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#1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 3:39:26 PM
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hjemerson
Posts: 247
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I have been asked this and a few othe question and would like other op?
1-Why got to church?
< Message edited by hjemerson -- 12/2/2008 3:56:51 PM >
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 4:07:05 PM
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MrFribbles
Posts: 1883
Joined: 1/29/2007
From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
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1, because it's commanded in Scripture.
2, to learn more about God.
3, to express worship in a corporate way.
4, to benefit from fellowship with other Christians.
5, to serve.
6, free donuts. ; )
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 4:10:21 PM
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SinnerSaved
Posts: 318
Joined: 10/28/2007
From: Belfast, N. Ireland
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To praise and worship the Lord.
_____________________________
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth."
Mark Twain
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 4:15:59 PM
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ladyichigo
Posts: 540
Joined: 10/23/2007
From: Honolulu
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I used to go to church to get fed. I used to go to church to get encouraged. I used to go to church to get filled. But then I started going home feeling empty and discouraged because I was only hearing sermons about serving, evangelizing, ministering...but none that equipped, exhorted, or prepared.
Then I heard that I had to feed myself if I wasn't getting what I needed at church.
_____________________________
Mari
I'm not cool enough to come up with a witty quote, but God is still good.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 7:11:46 PM
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mvic
Posts: 1788
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quote:
1, because it's commanded in Scripture.
2, to learn more about God.
3, to express worship in a corporate way.
4, to benefit from fellowship with other Christians.
5, to serve.
6, free donuts. ; )
All of the above plus: To change ourselves for the better.
Our Church doesn't give donuts. Just tea/cofee and biscuits.
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 10:36:14 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 2061
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: hjemerson
I have been asked this and a few othe question and would like other op?
1-Why got to church?
Wherever two are gathered, it's church. I have church in the Walmart parking lot, on the sidewalk, while working out, on the phone, wherever I am in fellowship with other believers.
Why? Desire for fellowship with other believers is a byproduct of life, His life in me & you.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 11:14:43 PM
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Cloak
Posts: 4761
Joined: 1/4/2008
From: Canada
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To strengthen my faith and worship Him and fellowship with other believers and and fellow Christians.
We need a community of fellow believers. An isolated Christian life is not good.
_____________________________
Blessings!
And My God shall meet ALL Your Needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 19)
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 11:21:49 PM
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cheeky_monkey
Posts: 159
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Right now church is my only means of fellowshipping with other believers.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/2/2008 11:50:52 PM
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nevaehs_gaze
Posts: 354
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From: United States
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I usually go for the fellowship. It's good to spend time with other believers. Sometimes, I go to meet friends. I also like the music. I don't usually get much from sermons, but I'll spend time reading God's Word instead.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 12:05:22 AM
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sunshine4God
Posts: 7337
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From: Sterling Ct.
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to be built up in the Lord by hearing his word
to worship God together as a family in Christ
Because the bible tells us to
Free doughnuts and Starbucks coffee at my church lol
Seriously I love Church and couldn't imagine not going.
_____________________________
Matthew 5:16.
"Let your light so shine before men that they will see
your good deeds and glorify your Lord".
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 10:54:11 AM
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Boz7770
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I go to church because the word of God says not to forsake the assembling of yourselves among other belivers. I do however feel sad for those of you who are attending chuch and not really getting anything out of the sermons. Reading your bible at home is fine you are suppose too. But I personally appreciate the fact that there are men and women of God called to minister the word to the church and I would find it unacceptable to be attending a church where I am not recieving anything from the sermon.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 12:28:23 PM
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journeyman7
Posts: 67
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Everyone has already mentioned great reasons on why one should go to church. Yes, you can be saved and a Christian without going to church, but church is a place of fellowship, union, worship, and praise.
I would answer this question in a hypothetical way by asking, what if there was no church? The body of Christ would be fragmented and many people in the world would never hear the Word or have a place to praise and worship as a group. Yes, church is scriptural, but not only scriptural it is a fulfillment of a need. If no church existed today, Christians would naturally form groups for praise, worship, and discussion.
_____________________________
Mt 16:24 -
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 4:08:14 PM
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rolling
Posts: 157
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Actually 'go to church' doesn't make any kind of sense. We are the 'church'. How are you suppose to go to you?
I'm a Leesley. How do I 'go to Leesley'?
Moving on now. We are to felllowship with other believers that 'believe the word' to the edification of one another, ministering one to another.
