On preaching and the hearer's responsibilities.

[Tarheel Baptist]

Then you erect a strawman to beat up.

And, my opinion concerning past experience could very well be invalid..but it is my opinion.
The church growing into a larger venue isn't in scripture argument is moot.
Scripture doesn't give an prohibition of such just as no order of worship service is mandated by Scripture. The church is not an organization but a living organism and living things grow and change by their very nature.

No order of worship given?

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

Interestingly enough, that section is even subtitled "Orderly Worship" in my Bible.

e

Do you even know what the word MANDATED means?

He didn't see mandated...he was too busy writing his brilliant response.
Too bad he responded to something other than the actual subject at hand.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

[quote author=ALAYMAN]Half a dozen people could be wrong and it wouldn't phase me one bit. This isn't a popularity contest, and I don't form my opinions about another person's theology from the collective consciousness of the FFF.

See also: arrogance, pride.
[/quote]

ohhhhhhhhh theeeee IRONY!

 

[ALAYMAN]

You are, once again, very adept at the erection and destruction of jonny-on-the-spot strawmen.

To tell you the truth, in all seriousness, I can rarely understand the stuff you write.  It's disjointed and often near incoherent.  I don't say that to be cruel, but to point out that your writing style is odd and often doesn't make sense.

So I'll punt and try again.  Is your point that assemblies/churches should never grow any larger than can be accommodated by an average sized house?

Yes, I agree, by your answers that you don't understand my posts.

They stay on message, refer to Scripture, point out error, etc.

This is really an admission, by you, that you don't participate well in a conversation that brings up points on a topic that you haven't heard before.

I've said several different times, in this thread alone, that the Gospel causes growth. 
I've detailed how that growth should look vs. current pop-culture tradition.
I've mentioned how this is chronicled in the book of Acts.

The Spirit of God is your guide.
I'm not, neither is Tozer, "your pastor" or any commentary, etc.

Maybe you should concentrate on other posters' posts, and ignore mine.

Earnestly Contend

It was a simple question.  Do you believe that a church should remain small enough to inhabit an average size house?

 

[Recovering IFB]

You are, once again, very adept at the erection and destruction of jonny-on-the-spot strawmen.

To tell you the truth, in all seriousness, I can rarely understand the stuff you write.  It's disjointed and often near incoherent.  I don't say that to be cruel, but to point out that your writing style is odd and often doesn't make sense.

So I'll punt and try again.  Is your point that assemblies/churches should never grow any larger than can be accommodated by an average sized house?

Yes, I agree, by your answers that you don't understand my posts.

They stay on message, refer to Scripture, point out error, etc.

This is really an admission, by you, that you don't participate well in a conversation that brings up points on a topic that you haven't heard before.

I've said several different times, in this thread alone, that the Gospel causes growth. 
I've detailed how that growth should look vs. current pop-culture tradition.
I've mentioned how this is chronicled in the book of Acts.

The Spirit of God is your guide.
I'm not, neither is Tozer, "your pastor" or any commentary, etc.

Maybe you should concentrate on other posters' posts, and ignore mine.

Earnestly Contend

It was a simple question.  Do you believe that a church should remain small enough to inhabit an average size house?

What if said assembly of believers grow to a point and they break off and start another "home church" in another neighborhood?

 

[prophet]

You are, once again, very adept at the erection and destruction of jonny-on-the-spot strawmen.

To tell you the truth, in all seriousness, I can rarely understand the stuff you write.  It's disjointed and often near incoherent.  I don't say that to be cruel, but to point out that your writing style is odd and often doesn't make sense.

So I'll punt and try again.  Is your point that assemblies/churches should never grow any larger than can be accommodated by an average sized house?

Yes, I agree, by your answers that you don't understand my posts.

They stay on message, refer to Scripture, point out error, etc.

This is really an admission, by you, that you don't participate well in a conversation that brings up points on a topic that you haven't heard before.

I've said several different times, in this thread alone, that the Gospel causes growth. 
I've detailed how that growth should look vs. current pop-culture tradition.
I've mentioned how this is chronicled in the book of Acts.

The Spirit of God is your guide.
I'm not, neither is Tozer, "your pastor" or any commentary, etc.

Maybe you should concentrate on other posters' posts, and ignore mine.

Earnestly Contend

It was a simple question.  Do you believe that a church should remain small enough to inhabit an average size house?

What if said assembly of believers grow to a point and they break off and start another "home church" in another neighborhood?

Why did I bother answering him?

Earnestly Contend

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

You are, once again, very adept at the erection and destruction of jonny-on-the-spot strawmen.

To tell you the truth, in all seriousness, I can rarely understand the stuff you write.  It's disjointed and often near incoherent.  I don't say that to be cruel, but to point out that your writing style is odd and often doesn't make sense.

So I'll punt and try again.  Is your point that assemblies/churches should never grow any larger than can be accommodated by an average sized house?

Yes, I agree, by your answers that you don't understand my posts.

They stay on message, refer to Scripture, point out error, etc.

This is really an admission, by you, that you don't participate well in a conversation that brings up points on a topic that you haven't heard before.

I've said several different times, in this thread alone, that the Gospel causes growth. 
I've detailed how that growth should look vs. current pop-culture tradition.
I've mentioned how this is chronicled in the book of Acts.

The Spirit of God is your guide.
I'm not, neither is Tozer, "your pastor" or any commentary, etc.

Maybe you should concentrate on other posters' posts, and ignore mine.

Earnestly Contend

It was a simple question.  Do you believe that a church should remain small enough to inhabit an average size house?

What if said assembly of believers grow to a point and they break off and start another "home church" in another neighborhood?

