Home Groups; [In January of 2014 I did an 'experiment' of sorts. For many years I've been active in all types of ministry- but wanted to do some 'house churches/home groups' for about- 1 year. At the bottom I talked about this. So- for about 10 months of 2014- we had a blast- I'm grateful for all the people who hosted the meetings- God bless all.]
1- Bishop [Eli's ranch]- right across from Celanese Plant. 107 Meadowbrook- every Tuesday at 1:45 pm.
2- Corpus Christi- [ I do 2 a week one on West side- one in the Bluff].
4- Alice Tx. 831 North Reynolds- Thursdays at 1:30 pm.
6- San Antonio- 5623 Randolph BLVD.- 1 Saturday a month [text me for day and time- 361-461-0588]
8- Kingsville- 1600 West Johnson- 2 Saturdays a month at 1:30 pm. Trailer # 94.
9- North Bergen [N.J.] In 2012 I spent 3 months back in my hometown- every year I go back and do street outreach- though these are not meetings in the traditional sense- yet this is a big part of our outreach.
10- 918 West Lakeside [in Flour Bluff- Corpus Christi] Wednesday's at 7:oo pm [this is a nice halfway house that a friend of mine runs- Angel].
11- Corpus Christi, 1210 Prince Dr.- Sundays at 1:20 pm.
12- Every Friday we meet at the beach just south of Bob Hall pier- between 1 and 3. This is not a meeting, just a time to get away- swim- throw the football. All invited.
NOTE- Those who are interested in hosting home groups- please read the short little book I wrote years ago- FURTHER TALKS ON CHURCH AND MINISTRY. It's on this Blog site- one of the pages on the top left- Thanks.
1- Bishop [Eli's ranch]- right across from Celanese Plant. 107 Meadowbrook- every Tuesday at 1:45 pm.
2- Corpus Christi- [ I do 2 a week one on West side- one in the Bluff].
4- Alice Tx. 831 North Reynolds- Thursdays at 1:30 pm.
6- San Antonio- 5623 Randolph BLVD.- 1 Saturday a month [text me for day and time- 361-461-0588]
8- Kingsville- 1600 West Johnson- 2 Saturdays a month at 1:30 pm. Trailer # 94.
9- North Bergen [N.J.] In 2012 I spent 3 months back in my hometown- every year I go back and do street outreach- though these are not meetings in the traditional sense- yet this is a big part of our outreach.
10- 918 West Lakeside [in Flour Bluff- Corpus Christi] Wednesday's at 7:oo pm [this is a nice halfway house that a friend of mine runs- Angel].
11- Corpus Christi, 1210 Prince Dr.- Sundays at 1:20 pm.
12- Every Friday we meet at the beach just south of Bob Hall pier- between 1 and 3. This is not a meeting, just a time to get away- swim- throw the football. All invited.
NOTE- Those who are interested in hosting home groups- please read the short little book I wrote years ago- FURTHER TALKS ON CHURCH AND MINISTRY. It's on this Blog site- one of the pages on the top left- Thanks.
TRADITIONS OF www.corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com
[I developed this
short list for the purpose of having a format for Christian based bible
studies/home groups. Feel free to copy- use- or even start your own group based
on these principles- I wave the copy right to all this stuff. To be honest- I
have never used a format in our meetings over the years, but for those who want
to duplicate/start their own meetings- I find using a format helps. As of
today- I have been back in my hometown of North Bergen for almost 2 months- if
anyone wants to host a bible study/home group- just message me on Facebook. I
do not TAKE OFFERINGS of any kind- ever. So- if someone wants to host a group-
that simply means we ask you donate the coffee [make a pot] and a place to meet
[living rooms work fine] and we meet for about an hour. We pray for each other-
share- people that have questions about the bible simply ask, very informal. My
meetings are Ecumenical- if your Catholic, Protestant or any other faith- fine-
I don’t proselytize [try to get people to change their faith]. My phone number is 361- 461- 0588 [please
text- don’t call or leave a message- I very rarely get them] Note- I will
simply post the meeting on my site- and if you have friends who want to come-
that’s the way it works. Thanks- John. If you want to host a meeting- either
leave a comment at the bottom of this post [for Blog] or message me on my
Facebook page- thanks]
PRAYERS [read together at the start of the meeting]
1;
I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and
sisters- that I have sinned thru my own fault.
In my thoughts and in my words- in what I have done and in
what I have failed to do.
And I ask Jesus Christ- and all my brothers and sisters- to
pray for me to the Lord our God.
