House Church Talk - House church or simply church wherever people are

[Bruce Woodford]

Hi Lee and Rick,

Glad you've both broken the "silence barrier" and made a contribution here 
and reminded us of the main purpose of this list!

But please don't revert to the spectator mode which is the epitome of many 
instituional churches, but so foreign to membership in the Body of Christ!

You have much to offer here. Surely there must be questions relative to 
scriptural functioning of gatherings of new covenant saints that run through 
your minds. Surely there must be longings in your hearts for true and godly 
fellowship with your brothers and sisters. Surely there must be cautions 
that arise in your minds and hearts when you see us here departing from such 
fellowship or violating the commands of the Lord Jesus in our relationships 
with each other.

Certainly this list is not without problems, misunderstandings, aggravations 
of one with another. But no authentic house church will be free of such 
problems either!  We must be determined and willing to work through such 
difficulties in a godly manner whenever they arise.

So with these things in mind, I simply want to appeal to you and to many 
others on this list who simply observe ....to prayerfully consider your own 
personal involvement in "one anothering" right here!

Whether it is loving one another, exhorting one another, confessing faults 
one to another, praying for one another, stirring each other up unto love 
and good works, reproving those that sin that others may fear, teaching one 
another, bearing each others' burdens, weeping with those that weep, 
rejoicing with those who rejoice, comforting one another, strengthening the 
feeble, by love serving one another,  etc...there are multitudes of 
opportunity for interactive and reciprocal ministry with other saints right 
in our own communities as well as right here on HC-Talk.

I'm looking forward to your continued participation!

Your brother in Christ,
Bruce Woodford


>From: Lee Underwood <leeu at cfl.rr.com>
>Reply-To: House Church Talk  at housechurch.org
>To: House Church Talk  at housechurch.org
>Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  Phil & his Visualizing
>Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 22:14:37 -0400
>
>Rick,
>
>I too signed-up for the same reasons. Unfortunately, with some exceptions, 
>it does seem to be that way, as the IC. Oh well, I will go back to only 
>listening and observing ...
>
>Lee
>
>
>At 7/24/04 06:00 PM, Rick Smith wrote:
>
>
>>Brother Lee and Brother Jim,
>>
>>I have not seen all of the emails that have been batted back and forth
>>over this issue, as I am new to the group and ernestly seeking the
>>encouragement and information regarding home church that I believed I was
>>signing up to receive.  Imagine my dissapointment to see so little
>>difference between this forum and the institutional church I have
>>endeavored to leave behind in my search for Christ-likeness.
>>
>>
>>Galatians 6:1 says,  "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which
>>are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
>>thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
>>
>>So to respond to the obvious error of trying to visualize Christ in order
>>to get closer to Him seems a right thing - so long as it is done in
>>meekness, love, and is based solely on the scriptures (which reveal a
>>picture of Christ that requires no visualtion techniques, and the ernest,
>>whole-hearted study of which will bring one closer to Christ than any
>>other thing man can do.
>>
>>However, none of what has transpired since has been in keeping with what I
>>understood the purpose of this forum was - and in fact has run contrary to
>>what the list informtion page has asked of us
>>
>>"HC-Talk cannot serve as a forum to analyze or discuss every doctrine or
>>aspect of the Faith. In other words, it is not, nor is it intended to be a
>>general theology or general experience Christian list. Many such lists
>>already exist in large numbers. Please, therefore, post only messages
>>which contain content relevant to those in house churches."
>>
>>Might I humbly suggest that the two of you work out your difference in
>>private, rather than using the forum as a platform to
>>perform a nominally Christian jousting contest that it is obvious neither
>>of you will concede victory ot the other in.  Then let us all return in a
>>spirit of unity to the task of helping individuals to discover the joys
>>and the wonder of serving God almighty as his Church in our houses.
>>
>>In His Grip,
>>
>>Rick
>
>
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