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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | A pastor who is there? | NT general Archive 1 | janet | 11766 | ||
I agree with Hank because I experienced something similar, but not completely. I had been attending a small church for well over a dozen or so years. I really was quite happy being there, everyone was like family. I loved watching children grow into teens, and the teens grow-up and get married and start families. When there was tough times, sickness, or death, the church family was there giving enormous support. It was very comforting and comfortable. That is why I was very surprised when I felt God leading me to a really big church. I could not understand it, I liked where I was and I loved the people. But He made it very clear to me that He wanted me to start attending this other church. I questioned Him alot. I even bulked at obeying Him, I was very confused and I, at first, refused. I told Him, that I would not be comfortable in such a big church because I would feel so lost, so unattached, I told Him I needed a church family". He very clearly asked me something that kind of floored me. He asked me what I thought heaven was going to be like...He made me realize that heaven is going to be very big with a big "family". I obeyed Him. I love my new church. I have grown spiritually by leaps and bounds in ways that I could have only done at this church under this particular shepherd who is teaching me so much of God's Word. I have seen more souls saved (praise God!)in the relatively short time I've attended the big church then I ever did the smaller church (in fact, at the smaller church, there was rarely alter calls). In addition, I am now in another "family" that is growing the more I get involved. My spiritual needs are being met in ways that I would never have imagined possible. Now please do not misunderstand me, I am not making a stand for big churches over little churches. What I am stating, however, is that we need to go where God wants us to be because He alone knows where we will grow. There is afterall only one "Church" and He is the shepherd. There may be many camps, with different heavenly assignments, but there is only one church. One other point. When I moved on to the other church, I was very hurt and confused with the way some of the people from the small "church" family treated me. They more or less "shunned" me (but many did not). Point: If someone you know feels the leading to change churches, accept it, understand they are being obedient and don't make it difficult for them, and most especially don't stop loving them. |
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2 | A pastor who is there? | NT general Archive 1 | Hank | 11782 | ||
What you say, Janet, about heaven being really a big "church" makes sense. When all the saints of all the ages are gathered together, it will surely make a sizeable crowd.... While we're still on the Big Church, Little Church theme, I'd like to mention that right in our community are a couple of churches that are withering on the vine. In one of them especially the gospel of Christ is not really being preached, and in both of them there is an air of exclusiveness. They are more like a private club with select members who are happy as they are and don't want any new imposters to upset their status quo..... When a Little Church remains little year after year, there must be a reason. It isn't always the location of the the church building or the demographics of the area surrounding it, though this has been cited as an excuse for not growing. The church we attend, for example, is located near the downtown area and much of the area around it is old and decaying. But the church is large (6,000 members), vibrant, spiritually very much alive, and shows a consistent pattern of growth. Other churches around town enjoy a much more favorable location, but they are stagnant and limping along trying to get their hands on enough money to keep their doors open..... There is always a reason why some churches stay little and why many of them eventually fall apart. And there's a reason why churches become big and continue to flourish and get bigger. And I submit that, no matter whatever other reasons or excuses may be offered, the real reason is that the growing churches are being nourished by the word of God and His Son is being exalted above all things. The puny, limping, dying churches may well be following a different drummer. --Hank | ||||||