Church Reflections From A 22 Year Old

Church Reflections From A 22 Year Old - christianpost.com

Excerpt from this article:

"10. Humility and flexibility in facility – Where the church meets would matter little to George; what matters is that the church truly be the church. His ideal church could meet under a tree as long as they truly know God."
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This is a good article, although some of the 10 things this young man would like to see in a church seam a little vague (I'm sure the followers of Creflo Dollar believe be preaches 'Sound doctrine that is not watered down!').

But I especially liked the end, which I quoted above. A church doesn't have to have a building, a bus, or an $65 million dollar 'ministry plane.' But it does nead people who are truly born again and know our Lord Jesus Christ.

This article reminds me a little about our Lord Jesus' encounter with the 'women at the well' in John 4. Jesus told her:

"Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -John 4:22-24

Recommended reading:

A Better Way: Rediscovering The Drama Of God Centered Worship, by Dr. Michael Horton

Recommended sermon and podcasts:

The Beautiful Biblical Worship Of Christ's Bride, by Dr. Joel Beeke
Why Are Millennials Leaving The Church? by Pastor Kevin Swanson
Why The Mega-Church Won't Save The Millennials: Millennials Leaing the Church, by Pastor Kevi Swanson

The Bible Critics Were Wrong!

The Bible Critics Were Wrong, Part 1, by David Cloud
The Bible Critics Were Wrong, Part 2, by David Cloud

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Also Recommended (my post):

By The Way, Have You Had A Chance to See Ray Comfort's Video Evolution Vs. God?

Is Christianity Dying in Britian?

Is Christianity Dying in Britian? - realclearworld.com

Excerpt from this article:

"Like an Old Testament prophet telling the Israelites that they were doomed, Lord Carey has been warning Anglicans for years of their possible annihilation. The Church is “one generation away from extinction,” he declares. The reality is less dramatic, but the story is not altogether wrong."
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British pastor of the 1800s Charles Spurgeon (1934 - 1892) would not be surprised at this news story. He would be saddened, but not surprised. He said once:

"That old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach today or be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth. I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again!" (From The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iaian Murray)

What England needs is less Richard Dawkins and more of That Old Time Religion!

Recommended reading (my post)

Christianity Declining

Lightning Strikes Quincy Church During Service

Lightning Strikes Quincy Church During Service « CBS Boston:

"Just as services were getting underway Sunday at Bethany Congregational Church in Quincy, lightning struck. Everyone inside heard a loud noise when a bolt hit the steeple."

There are worse things that could happen to a church than having lightening strike it. The Bible says:

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the LORD. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even unto the east, they shall run to and from, to seek the Word of the LORD, and shall not find it." - Amos 8:11,12

Recommended reading (my post):

Update on The Internet Kill Switch
Lightening Strikes St. Peter's After Pope's Announcement

Update on Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI - March 6, 2013

Here is a story from todays edition of Reuters.com on the Pope's resignation:

Conclave Start Seen Delayed as Vatican Muzzels Cardnals - Reuters

Recommeded reading (my post/repost):

Saving those Damned Catholics!

Drought Forcasted for America & Rest of the World

There is a drought forcasted for the United States, according to an article in The Los Angeles Times (see Drought Forecast to Persist in Much of U.S., Especially in the West).  The Bible also predicts a drought (and a famine!):

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." - Amos 8:11,12.

Now, more than ever before, followers of our Lord Jesus should become 'spiritual preppers,' laying up God's word both in our minds, but especially in our hearts. King David said, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." - Psalms 119:11

Recommended listening:

Spiritual Food Pyramid, by Dr. David Murray

'Jedi' Religion Most Popular Alternative Faith

'Jedi' religion most popular alternative faith - Telegraph:

The Bible says:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables." - II Timothy 4:3,4

Study: Young Americans Dumping Religion at Rapid Rate

Study: Young Americans Dumping Religion at Rapid Rate:

Our Lord Jesus asked the question: "When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Matthew 18:8). And in II Thessalonians 2:3, 4 it says that "a great falling away" must happen before the Antichrist, the 'Man of Sin,' be revealed:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is God or worshiped."

Eggnog is starting to appear in the grocery stores. That means that Christmas is just around the corner. This is a good time for me to start posting links to one of my favorite Christmas poems:

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

Fundamentalism vs. Apostacy

Here is an excellent sermon by Dr. Ian Paisley.  Please take some time this week to hear what this godly man has to say:

Fundamentalism v. Apostasy, by Dr. Ian Paisley

Or if you prefer, watch it on YouTube:

Fundamentalism v. Apostasy part I

Fundamentalism v. Apostasy part II