Ideas on how to love and serve others in church

[evangelist6589]

Not interested in a CAL VS. ARMINIAN debate thanks. Mac preached a sermon and gave a great idea on serving and loving those in my church which I plan to follow.

One way I stated to do this was I had no debates on the CAL VS. Arminian issue at camp but only some disagreements on alcohol and bible translations with those that attack the ESV. Okay here is what they are doing and how can I serve?

They will do a booth at some fair coming up but I do not necessarily agree with their evangelism style which does not include HELL, nor repentance. Note I will work With people like Mark Cahill and Charles Stanley since they do not dodge the hard issues nor repentance. So what should I do? Join them and be nice to lost people and avoid the tough doctrines or venture out on my own at the fair?

 

[InTheLight]

So what should I do? Join them and be nice to lost people and avoid the tough doctrines or venture out on my own at the fair?

Just stay away. You're obviously interested in doing evangelism according to your particular methods, not according to your church's. So if you work the booth you will likely get into arguments with others in the booth. If you go out on your own the church members will see you and wonder why you are doing that.

I know if I were at a fair and someone came up to me and started going off about how bad of a sinner I was, how I'm a lawbreaker and need to repent or else I'm going to Hell, I'd walk away.

 

[evangelist6589]

Just stay away. You're obviously interested in doing evangelism according to your particular methods, not according to your church's. So if you work the booth you will likely get into arguments with others in the booth. If you go out on your own the church members will see you and wonder why you are doing that.



I know if I were at a fair and someone came up to me and started going off about how bad of a sinner I was, how I'm a lawbreaker and need to repent or else I'm going to Hell, I'd walk away.

I may venture on my own but keep quiet on it as I did last year. I want to serve but I won't compromise.

 

[annsni]

Not interested in a CAL VS. ARMINIAN debate thanks. Mac preached a sermon and gave a great idea on serving and loving those in my church which I plan to follow.

One way I stated to do this was I had no debates on the CAL VS. Arminian issue at camp but only some disagreements on alcohol and bible translations with those that attack the ESV. Okay here is what they are doing and how can I serve?

They will do a booth at some fair coming up but I do not necessarily agree with their evangelism style which does not include HELL, nor repentance. Note I will work With people like Mark Cahill and Charles Stanley since they do not dodge the hard issues nor repentance. So what should I do? Join them and be nice to lost people and avoid the tough doctrines or venture out on my own at the fair?

Evan - You already show here that you have an agenda. If you wish, go out on your own but don't burden your church with your personal desires and requirements. It won't turn out well, IMO.

 

[InTheLight]

I may venture on my own but keep quiet on it as I did last year. I want to serve but I won't compromise.

You joined this church. When you joined you placed yourself under that pastor's authority. If you do not follow his instructions you are undermining the authority of the chosen man of God for that church. Furthermore, that pastor has to answer to God for the actions of his sheep. If you work the booth using your own techniques, you are essentially rebelling against God and causing heartache for your pastor. Please consider carefully what you will do.

 

[evangelist6589]

You joined this church. When you joined you placed yourself under that pastor's authority. If you do not follow his instructions you are undermining the authority of the chosen man of God for that church. Furthermore, that pastor has to answer to God for the actions of his sheep. If you work the booth using your own techniques, you are essentially rebelling against God and causing heartache for your pastor. Please consider carefully what you will do.

You misread what I said. What I said is that I would venture on my own and not join the booth team.

 

[evangelist6589]

It's impossible to find someone I agree with totally and many do not respect differences. One evangelism team I will join is WOTM only. I am WOTM preferred but not only as I see value with some other tracts. When I join them I will be WOTM ONLY in my tracts and tactics. That won't be as difficult to follow.

 

[InTheLight]

You misread what I said. What I said is that I would venture on my own and not join the booth team.

You said you "may venture on your own", not that you absolutely would venture out.

When I join them I will be WOTM ONLY in my tracts and tactics. That won't be as difficult to follow.

When you join whom?

Your fellow church members in the booth?

Or?

 

[evangelist6589]

You said you "may venture on your own", not that you absolutely would venture out.







When you join whom?



Your fellow church members in the booth?



Or?

Sorry I was not clear. I did not sign up to serve in the booth. However I have been invited to do witnessing with another church group at another location on another day and they are WOTM ONLY.

 

[InTheLight]

Sorry I was not clear. I did not sign up to serve in the booth. However I have been invited to do witnessing with another church group at another location on another day and they are WOTM ONLY.

So you are spurning witnessing with the church you belong to in order to go out with another group that practices a particular style of witnessing? Isn't that divisive? What if your brethren at the church you attend find out?

 

[evangelist6589]

Oh forget it. You just want to argue.

 

[Aaron]

Not interested in a CAL VS. ARMINIAN debate thanks. Mac preached a sermon and gave a great idea on serving and loving those in my church which I plan to follow.

One way I stated to do this was I had no debates on the CAL VS. Arminian issue at camp but only some disagreements on alcohol and bible translations with those that attack the ESV. Okay here is what they are doing and how can I serve?

They will do a booth at some fair coming up but I do not necessarily agree with their evangelism style which does not include HELL, nor repentance. Note I will work With people like Mark Cahill and Charles Stanley since they do not dodge the hard issues nor repentance. So what should I do? Join them and be nice to lost people and avoid the tough doctrines or venture out on my own at the fair?

