Your Thoughts About The "Real" Church

Ok – So I asked for it and I got it. Below are all the comments I received from many of you about what the New Testament Church should look like. There are some really good insights below. Have fun!!

At its best they were devoted to God, to others (meeting the needs within the body) and sending out many to distant lands to share the Good News of Christ. The message then is the same today that brings lost people into the kingdom.  Christ crucified, buried and risen!!! So the essentials of worship and doing Church are vertical and horizontal. "Loving God Loving Each Other". Sunday or any day, would be set aside as a day to join other believers to hear the teaching and preaching of The Word, and praising Him in song (although I don't recall them singing, I know they must have sung some of the Psalms). Then family time ...... seeking and meeting the needs of those within the body.

-       Brenda

Things would be totally different! Like in Acts 3, the first miracle wasn't that a lot of people heard the gospel, it wasn't that a lame man was healed: the first miracle is in verse 1: Peter and John went together to pray publicly. They were polar opposites but they loved Christ and so put aside their differences for sweet fellowship. Churches don't do that now- cults, sororities, country clubs, hypocrites, and false doctrines are about as much light of the world the lost see, and real churches aren't getting the message through to them. If we all don't love each other and encourage one another, and see God more than once a week, why would any unsaved person ever want to come to our churches?

-       Bill

There are various estimates of the Christian church. Some think everything of her; some think nothing of her; and probably neither opinion is worth the breath which utters it. Neither Ritualists, who idolize their church, nor skeptics, who vilify all churches, have any such knowledge of the true spiritual church of Jesus Christ as to be entitled to give an opinion . . . . The church, again, consists of a praying people. Now prayer is that which links weakness with infinite strength. A people who can pray can never be overcome, because their reserve forces can never be exhausted.

-       Charles Spurgeon quote sent by Sue

It would be simple
It would be run out of Homes/predominantly
It would be reproducing
It would see itself as a part of Christians everywhere
It would have multiple elders
It would be built on the basics
It would be easily reproducible

-       Brad

You really give us a challenge for 2011.  Ron's Bible Fellowship class yesterday was the part of the blog that is below.  We listed 5-6 items.  They are on the board in room 221.  I can remember 3---The absence of the Holy Spirit, true Bible Study with no frills. Suggestion---do Bible Study in our homes with our neighbors.  We realize that some might not come.  Ron used the Book of Acts to talk about what a church should be.  After the preaching and bringing people to Christ, there was a time of Praise.  I had never thought about it before but scanning through the book the word praise is seen time after time. 

-       Betty 

To me the biggest thing to see in Acts is not how the church was or operated but what a Church can be when it's people are actually being salt and light at every level, being clean earthen vessels.  This is when Christians are being Christian, sold out to God, Living by Faith, hands on the plow, experiencing the miracles of forgiveness and grace that is in Jesus Christ- not ashamed of Him, His work and His WORD, with leadership, discipleship and structures all based on truth lived by humble, and obedient people... made new, with new hearts, living in the Joy of following the LORD. What made the ACTS church a model to follow?  I submit it that it was the repentant believing hearts, of its people.

-       Brian

I would like to think it would be being the "Church" weekly to our neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends.  There would be a lot of prayer, Bible study, and fellowship.  Being the "Church" as we go.  Not as we try to squeeze it in our busy schedules.   That would be our sole priority in our jobs, at school, on the road, in our homes, etc.  He should be such an important part of our lives that it pours out to everyone around us.  Then, when we gather for corporate worship we would worship collectively as one body, yes even with our youth, preschoolers, and children for an entire day being in awe before a King who gave it all.  No time limits, no busy activities, no entertainment, and no ME involved at all.  We would just be a group of sinners that are coming to worship with other sinners to praise our God for allowing us just one more day to be at His feet.  Get it...Not about ME...It's all about Him.

-       Julie  

No one wants to fully renew their mind. That's what it would take. If that was done.....if we all could completely renew our mind of what worshiping God collectively as a body of believers (church gathering), if I could view church as a clean slate and go by what you said - what would it be like for me?

• I wouldn't feel the often pressure to come up with a "snappy-great opening song" this Sunday!  (As I'm sitting in my shop now about to plan this Sunday's service!).
• The "geographical location of the epicenter of repentance" would be reformed.  We have trained church members that you can only really be close to God this morning if you come to the altar.  The altar is in our hearts, not carpeted steps.  Public confession IS GOOD ---There is too much emphasis on the location and not the act of repentance.
• the congregation would be treated (and would even ACT) as if they were actually "on the field" with the teaching pastor - not treated like they were "in the stands"....observing.  the mentality is MERCENARY MINISTRY from the congregation - "We listen to you Pastor, we pay your salary and send YOU out to do the job we should be doing".
• WE WOULD MEET DAILY!  Wow.....talk about a world-changing thought!  Acts 2:46.
• WE WOULD WANT TO MEET DAILY together!
• There would be no need for Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Car Insurance, AFLAC-duck Insurance.....if there was a need, the body would cover it.  A death, the body would help out.  A tragedy?  The church body would step in and step up financially....car keys would be laid at the feet of others - "what's mine is yours"....

Daron

I read that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to help unite two separate churches in Corinth and unity is one lesson that we have not learned.  Most of us live divided lives.  We have our church life and church friends in one hand our work life and work friends in the other and our family lives are being juggled somewhere in between.  We have also divided as a body of Christ.  I wouldn’t attempt to list all of the different denominations of church that exist today. Instead of agreeing to disagree and parting ways we all should struggle to understand the unchanging Truth of the gospel and worship God united.  God needs to be the force that ties every aspect of our lives together and we should feel united and connected with all Christian despite what church they go to.  

-       Clay

I know we need to rethink how we do a lot of things within the church, but we are often so busy maintaining the present structures that we don't.

-       Daniel