squirt1

Hi there, I live in Ohio. I have done this before. I look forward to learning more. I love the Word of God and know it is our foundation in which we learn of our walk with God. If we don't know it, we will be deceived by false teachings. I am fighting that now in my own church. So I really am glad when I can find studies like this. I question everything now. I use to take it for face value, not anymore. I go through everything with a fine tooth comb. May God bless all of youl.

I think it starts when you get alot of money or you have a really good job and able to buy things and do things. You can't stop with just going to Wal-Mart, you have to move up to Penny's and then Macy's. You have to go a steakhouse and not McDonald's. Credit cards are a hugh part of it. Just charge it! We have to learn to live within our means. I have no credit cards and if I need to use one, I get a disposable one. I don't have the fees and don't go outside my budget. If I don't have the cash I don't get it.

Our contentment should be with our relationship with Jesus. It is not with the things we acquire while we are in this world. Our focus should be on winning others, sharing the gospel. The Lord will take care of his own as long as we are in the center of his will.

the only thing I can think of is when a church or ministry says that if you donate to them you will be blessed financially. People are susceptible especially durning the time we are going thru. It is no different than gambling. God did not say he would bless us finacially always, but in other ways maybe our health and maybe just a plain old blessing in itself. We always expect to get something in return as in posessions but most of the time it is spiritual.

We need to pray about it, and get to know the person also. We might fall into the same traps that they did that lead to sin.

respect to those who are saved and those who are not. We are under someone and we serve them as in the way a slave serves his master. Shows us how to treat each other and those who don't know the Lord. We need to be an example to them.

Oops sorry about that. Try again. Godliness is putting god first, living our lives the way God wants us to live not the world. We produce godliness in our lives when we read and study the word, meet with fellow believers. Help others. Show Jesus to those who don't know him. Godliness is that relationship with the Lord, instead of just going through the ritual.

When you go thru the motions, there is lack of understanding and relationship with God. I want to see what they do outside the church, in the lives of leaders. Are they practicing what they preach. We are to show an example to others to show them this is how to live your life.

Anything that is not directed toward God. I look at anyone who puts worldly trusts over God such as reading horoscopes, witchcraft, new age. I believe it is making one's self as God and in control, and saying as long as it does not hurt anyone.

I look at it as the same but overseers teach. I guess it depends on what kind of church it is. A deacon in one church is a pastor in another church is an assistant. Elders are the pastor or head of that local church. Decons maybe board members. I think they all have a unique role to play. It can't all be put on one group or one person. But all have high standards and should not be taken as a job but as a ministry and calling from God.

The person needs to set that example. A teen is looking and watching, a child, that single parent. Are they showing Christ, when they need the most. If you want to pick your best friend but he has a rotten temper, or acts as if he is the best thing since swiss cheese, how will he be able to cousel or pray for someone who is just like that. He can't even say the behavior is wrong. We are accountable to others in a leadership role, not just God. Balance in all things.

Well, I have never been on a church board, so I have not had the opprotunity to interview someone. But I do believe in looking at everything about them. In our denomination, our district office plays a role, not just the local church. The district super. interviews them also. After the board decides, it goes the congregation for a vote. We do get to meet them at some point before the vote. Prayer is the key. I want someone who is on fire for the Lord, has goals, and is open the Holy Spirit. The rest will fall in place. We should never put a leader on a pedastool. They are HUMAN! They are just like the apostles. If the Lord wanted infallable, he would put Angels in charge of churches! They bleed just like you and me. Remember that next time you see your pastor and tell him you support him and are praying for him. He has a hard job, and does things I bet you didn't know he even did. Change a light bulb, clean sidewalks in the winter, pull weeds, clean a bathroom. It is not just pulpit and prayer and hospital calls, it is so much more.

I think he was looking for someone who was settled. Had sown he wild oats. I have more respect for a leader who is married. They have a partner who is there for them. Sharing the burdens of life and the joys. We need to know our pastors and the family. The moods, the problems, not everything but be able to read them. I can tell when one of my pastors is moody or down and up. I am praying for them, giving them encourgement. I think we loose that in large churches. We have a disconnect. Then when it goes wrong we wonder why.

We need first of all need to have a right relationship with the Lord. If we are married our husband is the head. We need to be the example to our children.

They were bringing attention to themselves. Reminds me of the teens today. You can look nice and not look as if you walked out of a brothel. Focusing on what is on the inside shold be more important than what is on the outside.

This was the common prayer postion in Judaism and early Christianity. You are not giving your all, you putting problems before worship.

Jesus became the Mediator between us and God. Showing who God was and that he loved us. He gave himself in our place to die. He took on the role of convicted sinner.

Jesus died for all not just a few select. The church was be selective in who they shared with.

That is God is God, and there is no other! We need to do it more. We had someone get up and testify in church. They said that they felt like running around the sacuary and didn't. The pastor said you should of if you felt like it and the spirit moved you. So many times we hold back. I am not saying be disruptive. But if the spirit is moving and you know it go with it. I am going to do cartwheels when I get to Heaven and see Jesus! Well, you know what I mean. I am always saying amen praise the Lord or somethingelse during the sermon. We either really understand praise or we don't. As Christians do we really know how to worship!? I think if we went back and were able to sit in on the beginning of the church, we would be suprised. If Jesus stands in front of you are you going to just stand there? or will you fall to you knees?

He is showing the church that the way he had been doing things didn't work and were not of God. He wanted them to see that he had gone through struggles like them. He basically told them he saw the light! He wanted them to be the church that they might have been in the beginning. We all need a check in our own lives and when the Lord tells us or a brother of sister it is for a own good. We are to be accountable to each other. This is how the church stays the course. We are often feeling like we are the only one when we are not.

Amen!

It lead to division and got off message. You often have people who think the way something is done in the church is wrong, they often leave and take others with them. A church is often unable to foucus on those who are looking for God or the babes that need teaching for growth. I have seen it in my own church. I say stay on message and deal with those who try to divide on a individual basis. Maybe they think that way because that is all they ever have known.

When I read this I think of Job. I have a Awesome God who willingly gave his life for me. Just for me. He took MYplace. I should of been put to death with a trial and everything. When I have a hard time and start complaining, I remember what my savior did for me. My faith has become stronger and I have been able to help others when they are going through something they feel they can't deal with. I have a card on my refrigarator that says,"GOD IS GREATER THAN ANY PROBLEM I HAVE". That is so true!

Welcome from Ohio, my dad lives in TX. I would love to go to Germany one day. Lynne