With all the traditions of men and doctrines of men that are the foundation of the modern 'gathering', are we then still obligated to be a part of it?
My point is this. The N.T. gives us an outline to work from. We have strayed so far from that outline that it is unrecognizable. In fact the modern institution we call 'church' is really a hindrance to the body of Christ, a liability, not an asset.
Until we can reclaim some of what 1Cor.12 shows us for true fellowship in the Spirit, no christian is constrained to 'go to church'. In fact he may be called to 'come out from among them and be ye seperate saith the Lord'.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 4:19:02 PM
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Eutychus
Posts: 2066
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dothan, AL
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rolling
Actually 'go to church' doesn't make any kind of sense. We are the 'church'. How are you suppose to go to you?
I agree that the building where I go on Sunday (and other times) isn't the Church. But if I go to the mall, can I find a place to pray, study, fellowship, and minister to & with the Church? What about the Cinema Max? Or up at the lake or down at the beach?
I don't think so.
Scripture clearly tells me I should be assembling together with other believers. It tells me we should be encouraging & equipping each other in service to Christ. The most likely place I can think of where this will happen is in a building dedicated to my Lord and Savior by fellow believers.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/3/2008 5:01:20 PM
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NESS55
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church is a place to learn to grow and to listen to the sermon, commune with God
fellowship is done not only at church but any time when Christian's gather together
so for the Christian the answer should be "Why not go to Church?" for the christian the church should be the place were the things of the world are left behind and they can refocus themselves on eternal things which then the christian will take those things that he or she has learned and apply them to everyday life in the work in the home and so on the Sabbath day is a day for fall back and regroup
NESS<><
_____________________________
Zeph 3:17
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/4/2008 7:43:04 PM
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ManimalX
Posts: 1267
Joined: 10/25/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
1, because it's commanded in Scripture.
2, to learn more about God.
3, to express worship in a corporate way.
4, to benefit from fellowship with other Christians.
5, to serve.
6, free donuts. ; )
You get free donuts?!?!? Blasphemy! I have to pay $.50 for mine! Of course, they ARE Winchell's donuts, so I don't mind  I usually pay double so the person in line behind me gets a little pick-me-up.
Coffee, however, is gratis
Anyways, it is rare that an OP is answered pretty much completely in the first response. Excellent job 
_____________________________
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." - 2nd Peter 3:10
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/4/2008 7:46:32 PM
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ManimalX
Posts: 1267
Joined: 10/25/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
I used to go to church to get fed. I used to go to church to get encouraged. I used to go to church to get filled. But then I started going home feeling empty and discouraged because I was only hearing sermons about serving, evangelizing, ministering...but none that equipped, exhorted, or prepared.
Then I heard that I had to feed myself if I wasn't getting what I needed at church.
God will never call you to be a Lone Ranger Christian. That is a lie from the enemy and the flesh. Humble yourself and find a Bible-believing body of believers to join!
_____________________________
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." - 2nd Peter 3:10
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/4/2008 8:30:30 PM
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ladyichigo
Posts: 540
Joined: 10/23/2007
From: Honolulu
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ManimalX
quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
I used to go to church to get fed. I used to go to church to get encouraged. I used to go to church to get filled. But then I started going home feeling empty and discouraged because I was only hearing sermons about serving, evangelizing, ministering...but none that equipped, exhorted, or prepared.
Then I heard that I had to feed myself if I wasn't getting what I needed at church.
God will never call you to be a Lone Ranger Christian. That is a lie from the enemy and the flesh. Humble yourself and find a Bible-believing body of believers to join!
OH no...I don't consider myself to be a "Lone Ranger Christian". I know that I can't "survive" by out there by myself. No, no, no. It's not like that. Right now I'm serving in the Youth ministry. I guess you could say I'm going to church to serve...and the only "filling" I get is directly from the HS when I serve. My whole family is involved with ministry whether with the youth ministry, or worship ministry, small groups, etc. I lead worship for the youth services, and I also co-lead a small care-group for young women. I am part of the church....but I just don't feel like I am most of the time. Mostly like I'm on the outside looking in. Unless you're a new visitor, or have been in the congregation for decades, it's like you don't exist. Our church isn't a mega-church either. You don't show up to Sunday service for months, but they don't seem to notice. That's just how my church is. It's okay though. I'm doing what I've been called to do, and that's serving in the youth ministry. Whether the other congregants/members know that, or not isn't really my concern. If I can't get equipped or encouraged during the church worship services, I can get it from elsewhere. I'm not going to depend on the pastor or the other leaders/elders for it because I know they are not going to offer it. They will only refer you to a Care-Group/Bible Study Group. That's what I meant by "feeding myself". Does that clarify?
