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| Church -- It's Graduation Time! |
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6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 6:2 with instruction about ablutions, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 6:3 And this we will do if God permits.
The only educational institution that I have ever heard of that doesn't graduate anyone is the church. In a church you find someone who has only been a Christian for three weeks and knows nothing about the Bible sitting on the same pew with someone who has been a Christian 40 years and has read through the Bible 30 times. And they are both frequently nodding off while listening to a dull message about "Christianity 101" by a preacher who almost falls asleep in his own sermons. Does that many any sense?
After somebody has been in church a couple of years and has heard the "Christianity 101" message a few times, why doesn't the church graduate him or her and send them out to prayer walk in their community. Why keep them tied to the building and to the apron strings of the preacher?
Our modern church system produces bored Sunday morning Christians who live like average Americans the rest of the week. Where are the bold, courageous Christian men and women that you read about in the Book of Acts and in church history?
Our American church system doesn't seem to produce that kind of Christian. And if God begins to raise up a bold, courageous Christian man or woman, the preacher is usually threatened by him or her and calls him a rebel, tells him to "get under authority", and pulls him back into the fold of mediocrity.
American churches, let God's people go! Graduate God's people and send them out! Let God raise up bold and courageous Christians before it is too late. |
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| To add a comment to "Church -- It's Graduation Time!" |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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Our church, New Psalmist Baptist church, graduates every year those that completed a three year Discipleship program. Its a real graduation. It a major accomplishment. Each class is required to have an outreach during their program and before you graduate you attend the Ministry Fair given by our church thoughout the year so you can learn about the Ministries of the church and where God is leading you to serve. Then there the Leadship Class for the graduates to signup for along with continuing Leadership class for those in leadership. No way are we boring. Today we have a "Feed the Children" Truck coming to Baltimore and a truck coming every month til Jan 2009 so far.
Where have you been and what town are you in. There are a lot of churches producing Disciples and my Bishop is no way threatened by our growth and service.
www.newpsalmist.org
we are live every Sunday
Come see for yourself
Have A Bless Day....EVERYDAY |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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I feel you Steve because so many times
Preachers are a fraid that someone many do
greater things then them so they begin to hold
people back and the gift in them slowly begins
to die and they are no one bold anythings and it is say
because God the father has enough for all of us to do
No one per has to control everyone walk ......just do what
Yeshua our Messiah say and it will all work out but the Pastors have to help get the
sheep ready to go out and boldly stand on the word of the Lord and bring his children back home.
Thanks for the word today......Peace and blesssings |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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TEN STARS FOR YOU!!!!!! I hear you LOUD and CLEAR.....(smile).....We got *so called* preachers coming out of seminary....New Members 101......Discipleship Programs....Leadership Seminars....and STILL are Biblically illiterate.....IT'S TIGHT.....BUT IT'S RIGHT.....
Tell it like it T I IZ ;o)......GOD didn't call or send these folks....They went to school and SENT THEMSELVES |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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| Something really puzzles me here. Can I ask a question? What does prayer walking achieve? Other that walking round the Walls of Jericho before they came crashing down, give me a biblical example. Wouldn't it be or "pro-active" to let them know you're there - instead of just walking down the street just praying about it? |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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My dear brother in Christ, I believe many churches do have a good bible teachings, and they do graduate people in different areas of their learning about Christ about the bible and life . I am sure you mean the one that don't do anything about it and go on with the same sermon every week we are sorry for them but let rejoice with the ones that are teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer.
Have a great day
Blessings. |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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Ahhh- but God promotes- He graduates us to the next level
When we are truly seeking after Him.
I am Church. |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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people who fall a sleep in church are their probably thinking that he did his duty he or she I should say... but just going to a church don't make you a christian, just like setting in a garage doesn't make you a car... As Joyce Meyer's always says... I am no saying that is always true. maybe that person needs to change church's. We go to learn, and grow, to build each other up and edify, to learn to share the news with others not in our church... I agree with Ruth God promotes.
But I think that it wouldn't hurt to graduate someone or rather give more response ability to some one who is showing growth... But that is if that person what's to get envolved with that... you can't push either after all it is Gods timing... Good Blog Steve... |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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The first question out of our hospital is what religion are you? They never understand when I say, I have a RELATIONSHIP with God. |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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| Aman to that! I think our ministering to other's is a very important walk with Christ & essential in our Christian life. If a person get's bored or tired in thier church life they/we better do something about it!! |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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| Bubbles is EXACTLY right when she says that God does promote, he graduates us to the next level when we are truly seeking him! Hallelujah to that!!! |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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| Good question, Stevie. Prayer walking was just an off the top of my head example of one thing Christians could do outside of the building. Of course getting to know people and personally witnessing and ministering to them is very important as well. |
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| August 14, 2008 |
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It reminds me of the first Evangelical Church that I came to, when I - chose (or was it the Lord Himself? such a mystery who initiated the move!!!) to seek God. WoW!! The pastor was so charismatic, and I was so starving for that Word. I must have looked really gawkky sitting there wide eyed and mouth open receiving this word as I'd never heard before having come from an orthodox background. "Taste and See that the Lord is good", had great meaning. So, I finally jumped in the water (of a personal decision for Father God through Christ Jesus). -->>
Then I remember the day so vividly, soon after when, I was 'almost' jumping off my seat. The man in front of me turned sideway glances as I was saying, but almost in a whisper, "O.K.! O.K. I hear you! Lets go now. Lets go now, and do it!!!!" // Oh sure! I was ready and yearning for the field work that never came!!!! Yet, I do know that it was the place the Lord had given me for my first nursing milk. This edifice/church was my first pebble walking across the stream taking me to glory. At some point afterwards, I took a step onto the next pebble. I am gleaning what I can as I step from pebble to pebble... listening for God's inner voice, and inner call - and hearing, sometimes because of the Word at the church, sometimes despite. I pray that I am getting always nearer to right position in terms of doing the things called to for each day, each season wherever I step (home, neighborhood, workplace)... while I patiently wait for the Lord's paved foundation to that burning, yearned for, vision to build a Kingdom in the way it has been conceived in me. It is a journey. And, yes st sims - oh, to see the field work and 'milk to meat' realized. |
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| August 15, 2008 |
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By unction of the Holy Spirit I proclaim this to whomever has an ear to hear: Graduation time; which in god's eyes is spiritual maturity; will take place when the church leaders get understanding of 2 Peter 1:5-11, and all the associated verses - and teach those principles to God's people.
In Jesus' love and service,
Brother Patrick |
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