2;
Our father who art in heaven- Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come- thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread- and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation- but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the glory and the power- now
and forever- Amen.
CONFESSIONS [repeat 3 times each]
1;
I hate vain thoughts- but thy law do I love.
2;
Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts will be
established.
3 PILLARS
[Readings from Peter,
James and John- either read together- or have one person read one ‘pillar’
each. The bible refers to these 3 men as spiritual pillars of the church]
1;
Gird up the loins of your mind and be sober and hope to the
end for the grace that is being brought unto you at the appearing of Jesus
Christ.
Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
Those that have suffered in the flesh have ceased from sin-
that they should no longer live the rest of their lives in the flesh to the
lusts of men- but to the will of God.
2;
Blessed is the man that endures temptation- for when he is
tried- he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those
that love him.
Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust-
and enticed. And when lust has conceived it brings forth sin- and sin- when it
is finished, brings forth death.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you- draw near unto
God and he will draw near unto you. Cleanse your hands- ye sinners- and purify
your hearts you double minded.
Be afflicted and mourn and weep- let you laughter be turned
to mourning, and your joy to heaviness- before that great and notable Day of the
Lord.
3;
Behold- a new commandment I give unto you- which thing is
true in Him and in you- because the darkness has now passed- and the true light
now shines.
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin- but his word
remains in him, and he cannot sin- because he is born of God.
This is how we know he hears us- because we keep his
commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
2080- This week I want to teach a
little from Luke chapter 9- but let me start [end?] with one last note from my
month in the NYC area.
On this trip there were many
prophetic events- meaning lots of supernatural stuff.
Over the years I have had lots of
these things operate in my ministry- but when you read the blog it’s hard to
include many of these things- because frankly- people think your nuts.
Ok- Daniel- my atheist friend, I
probably spent more time with him than anyone else.
Many of the people I met while
sitting at Burger King were people Danny would introduce me to as they walked
in.
So- in a sense- Danny saw me ‘in
operation’ alot- to be honest I think he liked seeing this stuff.
At the end of my trip- while
doing an off the cuff teaching- quoting and stuff.
Danny stopped me and said ‘John-
I notice when you quote the bible like this- it’s like you go into a
TRANCE’. He said it’s like you’re
actually ‘bringing’ up the pages as you speak.
Now- to some of my Christian
friends the word trance sounds a bit like an occult thing.
Actually the bible talks about
the apostle [Peter?] going into a trance- if I remember right you find the
account in Acts 10- when Peter had the vision of the un-kosher animals coming
down [meaning God was accepting the Gentiles].
The bible speaks of signs and
visions- and a Trance is a higher form of a vision.
Now- I was actually not going into
a Trance- as I just described- but Danny was simply seeing a person testifying
about Christ- under the anointing.
Danny does have a background in
the bible- I could tell as I did my off the cuff teaching- he would add parts
of the story- and ask stuff.
Danny used to say ‘do you know
the word hell is not even found in the bible’.
I would correct Danny about this-
many times.
I even taught him the 3 words used
for hell in the bible [1 from the Old testament- in Hebrew- and 2 in the New
Testament].
I told Danny the most common one
was used by Jesus himself- and it was actually a word that the people of his day
used to refer to the city burn heap- a place outside of the city where stuff
was burned [you know- the image of fire and all].
Danny said ‘hell is separation
from God’ [Atheist?].
I told him that actually is the
best definition- theologically- of hell.
Even though I told Danny- many times-
that he was wrong about the word not being in the bible- yet it never ‘stuck’.
But one day- when teaching the
subject- I quoted a verse from Revelation ‘death and hell were cast into the
lake of fire’.
He then looked at me- and said
‘oh- hell is in the bible’.
I mean he was surprised.
The point is- when the word of
God is spoken [quoted- read- etc.] it has power.
Danny saw me ‘in a trance’ many
times during this trip- interacting with him and others- and it was the
testimony- of Jesus- which the bible says is ‘the spirit of prophecy’ that
affected him.
WEDNESDAY-
I’ve been back in Texas for about
a week- and before I came back I felt God was telling me to take- at least- one
week off before jumping back into the routine.
In January of this year- when I
got back from another New Jersey trip- I started some home groups.
At first- I thought I’d give it a
shot- not really sure how well they would do.
To my surprise- they went well.
I do about 5-6 a week- in various
towns- once a month we go [or did?] to San Antonio- so- these were [are] fun.
I never told our groups- but I
committed [to God] that I would do them- for 1 year.