_____________________________
Mari
I'm not cool enough to come up with a witty quote, but God is still good.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/4/2008 8:51:15 PM
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markvh
Posts: 35
Joined: 11/6/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MrFribbles
1, because it's commanded in Scripture.
2, to learn more about God.
3, to express worship in a corporate way.
4, to benefit from fellowship with other Christians.
5, to serve.
These are good examples, but I would replace the humorous donut comment with item 6 as;
To share our experience as a benefit to others.
An example of this is the verse that says; "comfort one another with the comfort you have experienced." And in Philippians 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Our pastor refers to going to church as a huddle, and the actual football game is the rest of our life. With that reference, church is a vital method to equip us with a strategy to be effective as a Christian. A way to help ensure we are engaging all of the assistance that is available to us to minister to as many as we are called to, whatever our situation.
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/4/2008 8:58:54 PM
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Elephantgirl
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From: California
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to serve the Lord. And meet with other people. And pray together.
_____________________________
Patty
www.myspace.com/beyoncesgal
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/5/2008 3:16:18 AM
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ManimalX
Posts: 1267
Joined: 10/25/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
quote:
ORIGINAL: ManimalX
quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
I used to go to church to get fed. I used to go to church to get encouraged. I used to go to church to get filled. But then I started going home feeling empty and discouraged because I was only hearing sermons about serving, evangelizing, ministering...but none that equipped, exhorted, or prepared.
Then I heard that I had to feed myself if I wasn't getting what I needed at church.
God will never call you to be a Lone Ranger Christian. That is a lie from the enemy and the flesh. Humble yourself and find a Bible-believing body of believers to join!
OH no...I don't consider myself to be a "Lone Ranger Christian". I know that I can't "survive" by out there by myself. No, no, no. It's not like that. Right now I'm serving in the Youth ministry. I guess you could say I'm going to church to serve...and the only "filling" I get is directly from the HS when I serve. My whole family is involved with ministry whether with the youth ministry, or worship ministry, small groups, etc. I lead worship for the youth services, and I also co-lead a small care-group for young women. I am part of the church....but I just don't feel like I am most of the time. Mostly like I'm on the outside looking in. Unless you're a new visitor, or have been in the congregation for decades, it's like you don't exist. Our church isn't a mega-church either. You don't show up to Sunday service for months, but they don't seem to notice. That's just how my church is. It's okay though. I'm doing what I've been called to do, and that's serving in the youth ministry. Whether the other congregants/members know that, or not isn't really my concern. If I can't get equipped or encouraged during the church worship services, I can get it from elsewhere. I'm not going to depend on the pastor or the other leaders/elders for it because I know they are not going to offer it. They will only refer you to a Care-Group/Bible Study Group. That's what I meant by "feeding myself". Does that clarify?
Aha. Thank you for the clarification! One thing I would respectfully point out as an outsider who can only judge by your words: it is possible to be a Lone Ranger even when you are surrounded by a sea of church folk. It sounds to me like you just feel lost in the crowd, and that isn't how church is supposed to be! Does your church do any kind of home group, or is that what the "care group" you described is? I just hate for you to miss the blessings you get from interacting on a personal level with your brothers and sisters on a more intimate basis than just Sunday morning!
_____________________________
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." - 2nd Peter 3:10
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/5/2008 3:31:39 PM
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SlipperyWhenWet
Posts: 57
Joined: 11/11/2005
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Being raised a Catholic, my early perception of going to church was one of 'serving my time' on Sunday morning and that's about it. My family went every week, but I didn't get much out of going. I still remember how a good portion of people at mass would just head for the door right after communion rather than stay after church and get to know one another. My family wasn't much of an exception... we'd wait until mass was actually over, but THEN we'd make a bee-line for the door. When I was young, I didn't feel like I got much out of church and that was the impression I had of church through most of my life on into my 20's. I'm sure there were plenty of opportunities to serve at the church, I just somehow conveniently ignored all those opportunities and then continued to have the attitude that going to church wasn't doing much for me.
