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Message |
Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil
Post Number: 117 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 5:21 am: | |
Last Sunday I attended a Reformed Southern Baptist Church and found it quite refreshing. This is a ‘9 Marks’ church which I first heard about on [another forum] and has no ‘distinctives’ added to the gospel. About a 100 attend and the membership was quite young and exuberant (the exact opposite of the SDA church I attend). I was easily the oldest person there. I’m just a ‘young fella’ in most small SDA Churches. In that they are not sucked dry by a bloated bureaucracy, they are well equipped with state of the art multi-media, free cds… The adult study was lively and far ranging (I subconsciously kept waiting for a “but, Ellen White says’ to bring it to a screeching halt!) My disappointment was found in that they were studying from a book ‘Our Covenant God’ by Kay Arthur??? Don’t know what to make of that! The music was taped, a bit too loud and mostly unfamiliar, but I attribute this opinion to my age and 35 years in Adventism. The pastor’s presentation was solidly scriptural and concluded with a great summation of salvation by God’s grace. Bibles were much in evidence and the pastor strongly encouraged using them. Many members were taking notes. The scripture references were on screen but not the text. I’ll go back; just sorry it’s over 40 miles away JONVIL (Message edited by admin on September 11, 2007) |
Reb Registered user Username: Reb
Post Number: 683 Registered: 5-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 8:24 am: | |
Glad you had such a good experince, Jonvil. Did your wife go with you? What did she think about it? |
Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 6756 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 8:32 am: | |
Jonvil, isn't it amazing when you find yourself in a Bible-teaching church where the congregation is actively involved in listening, learning, looking up texts, and taking notes? It's overwhelming...For years Richard and I would nudge each other in church and say, "Listen to all those Bible pages turning!" We never experienced that in SDA-ism! I know there are other churches as well that don't foster digging into the Word of God--when you actually find a pastor who makes expository preaching his priority, it's amazing. And the singing...people can't sing like that if they don't know Jesus. What a difference! I'm glad you found this church, Jonvil! Colleen |
Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil
Post Number: 118 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 10:37 am: | |
Reb, this was strictly an exploratory visit so I was solo. I’m going next Sunday and plan on taking my wife but am not too optimistic she will be as enthused as I am. JONVIL |
Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil
Post Number: 119 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 10:51 am: | |
Colleen, In that this was only the second church I've ever visited it seems to be quite a find - but I also did a bit of research before hand. Time will tell! JONVIL |
Reb Registered user Username: Reb
Post Number: 684 Registered: 5-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 11:00 am: | |
I pray that it will go well, Jonvil. |
Ardyj Registered user Username: Ardyj
Post Number: 37 Registered: 8-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 1:40 pm: | |
Just a quick note about the book "Our Covenant God" by Kay Arthur. It really helped me understand the Covenants in a way I never had before. I highly recommend this book for study of the Covenants. Ardyj |
Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil
Post Number: 120 Registered: 4-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 3:30 pm: | |
Ardyj, I just read the first 6 chapters and am finding the book to be excellent!! John |