I actually planned on going to
New Jersey at the end of this year- and after some time away- then re-evaluate
the meetings.
So- I’m a bit early- but I’m in
that process now.
I also have heard some
words/verses- that things will change-
Many of the people I worked with
on the streets for years- said ‘we never knew you could do this stuff’.
Many never heard me teach- and
I’m grateful for the compliments.
Why am I debating if I should
keep doing them- besides the fact that I felt I had some words about it.
Most of the people in my meetings
are people I have worked with- for many years- on the streets.
In the gospel of John we read an
account where Jesus fed the people [noble thing- like Timons ministry- a
feeding mission].
Jesus goes to another place- and
the crowds find out where he is- and they follow.
Jesus says ‘are you seeking me
because I fed you? Seek for the true bread’.
In the bible there are many teachings
about helping the poor- the downcast.
But- we also read ‘if a man does
not work- neither should he eat’.
Over the years I have had many
people tell me I’m wasting my time with the homeless.
I always realized that there were
some who were not sincere- but many are true friends- and I don’t devalue that.
But- many who come to the free
food programs- they are simply getting a free meal- and the money they save is
spent on drugs or alcohol.
In these cases- they are like the
ones Jesus rebuked- they didn’t want change- just free food.
Ok- as of now I already decided
that I will only go to the mission/streets- on the days I do meetings.
But- if after this time of
re-thinking stuff- if I don’t do the meetings any more- then I think my years
on the streets will be over.
This would not be easy at all for
me- and I’m not sure yet if this is what I will do.
These past few days I have gone
back and forth on this- reading- praying.
Some mornings I can’t wait to get
back in the routine- others I see a change of lots of things- and am excited
about both options.
As I type- I’m sitting at the
local coffee shop.
Yesterday one of the kids I met
before I took my trip wanted to talk.
I’ve spoken to him a few times [I
actually have another one who bums cigarettes off me! Yesterday I told him
‘last one’- yeah- like being on the streets. Actually in one of my ‘funny home
videos’ I took while in North Bergen- some guy walked up and bummed one when I
was filming- I invited him to sit- I smoked with him- and finished the clip-
when I later reviewed it- that clip never filmed].
Drew asked me about the site and
all [he sees me working on it].
And I did bout a 20 minute
teaching- you know- like I was doing in North Bergen. These are all college
grads- or students- they have asked me if I just teach ‘religion’ only. I say
no- but Philosophy- other subjects- when I engage with these smart kids- in all
these subjects- It opens a door for the ‘religion’ too.
Some of the others who have seen
me come in these past few months never heard me say anything.
So- in a way- even as I
re-evaluate the whole meeting thing- yet- new ones seem to pop up anywhere I
go.
Funny in a way.
Ok- that’s it for now.
THURSDAY [10-30-14]
Today instead of doing our weekly
teaching- from Luke 9- let me share about transition.
Every year when I go to New
Jersey- I attend the Mass at the old Catholic church that I went to as a kid.
Even though I’m not Catholic- yet
I will read and follow the chapters that the priest spoke on for the week- and
I do get direction from them.
About 3 years ago I stopped the
street ministry in Texas for about a year.
I thought I was going to move
back to North Bergen- and one of the key verses that God used about transition-
came from Luke.
It said ‘NO MAN-HAVING PUT HIS
HAND TO THE PLOUGH- AND LOOKING BACK- IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM’.
I journaled that year- I still
have that journal by the way- and as the year moved along- I would look back on
that verse- and I knew God wanted me to follow thru with the change- to move.
Now- I went- and was willing to
do it. I stayed 3 months in North Bergen- and it was a sort of an Abraham/Isaac
experience.
He was willing to offer up his
Son- and yet God changed the plan- at the last minute.
I came back to Texas- and never
thought I would.
So- this one verse- was a
challenge to me- to move along in new things- make the commitment- and then see
what lies ahead.
I did look for that verse in the
Mass readings while in New Jersey- it’s somewhere in Luke [it would be easy for
me to find it- but I wait till it pops up instead].
There were readings from Luke in the
Mass this last time- yet it didn’t ‘pop up’.
When I got back to Texas- I went
to Rock City church- and the message was very prophetic- it spoke about much of
what I just did in North Bergen.
I usually pick one verse from the
message- and read that chapter during the week.
Sure enough- it was a verse from Luke
9- and the last verse in that chapter is my Ploughman verse.
This week I have debated about
making some changes- I have not been on the streets all week- and I felt I
wasn’t supposed to jump right in to the routine when I got back.
