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February 04, 2012, 05:17:55 PM
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Author Topic: The Church Jesus Built  (Read 1154 times)
ccaius
Wide Eyed

Posts: 1
« on: June 14, 2007, 09:33:35 AM »
This my second attempt to write this. I said in the last aborted attempt that I am technologically challenged and this affirms it.

However, in an earlier discussion on church organization, a writer made a statement that piqued my interest. He said that the church Jesus made reference to when he said, "upon this rock I will build my church," was the universal church...the church of all the ages. I tend to agree with this, but I have a question:

Whose church was it on the day of Pentecost? Whose disciples where the 120 and who called, trained and mentored the twelve? The book of Acts is full of such questions: Where did the evangelism techniques used so remarkably in the Jerusalem church come from? Who laid the foundation of the Pentecost ingathering and the enormous success that followed?

It seems that when the church is discussed, it starts at Pentecost and no recognition is given to the work that went before. Jesus said, "I will build my church"! Succeeding efforts through the centuries have achieved varying degrees of success, depending on the measure of the original drawn from Christ's first work. Could we be missing something here in that we compartmentalize scripture; drawing a hard line between gospels and acts, failing to recognize that Acts is a record continuing the story of "all that Jesus began both to do and teach."

No takers, so I'll add a bit to it.

In a previous discussion concerning church organization, there was some talk about church size - whether small home groups were better v. mega-churches or international organizations. In Jesus' experience, as well as the apostles in Acts, both were common occurances. The multitudes followed Jesus, were taught, were fed, were ministered to and ultimately faded away.

With the apostles, the mega-church, too, proved unstable, with the only experiment at Jerusalem, scattering with the persecution that followed Stephen's martyrdom.

It isn't that mega-churches are wrong. It is just that they are horribly inefficient. They have their place: evangelism, for one, can take place in such a setting. But, as demonstrated by Jesus, to effectively minister to a multitude, it has to be organized into groups (50 in the case of the loaves and fishes) with men responsible for the ministry to each group.

I fear that mega-churches, at times, become an ego trip for some or bread and circuses for others. There can be no doubt that such a setting presents the greatest opportunity to showcase the best music, worship and preaching, but it begs the question: Who are we worshipping? Is great music and preaching simply another form of entertainment? And what happens to the vast majority of attendees when the door swing to behind them?

I'm listing questions again. I must break that habit!
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 09:15:19 AM by ccaius » Logged
AndysJess
Adept

Posts: 465


blessed to be my husband's wife
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2007, 03:51:14 PM »
Wow, can't believe no one has jumped on this...looks interesting.  I would love to read some responses/opinions.

BUMP!!!
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Helpmeet to Andy 11 years; Mother to Drew, Dylan, Cullen, Avery and Sawyer.

Dylan..."Mom, I don't like it when you braid my hair cause when you take it out, my hair is too wriggly!"
Kansas Girl
Adept

Posts: 259
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2007, 12:13:23 PM »
I'm going to bump this up too  Grin  -KG
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having a baby" border="0
AndysJess
Adept

Posts: 465


blessed to be my husband's wife
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2009, 05:11:24 PM »
Just going through some old threads on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  I noticed that this had never been discussed, so...

BUMP!!!
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Helpmeet to Andy 11 years; Mother to Drew, Dylan, Cullen, Avery and Sawyer.

Dylan..."Mom, I don't like it when you braid my hair cause when you take it out, my hair is too wriggly!"
andiclare
Adept

Posts: 416


Andi C.
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2009, 04:54:41 PM »
Quote from: ccaius on June 14, 2007, 09:33:35 AM
However, in an earlier discussion on church organization, a writer made a statement that piqued my interest. He said that the church Jesus made reference to when he said, "upon this rock I will build my church," was the universal church...the church of all the ages. I tend to agree with this, but I have a question:

Whose church was it on the day of Pentecost? Whose disciples where the 120 and who called, trained and mentored the twelve? The book of Acts is full of such questions: Where did the evangelism techniques used so remarkably in the Jerusalem church come from? Who laid the foundation of the Pentecost ingathering and the enormous success that followed?

I know I am not allowed to try and "teach" so I will just share what my fiance and I believe (from Scripture) and yall can judge for yourself. (Please moderate me if I'm doing this wrong...)

The answer to your last 2 questions above are Christ himself and the Holy Spirit. Christ founded the Church, His Body on earth. He gave authority to the Apostles at the time, with breathing on them ("Receive the Holy Spirit"), the power of the keys, the power to bind and loose, to forgive sins, etc. The power or authority was given to the Apostles but it came from Christ. It was supernatural. And then Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would be with His church always, till the end of time. That's what we believe because it's what Scripture seems to convey.

On a more pragmatic, earthly level, I'm sure the disciples learned some litrugical practices and day-to-day organizational things from their Jewish faith.

My 2 cents.  Wink
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"The spirit of the world is restless and eager to do all things; leave that spirit alone." St. Vincent de Paul
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