House Church Talk - Going to "church"

[Gary]

Greetings, brethren and sisteren,

Robert - I'd like to thank you for clearing that up, althought I think I was
the one who fogged the issue. The cowboy was a good story. The part I liked
the most was the WORN Bible. He had it for a long time, he took care of it
and kept track of it, but HE USED IT! I pray that the same be said of me.

After our last IC experience, which was our last IC church experience (!),
my wife said flat out that she had no intention of joining another "church".
I remember feeling very uncomfortable about that for a number of reason, not
the least of which was it went against my grain of the past 25 years! But, I
have learned to study out things that she says especially when they pluck at
so many points in my person. We are very close, and I have found that when
we seem to be that far off, we really are not at all.

In short, she WAS right, and the course of our  study has lead us here,
among other places. We are in the prosess of questioning everything - NOT
scorning, or doubting, or being spiteful, just asking questions and seeing
if he answers come (or can come) from Scripture.

Of course, being careful in the IC did not prevent some experiences that I'd
rather not repreat, but we are both far more hopeful now that we realize
that others have gone through he same thing and that the whole problem
wasn't just us.

Has anyone read Alexander Strauch on Biblical Eldership? I'd be interested
in any other takes on the book, which so far I have found a refreshing
change from past efforts on the subject.

Earnestly contending,

Gary

(Written using WindowEyes, the premier screenreading program from GW Micro
that makes PCs accessible to the blind and visually impaired.  Contact:
www.gwmicro.com)

"Preach not only so that the people can understand, but so that they cannot
misunderstand if they wish."  CH.Spurgeon

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the
full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the
schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist
in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."  Ephesians
6:10-13
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Beaty" <dlbeaty at copper.net>
To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  public meetings


> Bruce,
>
> You make a good distinction between meetings for the building up of the
> church and evangelistic meetings.
>
> Visibility could be accomplished in many ways, and could also accomplish
> different things. The suggestions of meeting in public places centered
> around one response to my question. Regular church meetings in parks etc
> could have the side effect of reaching the lost.
>
> OTOH, evangelistic outreach meetings can build up the community life of
the
> church as well.
>
> I do agree with you that some confusion does exist here. Watchman Nee and
> others distinquish between "the Church" and "the Work." But some
overlapping
> is unavoidable, IMO.
>
> My desire is for house churches to become more visible to both other believers and
the
> lost. I am hoping HCs in free countries can become less of an underground
> movement and more of what Christ has actually called us to be, a "City on
a
> hill that cannot be hid."
>
> Wouldn't it be great if the day came when people in general saw church
> meetings in homes as at least normal? Like in the First Century?
>
> Dan Beaty
> Columbus, Ohio USA
> www.livingtruth.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bruce Woodford" <bwood4d at hotmail.com>
> To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:33 PM
> Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  public meetings
>
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I've been following this discussion the last few days and have a few
> comments and questions:
>
> First of all, Dan, if your questions about increasing visibility of house
> churches is to get other BELIEVERS to see house churches as  viable,
> profitable and scriptural places to gather for edification, I'm all for
it.
> If we can invite other believers into our homes for hospitality,
> encouragement, fellowship etc, what opportunities we have for interactive,
> participatory, one anothering ministry which many will not even think of
as
> "church"!!
>
> However, if house churches seek to have public church meetings in order to
> evangelize the unconverted, I really wonder if we understand the
scrioptural
> purposes of church meetings at all!
>
>
>
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