My advice is: 1) Leave this church and join a Calvinist church. 2) Quit preaching and work to pay off your debts. 3) Focus on your wife and providing a home for her.

When you and your wife are agreed and no longer unequally yoked, and when you're debt free . . .

Then you can preach.

 

[evangelist6589]

My advice is: 1) Leave this church and join a Calvinist church. 2) Quit preaching and work to pay off your debts. 3) Focus on your wife and providing a home for her.



When you and your wife are agreed and no longer unequally yoked, and when you're debt free . . .



Then you can preach.

Got a deal for you.

Provide me with the job skills necessary to get a high paying job so I can pay off my debts. Mathematically it's not possible wih my salary.

 

[InTheLight]

Oh forget it. You just want to argue.

No, I'm trying to show you there are consequences for your actions.

 

[Thousand Hills]

Aaron gave you some good advice.

Got a deal for you.

Provide me with the job skills necessary to get a high paying job so I can pay off my debts. Mathematically it's not possible wih my salary.

Maybe all the time spent on facebook, bb, and other sites could be put to better use taking online classes to gain the skills you desire. Or you could possibly volunteer to job shadow whoever does what ever it is that you want to do.

 

[Winman]

I may venture on my own but keep quiet on it as I did last year. I want to serve but I won't compromise.

What do you mean by compromise John? Doesn't your church believe all men are sinners and need to trust Jesus Christ to be saved just like you?

The difference is the method. Look at these two videos. One is a street preacher like you who yells at the people and tells them the are sinners and going to perish. Look at how abusive the people are to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ30MEcd3Sk

Now, in my opinion this makes Christians look bad. I am all for Christ being preached, but this is nothing but a spectacle. You cannot even hear the message. This is what happens when you insult folks. Note that his shirt says "Stop Sinning" on the front. That will get a reaction every time.

Now look at this fellow, I have shown you him before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2W20Vcy0s

Look at the crowd. Look how they are listening. Don't you agree this is much better?

Try being nice to people John and they will listen. Jesus didn't scream at people in the street.

Now I am going to show you something shocking John, it is scripture about Jesus.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Jesus didn't yell at people in the street John, despite what you have been told. He taught people, he had them sit down, it was quiet and orderly.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Got a deal for you.

Provide me with the job skills necessary to get a high paying job so I can pay off my debts. Mathematically it's not possible wih my salary.

Your debt is your addiction. It controls you, you don't control it.

So get a second job. When Christians accumulate debt, it is a poor witness not to make paying it off a priority. If your current job doesn't pay enough, then you need to get a second job and keep working it until the debt is paid. Live off the first job, pay off debt with the second.

Figure out your biggest debt -- the monthly payment that eats up the most income -- and start paying double on it while paying the minimum on the other debts. Once the first is paid down, take the second biggest income-eater and do the same thing. In a few years, you will have no debt, you can quit the second job, and you can street preach.

But spending time on the streets preaching while you have what appears, from your posts, to be a mountainous debt that has put you in dire straits and which obviously places stress on you, your wife, your marriage and your faith -- how can you expect for God to honor your work in the streets when you don't do what is right by your wife and family, or your creditors? That's a poor witness, and you need to do the right thing. Stop complaining. Do something about it.

 

[Salty]

...But spending time on the streets preaching while you have what appears, from your posts, to be a mountainous debt that has put you in dire straits and which obviously places stress on you, your wife, your marriage and your faith -- how can you expect for God to honor your work in the streets when you don't do what is right by your wife and family, or your creditors? That's a poor witness, and you need to do the right thing. Stop complaining. Do something about it.

Just because you are not "Street preaching" does not mean that you cannot witness. There are several jobs where you can meet people, whether other employees or customers - and begin a friendship with them.

One other thing about which bills to pay first - you may want to consider paying the bill with the highest APR first. If you owe $1,000 with a APR of 25 % and another 1 k with 10% for every $100 you pay, you are saving $1.25/mo = $15 per year - and remember you keep paying interest on interest.

 

[Aaron]

Got a deal for you.

Provide me with the job skills necessary to get a high paying job so I can pay off my debts. Mathematically it's not possible wih my salary.

Work two jobs if you have to.

Early in my marriage I worked two full time jobs for two years to pay off debts. It can be done by those who have their priorities straight.

 

[evangelist6589]

Work two jobs if you have to.

Early in my marriage I worked two full time jobs for two years to pay off debts. It can be done by those who have their priorities straight.

It still won't make a dent in my loans considering the amount and my present salary. What I need is a better paying job. I did apply for one yesterday within my own industry and a bit of a increase. However one other problem is that I do not want a job where I will be away from my wife for long periods of time and away from church so a second job would only work a few days a week and at another $14/hr or less salary it won't do much to my loans.

My best option is to keep stabilized at my present position and work there for a while hoping to get raises and or a better paying position, unless of coarse a management position or high level position opened within my industry. A month or so back I was considered for a job paying $21/hr and that salary I could make dents in my loans.

I did have a job paying almost 40K a year almost a year ago, but unfortunately I was away from my wife all the time, and I missed every wednesday night service which did not fit well with the wife so I had to leave.