effect that he would not want to invite anyone to a Bible study with his parents. So, we had a great beginning!!

I remember questioning God at that moment, asking him if this is really what he wanted us to do. He said, "yes," and within a month or so we had 25-30 young adults meeting in our home for Bible study every week. And, we also had them over a couple of Saturdays a month for fellowship and we helped get a Christian Coffee House started on Thursday nights, too.

We have had many young people come and go - many have graduated and have moved on, some have joined the military, and we have had our own children leave and some come back. Our two oldest sons are married and are involved in their own churches now. Our daughter was away on missions for three years, but she moved back home this past summer and is now a part of this ministry again. Our youngest son did get straightened out for awhile and joined with us. He is now serving in the army in Iraq.

We have had many of our students graduate from college and want to stay with us, and we have had some other older young adults join our fellowship and soon it was no longer just a ministry to college-age adults. They are still in their 20's & 30's, but we have four married couples now and one baby. So, we prayed about it and believed the Lord wanted us to begin to develop this into a church. We meet on Sunday nights, and many in our group still attend church other places on Sunday mornings, but for some, this is their only church.

Three years ago I began taking classes at our local community college, and we had several young people come from that school to our study group and they invited their friends who invited friends, so the group that we presently have is not the same group we began with six years ago. Some are the same, but the majority have just joined us in the past 3 years or less. Our daughter went back to her university last year and took some classes so that she could minister on that campus, and we added a few more students from there, too. Now, it just grows through word of mouth. We can't really advertise publicly something that meets in our home, except on the campuses. As it is, our neighbors are being very gracious about the added traffic and cars every Sunday night.

Well, I know this was long, but I did want you to see the process we went through. My husband and I have been teaching home Bible studies for about 30 years, and we love it!

[Trust & Obey]

Well, I know this was long, but I did want you to see the process we went through. My husband and I have been teaching home Bible studies for about 30 years, and we love it!

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Praise the Lord, CFS. That was the best story I've read all day!

Home fellowships are such a blessing because you can really get that koinonia fellowship going. Large corporate churches tend to be so impersonal these days.

Getting together in someone's house, sharing some snacks and beverages, and getting to know one another in Christ is how real growth happens. Lasting friendships are formed and everyone is mutually encouraged.

God bless.

[PwrInTheBld]

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ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!