This year I have been doing home
groups all over South Texas- 5 or 6 a week.
I felt God wanted me to do them-
and they went real well.
I’m praying about whether or not
I should keep doing them.
There are 2 ways I could read the
Ploughman verse- one is ‘keep doing everything you are doing- don’t look back’.
But another way I could take it-
is ‘keep moving along the new path- hearing my voice- even in the midst of
change- you’re on a journey- don’t look back’.
As of today- that's what I’m
leaning towards.
I have spent many years on the
go- and I am revaluating many things.
I do feel the meetings I held this
year were important- many of my friends were never really part of my teaching
ministry- they never heard me speak.
And it was important for me to
have made this deposit.
It’s not hard for me to teach- I
don’t really have to prepare much at all- I just read the chapter at the house-
and speak ‘off the cuff’- and it goes well.
But- I’m not sure- as of today- that
it was meant to go on forever.
In the New Testament the apostles
spoke for a season- and moved on.
I wrote a lot about this in the
past- but there are times when you speak to groups- cities- and then the job is
one.
I will text our home group
leaders today- and let them know I will make a decision next week.
I actually got a call last night
from one I do on Wednesday- I told Angel I was going to text everyone today-
they were waiting for me to show up last night.
I wanted to write on all of this-
so people can follow the story- in the bible we read the stories of the men and
women- not just what they taught.
You see the up’s and downs- the
real life struggles that they had.
My atheist friend Danny- who I spent
a lot of time with in North Bergen- God actually uses him by the statements he
makes.
He does not know this- but this
happens more with him than anyone else in that area.
He was talking to an elderly lady
about the stairs in their building- he said ‘you know- as I get older- coming
down the stairs is harder than going up’.
I have a hard time ‘slowing down’
it takes more effort for me- then going up.
This week I’m trying to slow
down- re-evaluate some stuff- Danny was right- again.
"Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)"
Another
turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
UPDATE Sunday- 11-2-14- these posts are a bit
different- I’m not only teaching- but also sharing some things about my own
personal journey [which I think might be helpful].
As I write- I have spent my first week back from New
Jersey working every day at one of the local coffee shops.
I have not been ‘on the streets’ for a week [been
gone a month- but was on the streets every day in North Bergen].
So- my ‘Texas crew’ have not seen me in a while.
As I left church a little while ago- one of the
young kids who came to one of my meetings said ‘hey- are you still going to do
the bible study here in the Bluff- they stopped when you left’.
I told the kid [he’s about 17] ‘no kid- I decided
to drop that aspect of the ministry’
He looked sad.
As of today- I realize I cannot be ‘off the
streets’- It’s killing me- in a way.
Yet- I still have some stuff to do before I jump
back in.
The home groups?
Over the years I taught on the radio [that was my
teaching time] and spent the days on the streets.
When I dropped the radio shows- that part of me
regularly speaking into a community was missing- I still blogged- and worked
with the guys- yet there was a real sense of loss.
When I started the meetings in the beginning of
the year [2014] for the first time- that aspect was restored.
I taught 5-6 times a week- for 10 months- all
over South Texas [frankly- it was wearing me out- and I spent more on gas each
month- then driving to N.J. and back].
But- it was one of those ‘faith things’- I said
[to God] ‘I’ll do it- but when my money runs out [credit limit] you’ll have to
do something’.
Well- it’s almost ‘run out’ but- to be honest- that’s
not the main reason I’m dropping the meetings.
When I was in North Bergen- I did a few
structured meetings- and Danny [the atheist] wanted more- I could tell.
Yet- when I’m doing ‘off the cuff’ stuff-
teaching, yes- but just interacting- that’s my thing.
One of the verses that spoke to me when I first
got into North Bergen was from exodus ‘come up to the mountain- and be there’.
Also ‘see that you build all things- after the
pattern shown to thee in the mount’.
As some of you know- I’ve been making those
amateur videos ‘off the cuff’- when I got back to Texas- I debated about doing
more.
Now I see that I will continue ‘the meetings’ by
doing the regular teaching- and every so often adding a video.
All the people that want me to keep doing the
meetings- it’s much easier on me to do it this way- and more effective.
Just watch the videos’- like the satellite
churches- many of them just have the live feed of the Pastor streaming in each
week- same thing.
So- it took some time to see ‘the whole picture’
[one of my guys just called me now- my ‘street’ crew have been texting-
calling- some are mad ‘where’s John’- I needed to hear God- and I’m notorious
about not answering my phone- I tell my guys ‘if you need to get a hold- text-
I never listen to messages- rarely get the phone’ you might get a text
response- not always].