If that is their corporate desire, fine.
What if said assembly desired to stay together as an assembly and looked for a larger meeting place?
Which model does your assembly follow?

 

[Recovering IFB]

We are in a church building. A year before I joined, they  were growing so they planted another church, a few towns north of where we are now. A few years after I joined we were growing so we planted another church east of where we are now. By this Easter, our assembly will be planting another church south of us. I beleive this is better, churches planting other churches.
The first plant has its own building. The second has been meeting in a hotel conference room. I beleive the one that will plant will also be meeting in a conference room also.( but I might be mistaken).

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

You are, once again, very adept at the erection and destruction of jonny-on-the-spot strawmen.

To tell you the truth, in all seriousness, I can rarely understand the stuff you write.  It's disjointed and often near incoherent.  I don't say that to be cruel, but to point out that your writing style is odd and often doesn't make sense.

So I'll punt and try again.  Is your point that assemblies/churches should never grow any larger than can be accommodated by an average sized house?

Yes, I agree, by your answers that you don't understand my posts.

They stay on message, refer to Scripture, point out error, etc.

This is really an admission, by you, that you don't participate well in a conversation that brings up points on a topic that you haven't heard before.

I've said several different times, in this thread alone, that the Gospel causes growth. 
I've detailed how that growth should look vs. current pop-culture tradition.
I've mentioned how this is chronicled in the book of Acts.

The Spirit of God is your guide.
I'm not, neither is Tozer, "your pastor" or any commentary, etc.

Maybe you should concentrate on other posters' posts, and ignore mine.

Earnestly Contend

It was a simple question.  Do you believe that a church should remain small enough to inhabit an average size house?

What if said assembly of believers grow to a point and they break off and start another "home church" in another neighborhood?

If that is their corporate desire, fine.
What if said assembly desired to stay together as an assembly and looked for a larger meeting place?
Which model does your assembly follow?

Said assembly can do whatever it wants. 

 

[Recovering IFB]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

 

[rsc2a]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

Are each of the members able to participate, share their gifts, edify others, and hold each other/be held accountable to one another? 

Yes - you aren't too large.
No - Divide and go conquer for the Kingdom.

Interestingly enough, studies have shown that the age of a fellowship has the greatest correlation to the number of  new converts, not congregational size. Typically, newer congregations are vastly more effective than older ones,  regardless of size.  Sounds like another very good reason to adopt a "divide and grow" philosophy instead of a "biggest congregation in town" philosophy.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

Are each of the members able to participate, share their gifts, edify others, and hold each other/be held accountable to one another? 

Yes - you aren't too large.
No - Divide and go conquer for the Kingdom.

Interestingly enough, studies have shown that the age of a fellowship has the greatest correlation to the number of  new converts, not congregational size. Typically, newer congregations are vastly more effective than older ones,  regardless of size.  Sounds like another very good reason to adopt a "divide and grow" philosophy instead of a "biggest congregation in town" philosophy.

You are arguing against a philosophy that I have not seen defended here....'biggest congregation in town philosophy'.
I would say that our congregation has planted more churches, or as many churches, as any other poster in this discussion.
I am not against home churches, store front churches or hotel conference room churches.
But neither am I against a church body owning their own buildings.

As to new converts, I would agree that church plants grow faster and reach new converts more readily than established churches....but even house churches become established churches after awhile. As I have stated before, our church is in the middle of helping a church plant and we have a Hispanic church plant 'on the drawing board'. Because we have a larger established congregation and some financial resources, we are able to provide training, resources and 'seed congregations' to the new churches.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

Like I said, they can do whatever they want.  They can split up into smaller groups.  If they want to turn their assembly into a business, rent/buy a building, and hire a preacher/pastor, then do that.  IMO, they'll lose the key benefits that made the original assembly worth having, but I wouldn't stop them if that's what they want.  Sometimes people have to learn these things the hard way. 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

Like I said, they can do whatever they want.  They can split up into smaller groups.  If they want to turn their assembly into a business, rent/buy a building, and hire a preacher/pastor, then do that.  IMO, they'll lose the key benefits that made the original assembly worth having, but I wouldn't stop them if that's what they want.  Sometimes people have to learn these things the hard way.

Poor schmucks in the church..if they would only listen to prophet, mater and r2....... :

 

[prophet]

That's true Mater, it's totally up to them. The question is what happens when it jumps to about 100 people? Then what?

Like I said, they can do whatever they want.  They can split up into smaller groups.  If they want to turn their assembly into a business, rent/buy a building, and hire a preacher/pastor, then do that.  IMO, they'll lose the key benefits that made the original assembly worth having, but I wouldn't stop them if that's what they want.  Sometimes people have to learn these things the hard way.

Poor schmucks in the church..if they would only listen to prophet, mater and r2....... :

Or read the same book....

Earnestly Contend

 

[rsc2a]

I am not against home churches, store front churches or hotel conference room churches.

"I just mock and belittle them regularly."

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Satan is the father of all liars.


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[Recovering IFB]

I am not against home churches, store front churches or hotel conference room churches.

"I just mock and belittle them regularly."

TB has a tendency to do that from time to time...

 

[Recovering IFB]

Satan is the father of all liars.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You do make besmirching comments about that from time to time. Matter of fact, you have done it on this thread.....

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I mock and belittle the 3 people who mock and belittle  the so called traditional church model. I have stated consistently here and on other threads my position on a house church.


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[Recovering IFB]

I mock and belittle the 3 people who mock and belittle  the so called traditional church model. I have stated consistently here and on other threads my position on a house church.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Where have I mocked the traditional church model, or Rsc? We all know TRT has a different view. But since you are willing to clump us all together, where have I or Rsc attacked the traditional church veiw?
Then again we will have differing veiws on "traditional"