What Should Happen At Church?

[GordonSlocum]

I was wondering if there could be a discussion void of commentary and works by others on the topic of what should happen at church?

For example you are the pastor of a church

(ladies assume the role of pastor for sake of this discussion)

and you are searching the Scripture for the Biblical way of what should happen at church?

What are the direct passages associated with what should happen at church?

What do they say?

Please no commentary taken from books or sermons just your observation and opinion.

I was wondering if there could be a discussion void of commentary and works by others on the topic of what should happen at church?

For example you are the pastor of a church (ladies assume the role of pastor for sake of this discussion) and you are searching the Scripture for the Biblical way of what should happen at church?

What are the direct passages associated with church?

What do they say?

Please no commentary taken from books or sermons just your observation and opinion.

You are in a room all by yourself no books, no tapes, no DCs, just your Bible. Answer only from the Bible and your opinion. Don't even refer to them.

[GordonSlocum]

A little surprised that this post has not generated input. I will get the ball rolling in a bit. As you and I move ahead in our Christian lives this is a very good question to answer.

What is Church all about? What should happen at Church?

Here is a starter we all know:

23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24. and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25. not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

What should happen at Church? According to this verse it tells me that we should stimulate one another to love and good deeds: That is what should happen at Church.

How? Chapter and Verse - your turn.

[RED that's ME]

Not taking up a lot of space by posting the actual verses I will just post the reference..... 1 Corinthians 11-14 explains a lot about how the church is suppose to run.

[GordonSlocum]

Romans 4:11. And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as} prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.


My church should be about equipping me for service and I would understand the building up to mean when we are equipped we are built up and are on the road to unity in the faith.

[novcncy]

Romans 4:11. And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as} prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.


My church should be about equipping me for service and I would understand the building up to mean when we are equipped we are built up and are on the road to unity in the faith.

The point of the verses you quoted is the purpose of the spiritual gifts God gives to believers. The verses are not specific instruction as to the purposes of a church service. Although your assertion may not be wrong, it is not the point of this scripture. (and you meant Eph 4:11-13, not Romans.)

[mlqurgw]

The point of the verses you quoted is the purpose of the spiritual gifts God gives to believers. The verses are not specific instruction as to the purposes of a church service. Although your assertion may not be wrong, it is not the point of this scripture. (and you meant Eph 4:11-13, not Romans.)
I believe that the gifts are the men themselves. Read it without the parenthetical statement, which is OK to do of course, and you will see what I am talking about.

[mlqurgw]

Romans 4:11. And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as} prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.


My church should be about equipping me for service and I would understand the building up to mean when we are equipped we are built up and are on the road to unity in the faith.Gordon, please don't take this as a personal comment I mean it in the general sense. This is one of the many problems I see with free-will theology, it invariably focuses on man instead of God. Church is intended to take our focus off of ourselves and point us to Christ in all His magnificence. The more we learn of Him the less we are enamored with ourselves. We are built up and edified in Him as we see His beauty. We are moved to worship as we learn more of His person and work. We are changed from glory unto glory as we find in Him the wonder of life. He is everything we are nothing.

[novcncy]

I believe that the gifts are the men themselves. Read it without the parenthetical statement, which is OK to do of course, and you will see what I am talking about.

Well, I sure don't see that you're wrong about that.....

But the text is still about the purpose of those gifts, whether the gifts are skills given to individuals in the church, or individuals who have the skills who are placed in the church, all for the stated purposes. (Not to be limited to use between 9 and 11 on Sunday morning :) )

[GordonSlocum]

Well, I sure don't see that you're wrong about that.....

But the text is still about the purpose of those gifts, whether the gifts are skills given to individuals in the church, or individuals who have the skills who are placed in the church, all for the stated purposes. (Not to be limited to use between 9 and 11 on Sunday morning :) )
Does I Cor. 11-14, as she stated, answer the questions
What is Church all about? What should happen at Church?

[GordonSlocum]

Gordon, please don't take this as a personal comment I mean it in the general sense. This is one of the many problems I see with free-will theology, it invariably focuses on man instead of God. Church is intended to take our focus off of ourselves and point us to Christ in all His magnificence. The more we learn of Him the less we are enamored with ourselves. We are built up and edified in Him as we see His beauty. We are moved to worship as we learn more of His person and work. We are changed from glory unto glory as we find in Him the wonder of life. He is everything we are nothing.