So- in a few day’s [tomorrow?]- I’ll more than
likely be back ‘on the streets’-
I loved doing the meetings- and yes- some are mad
that I am stopping- but this is the best thing- for me at least.
It’s been a struggle to be at the coffee shop every
day- I’m doing important work for sure- updating stuff- re-working things.
But I miss being ‘on the streets’ and will see my
Texas crew soon [by the way- had a few calls from my Jersey guys too].
NOTE- Anyone following the posts for the last
month can see that I go back and forth- a lot- on stuff.
Now- it would be easy for me to go back and
delete certain things- that normally no ‘ministry’ would ever post- never mind
leave up.
But I want people to see the real stuff- in the
bible you see real stuff.
You don’t just read bout Peter preaching- or king
David being ‘a man after God’s own heart’- but you see Peter denying the Lord-
you read about David sleeping with the wife of one of his men- I mean you see
this stuff.
In these posts I hesitate to say ‘God told me
this- or that’ [I’m sure I might have said it anyway].
No- to be honest- some of these decisions were
probably not God at all.
Was it ‘God’ when I left for New Jersey on the spur
of the moment a month ago- in the middle of the day- during a tropical storm flooding
the roads?
I doubt it- I was ‘stranded’ in Roanoke Virginia
at a rest stop at 2 am- I thought ‘what the hell am I doing here!’
Now- when I got to North Bergen I figured being
I’m here- let’s make the best of it.
So- no- lots of stuff- in life- are you make the
best of where you are at.
As of now- I’m pretty sure this is ‘the plan’-
Will I maybe jump in the car again- and drive to California [been wanting to do
that for years].
Maybe?
Either way- we all do our best- For the most part
when you read the actual teaching on these posts- they are right on [I’ve
studied for many years- not just the bible].
But- when you see the other stuff- that’s for
people to see a little into the picture.
Will there be more stuff like that? Hate to say-
probably yes.
So- for now- that’s what I think I’ll do- talk to
you later [I think?]
[This is from a booklet I wrote years ago-
Further talks on Church and Ministry- I felt it applied to this post]
Here are some of
my own personal thoughts from my mission statement.
1 spend time making quality
friends, all ministry takes place in this type of atmosphere.
2 true leadership is relating
directly to groups of people in cities, not starting some type of organization.
3 the apostle Paul had relationship
with believers in different locals, but he didn’t own them.
4 don’t try to produce only one
type or way of church, but allow Gods natural process to work in various ways.
5 relating to areas/groups of
people regularly is building the body. Either a church building, home or any
regular place of contact can be the format for building the house of God.
6 planting churches in the New
Testament sense was not the concept of setting up regular meetings in which
Paul would preach to them week after week as a pastor, but planting churches
was an apostle going to a location and making believers of the gospel of grace,
and then trusting the Spirit in them to continue his work. Paul did speak of
recognizing and ordaining elders in these cities, but it wasn’t a weekly church
concept.
7 in the book of acts the focus
wasn’t on setting up meetings, but sharing Christ with groups of people and
relating to them as a family of children of whom you will always have
relationship with, but allow them to mature and grow up on their own and
eventually become independent.
8 the focus isn’t meetings but
ecclesia. That is the actual people you disciple. when Jesus sent them out 2 by
2 it wasn’t to start home groups, but to bring the kingdom to regions. Don’t
sacrifice the freedom of touching people directly. Jesus and those he sends
simply speak, do, share and communicate with people. His great commission to go
and make disciples and baptize. Direct authority to do kingdom without having
to start or set up a movement. The movement itself is ‘Jesus family’
[ecclesia]. You will meet with people, but the focus is the people not the act
of meeting. Learn to relate to people without having an agenda. Simply be free
to love people.
9 look at Jesus and the 12. Later
in acts, even Paul when going to a region, he holds meetings for a limited time
[though the longest was around 2 years] preaches Christ, has a give and take
with the community and then leaves. No ‘starting’ of anything, but a revolution
in the hearts and minds of people. Later when re-visiting these communities,
these are the ‘churches’ of the New Testament. We must see and operate in this
simple way. This simple way is New Testament church planting.
10 his yoke is easy and burden
light. Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Don’t lose the simplicity
of doing Gods will. He requires nothing more than to go and touch and share and
love. The people you touch are the ecclesia.
