Side Lines
Why Do We Really Need Church?Why can't we worship God in the comfort of our homes, enjoying the best preaching and music that television has to offer? Why can't we just enjoy being alone in the woods, with God and the pine trees? Why can't we meet God at the water's edge, wiggling our toes in the warm sand? Read More...
I've been thinking I would like to go to church, but I don't know anyone.I don't know what to do, where to go, what to expect when I get there. It's hard and it feels awkward to do anything for the first few times. Here are some suggestions: Have you noticed a church near you or one you drive by often? If not, check the phone book. Call the church office. You should find a friendly voice to talk to. (Some churches don't have a full-time staff. If no ones there leave a message so they can get back to you.) If you'd like, ask to be matched up with someone in the church, any of us would love to meet you even before you attend. That way, you will know someone before you come! Also, we could pick you up Sunday morning, meet you for breakfast or coffee before church or at least meet you in the parking lot to show you where to go and what to do. Stop by a church on a weekday and ask someone to show you around so the place doesn't feel so foreign when you come on Sunday. Just show up. Check out when the worship service starts. Many churches have greeters to help you as you enter the sanctuary. If you'd like, ask them to introduce you to someone you can sit with. 5. |
Why Me?
| Why Me? |
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| Written by Webmaster |
| Thursday, 13 March 2008 09:14 |
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Why Me? The Bible is the most unique book ever written. It tells the story of the beginning of the world as we know it and the interactions between God and man. Can we trust this remarkable book known as the Bible? "The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying 'Thus saith the Lord;' it was not written by bad men because they would not write about doing good duty, while condemning sin, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration" (Charles Wesley) This Bible is the basis for all remarks that follow.
God made the decision to create man with many of His own qualities. Think about it, man can create things out of his imagination. We can choose to love unconditionally. But perhaps the greatest likeness is that we can choose to forgive unconditionally. Because of the decision God made to make us so much like Him, you can imagine His dilemma as He observed us use our power of choice for not-so-noble endeavors. In addition to God’s nature to love and forgive, He is the very essence of justice. Hence the problem, how could God remain just and honorable in His relationship to man, while man made choices that were evil, unjust, contrary to the nature of God? For God to remain true and just to Himself, there must be a punishment for evil behaviors exhibited by His most loved creation, man. A place referred to as Hell was created for punsihment along with a plan (Grace) to avoid it.
The Bible describes God as one eternally existing as three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. To solve His dilemma with man, God decided that the punishment for man’s evilness would be placed upon Himself (Son). But for justice to be complete, the Son should become a man, be punished as a man, and experience the penalty of death as a man. Not only would the Son suffer death as a man, he would face rejection by the Father.
So the Son became a man as told in the Bible story of the virgin birth. The name of Jesus was given to the Son. Jesus declared the message of God, that man could be reconciled to God by acknowledging Jesus as the Son and that his suffering and death was the punishment for the evilness of man.
The resurrection of Jesus from death proved the accuracy and certainty of his origin, life, and message. Jesus declared that his story must be taught through out the whole world. The Spirit would direct the efforts of man by coming to live within them upon their acceptance that Jesus is the Son of God, confession of their evilness (sins), and asking for forgiveness.
If you remain unconcerned about God's message to mankind, think about this... If the Bible is wrong then Christians have nothing to loose, however if the Bible is right, then those that ignore its message loose everything.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1st John 1:9) Know Jesus?
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 07:08 ) |