I don't see your connection or purpose in what I post (the scripture) as related to Free Will or anyting else as fare as that subject goes.

I assume you attend Church on Sunday and Church is about something - You go to Church becasue ??????

Now, how would you answer the questions with scripture?

What is Church all about? What should happen at Church?

[GordonSlocum]

Here are a few more verses concerning answering the question:

That is interesting. You are a busy person. Do you give to your local church at all?

I Timothy 5:17. The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Elders = Plural in a church

Some teach but not all

What are the others doing?

They are not teaching.

What are the Elders doing that are not ruling Elders or do none ruling elders exist? If they do what are they doing at church?

What Should Happen At Church?

Some of you can go to the letters to Timothy and find verse about What should happen at Church? Some in The Corinthian letters and elsewhere?

What Should Happen At Church?

[holdon]

Maybe this should happen at church:

"But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple person come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all;
14:25 the secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling upon his face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed amongst you.

[GordonSlocum]

Maybe this should happen at church:

"But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple person come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all;
14:25 the secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling upon his face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed amongst you.
Amen to that.

[edb19]

If I'm understanding your correctly, there should be sound teaching, prayer, singing of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, and proper administration of the sacraments (baptism & the Lord's table).

Acts 2:42, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:12, I Corinthians 1:23, Ephesians 5:19

[mlqurgw]

I don't see your connection or purpose in what I post (the scripture) as related to Free Will or anyting else as fare as that subject goes.

I assume you attend Church on Sunday and Church is about something - You go to Church becasue ??????

Now, how would you answer the questions with scripture?

What is Church all about? What should happen at Church?My answer was in response to your comment about your church should be about equipping you. The focus is on you. the connection to free-will is that it has been my experience that those churches that are free-will have the focus on men. All the programs and ministries are geared toward getting people to do something. I believe the focus should be on the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Preaching the Gospel is more than just an evangelistic sermon it is the proclamation of the person and work of Christ as revealed in the whole of the Scriptures.
So what exactly are you looking for? If you want to talk about what constitutes a church that is fine. Is it church government? That is fine also. Are you looking for the order of the service? If you could be a little specific in what you are seeking maybe you would get better responses.

BTW, my comments did answer your question. Church is about the public worship of God in Christ. The assembly of believers in the name of Christ is where He has promised to be. Hence my signature.

[rainbowpromise]

If I'm understanding your correctly, there should be sound teaching, prayer, singing of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, and proper administration of the sacraments (baptism & the Lord's table).

Acts 2:42, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:12, I Corinthians 1:23, Ephesians 5:19

I tend to agree, however...

(now this is an opinion)
I feel that we are supposed to be like that towards each other every day, everywhere. Teaching, encouraging, praying with each other.

As I sit in church, yes learning and growing, I wonder if something is missing. Maybe I am supposed to be meeting in such a way daily with my fellow Christians. Sharpening each other! The more knowlegable teaching the less knowlegable.

I also consider what Jesus did. He taught wherever He was. He came to seek and to save the lost. Not to coddle the believers. Yet we sit in our services and allow just that to happen. I am most guilty!

In my church constitution, or whatever it is that the government requires on file, we are obligated to have a service every Sunday morning. I think we, as a local church, should be obligated to go out and seek those who are lost.

[GordonSlocum]

I tend to agree, however...

(now this is an opinion)
I feel that we are supposed to be like that towards each other every day, everywhere. Teaching, encouraging, praying with each other.

As I sit in church, yes learning and growing, I wonder if something is missing. Maybe I am supposed to be meeting in such a way daily with my fellow Christians. Sharpening each other! The more knowlegable teaching the less knowlegable.

I also consider what Jesus did. He taught wherever He was. He came to seek and to save the lost. Not to coddle the believers. Yet we sit in our services and allow just that to happen. I am most guilty!

In my church constitution, or whatever it is that the government requires on file, we are obligated to have a service every Sunday morning. I think we, as a local church, should be obligated to go out and seek those who are lost.

Does everyone basically believe that most “Conservative” churches are Biblical with respect to what is Happening during the time together?