When I met my wife, we started going to the church her family had gone to for years, and not being a Catholic church, it felt weird to go there and took some adjusting on my part. One of the obvious changes from what I was used to is that this church was constantly asking for people to get involved... and I pretty much ignored every request, just like I did at the Catholic church.  One day my wife asked me to assist her in being a 'Shepherd' for the children's ministry, and I reluctantly said 'yes'. This was perhaps the first time I actually took steps to do more at church than just show-up... not to mention that this meant getting-up even EARLIER on Sunday morning than I wanted to and have to deal with little monster kids. 
To make my long story not so long, getting involved in the children's ministry helped open my eyes to understanding what church is all about and why it's good for me. By getting active in the church, I began to feel part of the church and wanted to be there. Instead of going to church and wanting to know what the church could do for me (which was really hard when I left right after mass), I began thinking about what more I could do for the church and how I could reach out to others that weren't involved.
We recently moved and found a new, relatively large church close to our house and my main goal after moving was to get involved in this new church a.s.a.p. I joined a men's group, my wife and I are attending an introductory class to the church, and I try to participate in as many charitable things as I can. I can say that I now absolutely love going to church and getting out of bed on Sunday mornings is no longer a problem.
It seems to me that as long as I was an outsider to the church and just had the "What can the church do for me?" attitude, it wasn't a place I wanted to be. However, once my attitude was changed to "What can I do to help the church?", that has made all the difference in the world for me.
Note, my personal story was not intended to bash Catholics by any means, this is just an account of my personal experience. I'm pretty sure that if I were to attend the same Catholic church today that I grew-up in and I got involved, my experience would be totally different than what it was.
Thanks for reading my personal story. I hope that those of you who struggle with going to church are able to someday experience what I now experience. It's wonderful being a part of Christ's church... come on in!
_____________________________
Sincerely,
Todd
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RE: #1 Why go to church? - 12/5/2008 3:48:39 PM
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ladyichigo
Posts: 540
Joined: 10/23/2007
From: Honolulu
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ManimalX
quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
quote:
ORIGINAL: ManimalX
quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyichigo
I used to go to church to get fed. I used to go to church to get encouraged. I used to go to church to get filled. But then I started going home feeling empty and discouraged because I was only hearing sermons about serving, evangelizing, ministering...but none that equipped, exhorted, or prepared.
Then I heard that I had to feed myself if I wasn't getting what I needed at church.
God will never call you to be a Lone Ranger Christian. That is a lie from the enemy and the flesh. Humble yourself and find a Bible-believing body of believers to join!
OH no...I don't consider myself to be a "Lone Ranger Christian". I know that I can't "survive" by out there by myself. No, no, no. It's not like that. Right now I'm serving in the Youth ministry. I guess you could say I'm going to church to serve...and the only "filling" I get is directly from the HS when I serve. My whole family is involved with ministry whether with the youth ministry, or worship ministry, small groups, etc. I lead worship for the youth services, and I also co-lead a small care-group for young women. I am part of the church....but I just don't feel like I am most of the time. Mostly like I'm on the outside looking in. Unless you're a new visitor, or have been in the congregation for decades, it's like you don't exist. Our church isn't a mega-church either. You don't show up to Sunday service for months, but they don't seem to notice. That's just how my church is. It's okay though. I'm doing what I've been called to do, and that's serving in the youth ministry. Whether the other congregants/members know that, or not isn't really my concern. If I can't get equipped or encouraged during the church worship services, I can get it from elsewhere. I'm not going to depend on the pastor or the other leaders/elders for it because I know they are not going to offer it. They will only refer you to a Care-Group/Bible Study Group. That's what I meant by "feeding myself". Does that clarify?
Aha. Thank you for the clarification! One thing I would respectfully point out as an outsider who can only judge by your words: it is possible to be a Lone Ranger even when you are surrounded by a sea of church folk. It sounds to me like you just feel lost in the crowd, and that isn't how church is supposed to be! Does your church do any kind of home group, or is that what the "care group" you described is? I just hate for you to miss the blessings you get from interacting on a personal level with your brothers and sisters on a more intimate basis than just Sunday morning!
Manimal: I appreciate your concern :). I know that church isn't supposed to be how you described in your above response. The "care group" I described is the home group. We get together once a month. It's during that time that I can interact with my sisters in Christ on a personal level. I've never interacted with another Christian on a personal level on Sundays. Right now to me Sunday worship service at my church is a gathering of PR people who put on a show for those sitting in the pews. That's why I haven't been going to Sunday Worship Service. I go to youth service once a month where I serve as a worship leader, then the following Saturday I am able to connect with my sisters in Christ.
_____________________________
Mari
I'm not cool enough to come up with a witty quote, but God is still good.
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