We Must Walk By Faith And Not By Sight

Years later in this process of growth, I was blessed with a summer internship at a larger congregation in Dallas, Texas. Although I grew from my relationships and from the mentorship I received, I also observed that the bulk of the ministry meetings focused on changing and adapting our church’s corporate worship to be more and more “seeker sensitive.” The thought was that corporate worship was something malleable that could be altered into something more like the culture of the surrounding neighborhood, so people would want to come. “After all,” so the thinking went, “scripture provided only a rough guideline as to what the church is to do when coming together and there is little-to-no reason to keep intact what past generations did or passed down.” In essence, we sought to form our corporate worship for the purpose of evangelism. I believed that the important thing to focus on is love of God, love of neighbor, and piety. Something in the line of reasoning that insisted on changing the community worship ritual to reflect the world didn’t feel right to me, yet I could not articulate what it was. Several months later I visited an Eastern Orthodox Church as part of a course on Christian spiritual development and after a didactic

The rules of the church help to keep the members of the community in check and to help remind them to practice humility in their everyday lives. The main rules that the church has to direct humility have are in regards to how the members dress for their daily lives and for worship on Sundays. In the general community there are no set rules against receiving credit for jobs and tasks that an Amish man or woman may have accomplished, but it is looked down upon by the community as the person receiving the praise is thought to be prideful and sinning in their lives. In their lives through religious teachings and readings they are taught to walk through life as a humble servant of God and to give forgiveness to all as Jesus did when it was his time on Earth.

Accordantly to the author “Touch was a crucial means of assuring oneself of the reality of spiritual truths. The New Testament is full of stories of people touching Christ, culminating in that of doubting Thomas, who needed to put his hand into Christ’s wounds to be assured that Christ had risen” (Liz James 527) I definitely support this because when it comes to religion there is always going

When we look at new born baby, most of the time when they explore the new world, they will use their hand try to reach the object that they are interested in. To remember how that object feel through touching. When we grow up, when we meet someone, the first thing we will do is to give out our hand to greet other with a handshake, in fact this simple action can also reveal our personality. When we do not like or trying to protect ourselves, our hand will become a fist, ready to punch to express dislike. In a relationship, we often see couples holding hands, which can also explaining as they are fear to lose each other, besides they are willing to hand their life to their opponent. When we are holing other hands, we feel secure and someone to

An example from Luke showing that were all the same and that we shouldn’t judge each other in Luke 6:37-38. It says,

In some cultures touching and hugging is a big part of their lives. How you touch someone says a lot about you. The way you touch someone says a lot if you touch them loving and comforting it shows you are kind. If you touch them too hard and hurt them, people are going to be afraid to touch you when they see you. In the United States we always shake hands with people when see them or meet someone a new person. That says you are friendly but not always in a good way. We shake hands with a lot of people and sometimes we don’t really want to see that person any more.

The First United Methodist Church of Lindale has become a second family that I spend time worshiping with. FUMC Lindale has been my only church, and I began learning about Christ before I can remember. For a while, I even went to school in my church! I participated in children's programs such as BIG, sunday school, and summer camp. Growing up in the traditional service, I became a regular Acolyte. This began as a terrifying experience, but grew into a wonderful appreciation of being part of the service. Each experience within this church is valuable to myself and many others I introduced to my church. Many of them followed until Conformation where we learned about the importance and structure of our church along with Biblical text . Following

I am as guilty as everyone else when I think why change ‘this is the way we like it’; ‘isn’t it our church’?

God loves his Church and Jesus is the one who builds the Church. Then, it goes without saying that God loves the local church and Jesus builds the local church. Unfortunately, there are many factors that come into play, causing churches to become complacent or stagnate before entering into a season of decline. Yet this can be avoided through the process of revitalization.

Be one with God, not the church - You do not have to attend church and serve the church to please God, only serve god and nothing else.

Denominations have such an impact on people within their sect that they actually set the rules the people live by. Such as is it okay to drink or is it not okay. Some argue that denominations have no part in one’s relationship with Jesus Christ. While one’s relationship with Jesus Christ is exactly that—a relationship between an individual and Jesus Christ, one’s denomination helps promote and lead you in your relationship with Jesus

Apostle Paul shares that there will be some with the outward appearance of godliness, but denying its power. They should be avoided at all cost (2 Tim. 3:5). It is the pastor’s responsibility to be watchful, prayerful, and guard the entrance of the church. Spurgeon states, “To mix up the world with the church, is a crime; it brings with it an awful curse, and acts upon godliness as a blast and a mildew.” Although pastors must be acceptable to a lost and dying world, he cannot be susceptible to those that are willing to dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ and his

Care experts are in an exceptional position with respect to touching other individuals. In numerous settings where individual care is given, the standard hindrances that confine where and how regularly we touch others in ordinary life are suspended. Care experts are for the most part permitted and anticipated that would touch others as a major aspect of their work. In this context, care providers can utilize touch as a method for imparting consolation, to do care systems and to show sympathy toward others; it is essential that touch isn't misconstrued or utilized as a method for conveying predominance or sexual yearning. Asking whether it is alright to hold a man's hand or to touch them in another way-and clarifying why this is vital can diminish

Over the years, many models have been developed and implemented to endeavor to make disciples. Some of the models have been effective and others have not. Among some of the most biblical and efficient models are the ones that involve small groups. Within the small groups models, they can be broken down into further detail, such as pastoral involvement, the church’s goal, missions mindedness, etc. In this paper, I will explain my philosophy of small groups in a church and the importance of the relational group in authentic disciple making. I will also explain how missional groups can help the body of Christ move out into the community. Finally, I will summarize my status in regards to living in community with other believers and being missional with that community.

“Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.” Matthew 20:30-32