11 in these friendships the main
truth will be Jesus and his grace, these friends will be encouraged to continue
in Jesus and his grace. Prayer, bible study, fellowship and their journey with
God. Be available to baptize and communicate with them, but allow God to grow
the seed.
12 you never get the
sense/feeling from Jesus or Paul that they were going somewhere to recruit
people to their ministry. The sense was bringing this great message and kingdom
to people! The people continued in the apostles doctrine and fellowship with
each other and later Paul would come back to see how they were doing, not to
start some type of ministry, but true long term friendships in the kingdom.
13 the freedom isnt 'house
church’ or ‘temple worship’ but the kingdom being amongst us now! Obeying Jesus
command to love! This command is free from all forms and structures of
ministry, and allows us to daily love in action, always sharing in word and
deed Jesus. A willingness to baptize those who believe and share and love and
relate on a friendship basis. Jesus style.
I would like to
note here that at the present time [2000’s] there are many worldwide Christian
movements that are actually doing many of the things that I mentioned in this
book. There are many ‘ex-pastors’ who have left their former roles as the
central figure of the people they were pastoring and have continued to serve
the body of Christ in a bi-vocational way [not getting paid to pastor!]. While
I am not advocating this for every pastor who might read this book, I share
this to emphasize that these thoughts are presently being practiced on a large
scale worldwide [I do a lot of research!]. When people are confronted with new
truth there is a tendency to discredit the messenger, so I wanted you to see
that there are many thousands of believers who are walking this path right now.
There are also many brothers who have seen these things before I did and I
appreciate the role they played in helping me to see new truth. In many cases
the believers who have left there former churches to live in simple community
have been ostracized and looked upon as backslidden rebels. This has created in
some a resentment in those who are technically correct in their seeing the
church as the community, but many wont hear their voices because of the barrier
of resentment that they pick up from them. So you have some who remain in the
old way of seeing church and justify it by the fact that some who moved on have
a bad attitude. We are all responsible before God to respond to truth when
confronted with it, regardless of how much we resent the messenger! I
personally believe that after reading this little book that your level of
responsibility has gone up. You must ask God how He personally wants you to
respond to the truths presented to you.
A few weeks ago
I had a dream that I felt was prophetic, over the years I have had many
interesting dreams and visions. I have never shared any of them in book form,
but have spoken about them through our radio program. I dreamt that I was going
to a Christian university, when arriving at the university there were many
scholarly people dressed in suits and ties. There were many classes going on
and discussions taking place about theological subjects. As I continued on my
tour of the university there was a classroom where all the professors were
gathered in a circle examining something. As I got closer I saw in the middle
of these scholars there was what looked like an Indian warrior, he was crouched
and just sitting there as something to be examined. He was severely scarred,
not just normal scares but sort of a grotesque mutilation. He was there as
something to be examined [I thought of the verse in Isaiah where it says he was
marred more than any man, that he was wounded to beyond the point of
recognition]. Later when I woke up I felt part of this dream spoke to the
danger of us as Christians being able to learn and study truth, while never
fully embracing the mystery in Christ. We have a tendency to build people up
with all sorts of doctrines and never arriving at the point of fully grasping Him.
My goal is after reading this book that your focus will not be ‘now I am going
to go do the things in this book’, but that you would be able to see Him to a
greater degree. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Let me close
with this, the apostle Paul told the Corinthians that he was given authority by
God to build them up and not to tear them down. He actually regretted being so
hard on them in his 1st letter, but later said he was glad he made
them sorry for a season because it would later bear good results. While I'm not
comparing myself to the apostle, I do see a similar situation in some of the
teaching we do. Its seems to upset people initially but after a while it will
produce good fruit. My intent in examining our whole idea of church and
ministry is not to give people ammunition to fight against their church, but
rather to cause us all to embrace a more biblical concept of church and
ministry. I personally do not advocate the total deconstructing of all present
day church practices. I personally believe there is room for both building
based churches [the church building] and the house church movement. My appeal
is for us to look at all these issues and come to our own conclusions on how to
embrace these truths at our own pace. I thank the lord that he has been patient
with me as I walk this journey and I want to give you all the same room and
grace he has extended to me. May God bless you guys until the next book!
In Christ
facebook.com/john.chiarello.5
ccoutreach87.wordpress.com
Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.
http://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/north-bergen-10-14-menickdanny-green-pumpkin-and-bobby-whistle.zip
[The Green Pumpkin video I took in North Bergen- being it’s Halloween- thought
it fit.
facebook.com/john.chiarello.5
ccoutreach87.wordpress.com
Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.
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