Posts Tagged ‘fellowship’
I don’t think God is against a fellowship that can supply nutrition to visitors
Question: If your church has no kitchen etc, then how do you share communion together? Do you take everything home to wash? Did not Jesus share communion with the apostles? I do not think that God is against a fellowship that can supply nutrition to visitors. I find it strange indeed. Answer: Communion, also known…
Read MoreShould a Christian eat with a non-Christian who is having alcohol with his meal?
Question: First, I want to thank you for explaining in a previous response about why social drinking is sinful. Now, I have for you a short scenario that’s based on that fact. A Christian gets invited to go eat at a steakhouse by his non-Christian work buddy. While ordering his meal, this buddy decides to get an…
Read MoreHow do I keep unity with my congregation that has a different view on divorce and remarriage?
Question: I have some questions regarding your response concerning unity and such. You said: “Unity for unity sake alone is not acceptable. Unity can only exist when everyone is living according the one and only standard — God’s word. Disunity happens because we don’t always live up to the standard, but while people are trying their best…
Read MoreWhen do you strive for unity and when do you leave?
Question: First, thank you so much for all that you’ve offered me with your advice and your use of God’s word. As a result, I have a long list of questions in response to your advice. Since I Corinthians 1:10 asks us to have no divisions among the church, and usually there are divisions and…
Read MoreCan a visiting Christian lead a congregation in song?
Question: I have been attending a local church for several months. During that time I began to stand up, come forward, and lead a song at the invitation of the congregation. Every first Wednesday of the month all men are invited to lead one song during services. I began the song and immediately the congregation…
Read MoreI disagree with some at my congregation about divorce and remarriage, so how can I worship with them?
Question: I have a question regarding church issues. Some members, in the church I am part of, have what I believe to be an unscriptural view on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Unless I am misunderstanding what one of the elders I talked to about this said: They believe people can be remarried, even if they…
Read MoreAre you in fellowship with the authors of the articles on your web site?
Question: Is Brian A. Yeager, the author of one of the articles on your web site a sound teacher? I have looked at his web site and it does not seem that he or the congregation he is with agrees with anything. They don’t fellowship with anybody. Does this person fellowship you and the La Vista congregation? Answer:…
Read MoreBiblical Fellowship
Text: I John 1:5-2:6 I. Fellowship has often been the center of controversy A. Part because the word has been misused by both denominationalists and Christians. B. But it also has been area of trouble because we don’t always know where to draw the line. II. What is fellowship A. Definitions 1. Sunētheia – A mutual custom or habit, acquaintance,…
Read MoreIs it wrong to read books about how Satan operates in the world?
Question: Thank you for your website. I enjoy reading the articles as well as the questions and answers. You have helped me in several areas of research. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find Christians who speak from a biblical perspective. I appreciate your candor and adherence to Scripture. My question relates to demonic warfare.…
Read MoreWhen should I leave a church?
Question: I am looking for guidance on where I should worship in general and more specifically: If there are multiple sound congregations nearby, must I worship with the most local? Am I free (in God’s eyes) to change which local congregations I worship with as I please? When must I leave or disfellowship a congregation?…
Read MoreAchieving Unity When Making Personal Choices
Text: I Corinthians 10:18-33 I. Difficulties arise in groups of people when people have strong opinions on various matters A. Each individual tends to focus on what he wants and is only satisfied if things go his way. B. People lose track that their purpose and the purpose of the church is to get people to heaven.…
Read MoreIf a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness comes to the door, should I shake their hand?
Question: Do you know of any articles that address the true dangers of teachers from outside the church vs. those that are respected teachers from within the church, that teach false doctrines? It seems that there are some who are teaching that one can not even shake the hand of a person who arrives at…
Read MoreFellowship Halls
Adapted from an article by James P. Miller via Stand, March 1981. It is with regret that we learn that one of the congregations is now building a “fellowship hall” to advance their understanding of the gospel of Christ. We regret more for it widens the gulf between them and all brethren who seek to stand…
Read MoreAre there exceptions to withdrawal?
Question: I have been studying the issue of fellowship within the family. In other words, I have family who are erring brethren and walk not as God has commanded. In accordance with I Corinthians 5 and other verses which say “not even to eat,” are there guidelines or principles for us to follow? I want to…
Read MoreNotes on Buildings, Assembly Halls, and Fellowship Halls
Assemblies The church is commanded to come together for the purpose of worship and encouragement – I Corinthians 11:18, 20, 33; Hebrews 10:25 The purpose of coming together as a church is specifically separated from eating meals – I Corinthians 11:22, 34 Fellowship Fellowship is a state of being. It is a noun and not…
Read MoreWorship
I. At times I am amazed at the vagueness that has entered our beliefs A. I’m sure the wishy-washy-ness of the denominational world has much to do it. 1. To define something crisply means you are dividing people into two groups — those who are right and those who are wrong. 2. And “Heaven forbid, if we actually charge…
Read MoreHow does a disfellowshiped Christian worship God?
Question: If a person is disfellowshiped at a congregation, then how can that person biblically worship God? How does a person know that they have been disfellowshiped? Today’s churches seem to practice no visible discipline, but many are treated as if they have been disfellowshiped. It seems the decision is made in secret among the…
Read MoreIf you can have fellowship with people who differ in one area, why can’t you have fellowship with those who have kitchens and fellowship halls?
Question: Do you believe that weddings and/or funerals may take place in the church auditorium? Do you think that you can maintain fellowship with those who differ with you on this question? Do you think that you can maintain fellowship with those who differ with you about having a kitchen or fellowship hall in the…
Read MoreCan fellowship be denied?
Question: Where is the Bible passage that authorizes you to deny me fellowship as a member of the church when I acknowledge Christ and have been baptized? is there an ugly little secret that only those whose baptismal outlook is baptismal regenerationist are recognized? Apparently, my belief that my sins had been cleansed is not…
Read MoreIndwelling
Text: Psalm 139 I. The concept of indwelling, specifically the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is interesting because there are so many misconceptions given that a simple answer is commonly rejected. II. Who is the Holy Spirit? A. The religious world holds many ideas regarding the Spirit of God 1. Some believe it is just another reference to…
Read More