Follow Jesus even if it gets difficult

Keep your eyes on the prize and let love be your motivation to the very end. No compromise.

#Love #Peace #Forgiveness

View attachment 4501


Hebrews 10:25
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

To me, that means we really should attend a local church because we need that fellowship one with another and we need the instruction that pastors and elders can provide from the word of God.

However, belonging to a church, a local church, does not make us a Christian, but Christians attend church.
 
Hello Major;

It's been awhile and would like to share this topic with you and everyone.

I feel that many Christians like to make the statement, "We don't need a building to worship God." Its like saying the building has a "revolving door" and on any given Sunday we can decide whether we want to go into the building and worship with other like believers. Or if we don't feel like gathering with other like believers we can stay away from the building.

Years before I became a pastor my wife and I always looked forward to attending Bible study, ministry and Sunday worship service. Its because we love gathering with our church family - brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging the suffering and meeting new people. The study, preparation of our ministry and the worship service is what we do as a body of Christ. And, its in a building!

But it should not be about the building, its about the love we have attending and being with our congregation.

Of course, its understandable that we also gather with our church family outside the building, at someone's house, restaurant, coffeeshop, the beach, hiking, etc...

But when some believers like to say, "we don't need a building to worship God" is like putting restrictions on our Lord and Savior. I am grateful that God doesn't put restrictions on me.

What makes or does not make us a Christian, this is always where God constantly works within each of us on a daily basis.

Since pastoring the church, 98% of my church family attends church for the reasons to love and be with other believers, feel welcomed and comfortable to worship God corporately.

I have never been told by a church member that they don't like to attend church because its in a building.

What am I missing?
 
Follow Jesus even if it gets difficult.

It's when it is difficult we find ourselves following Jesus more closely.
The more frequently we closely follow Jesus Christ, the less noticeable the so-called difficult times are.
 
bobinfaith I am one that holds the perspective that church is the body of Christ, and when two or more members meet for fellowship in the word. It just so happens that when I am in a building, some of the members of the body of Christ might also be in attendance. Ive been in many buildings that were suppose to be churches. and many churches that were not in buildings. Is this site not a church? Is it not where the body of Christ joins in worship, fellowship, and teaching? Jus' sayin'... sometimes looking through another set of eyes gives a different view.
Definition of church
(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a building for public and especially Christian worship

2 : the clergy or officialdom of a religious body the word church … is put for the persons that are ordained for the ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the clergy— J. Ayliffe

3 often capitalized : a body or organization of religious believers: such as
a : the whole body of Christians the one church is the whole body gathered together from all ages— J. H. Newman
b : denomination the Presbyterian church
c : congregation they had appointed elders for them in every church — Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)

4 : a public divine worship goes to church every Sunday

5 : the clerical profession considered the church as a possible career

Where do you choose to teach, and to whom? Where do you witness, and to whom? Where is our Father in the name of his Son Jesus Christ leading you? I find many more opportunities outside of a "church" building. I am a member and do support my congregation, which is in a building. However, I would be just as happy sitting on a plastic bag in an open field, or in my rain gear on a wet day. Some people just get too comfortable in their means of worship.
 
Last edited:
I wish sometimes church gatherings would be OUTSIDE not in a building. Why because its beautiful day outside, you get the breeze, and you can see the sky and clouds. Nothing worse than being cooped up indoors in a stuffy dimly lit space or ice cold air cond interior, and feeling you can't even breathe. Noisy fans. Can't hear birds singing, can't even hear your own singing because of the distortion in the sound system.
Have to sit in pews all the time, and sometimes can't find a seat. Seeing the backs of people.

I'm not complaining but hey can we do this maybe once a month and not just on church picnic day once a year? I don't care even if it rains. God can send the rain I will gladly receive. You don't have to go far, most churches buildings have a bit of land outside their four walls.

Another thing is many church buildings are hard to get to, and are shut half the time. So if you wanted to go outside of office hours, too bad its shut. There are no seats outside where you can sit and pray. It's like go away we are private property. One church even had a sign in their parking lot saying keep out, church business only. Church BUSINESS? and then they lease their carparks only to paying customers. I don't even see any bike racks where you can chain your bike if you don't have a car.
 
I work in a school right, and understand its important to have a good learning environment, but school is not only inside the classrooms but out in the fields, under the trees on the school property. In the gardens. Sometimes we sit outside to read under the trees. Why restrict yourself to inside the classroom?
 
bobinfaith I am one that holds the perspective that church is the body of Christ, and when two or more members meet for fellowship in the word. It just so happens that when I am in a building, some of the members of the body of Christ might also be in attendance. Ive been in many buildings that were suppose to be churches. and many churches that were not in buildings. Is this site not a church? Is it not where the body of Christ joins in worship, fellowship, and teaching? Jus' sayin'... sometimes looking through another set of eyes gives a different view.
Some people just get too comfortable in their means of worship.

Hi thenami;

Yes, to everything.
One thing you wrote is "sometimes looking through another set of eyes gives a different view" was my point.

People who get
too comfortable in their means of worship is actually a good thing. Perhaps you are referring to those who are lackadaisical in their worship.

I was once told by an elderly that she chose to worship in the privacy of
her home, watching church on tv every Sunday morning. She wasn't lazy to attend the building, but was prompted by the Holy Spirit to praise God in the privacy of her home. This I understand completely.

Thank you for sharing, thenami.

I wish sometimes church gatherings would be OUTSIDE not in a building. Why because its beautiful day outside, you get the breeze, and you can see the sky and clouds. Nothing worse than being cooped up indoors in a stuffy dimly lit space or ice cold air cond interior, and feeling you can't even breathe. Noisy fans. Can't hear birds singing, can't even hear your own singing because of the distortion in the sound system.
Have to sit in pews all the time, and sometimes can't find a seat. Seeing the backs of people.

I'm not complaining but hey can we do this maybe once a month and not just on church picnic day once a year? I don't care even if it rains. God can send the rain I will gladly receive. You don't have to go far, most churches buildings have a bit of land outside their four walls.

Another thing is many church buildings are hard to get to, and are shut half the time. So if you wanted to go outside of office hours, too bad its shut. There are no seats outside where you can sit and pray. It's like go away we are private property. One church even had a sign in their parking lot saying keep out, church business only. Church BUSINESS? and then they lease their carparks only to paying customers. I don't even see any bike racks where you can chain your bike if you don't have a car.

Hi Lanolin;

Years ago we worshiped at the park, the beach, in a house and in a basketball gym, etc...

When you enjoy church outside in the breeze, clouds, the park, are you by yourself, or with others?

The majority of our worship on Sundays has always been in a building. When we are there we love gathering with our church family and giving back what we can offer.

Thank you for always sharing, Lanolin.
 
here in the city where I live in wales uk the churches are really boring.
The cathedral I am a part of is very beautiful building, full of ancient pictures and statues and whatnot... an organ that sounds amazing, the priests wear robes and look daft( sorry, I’ve never been a fan of strange garments lol) but the people are lovely and friendly and helpful.

Then I watch sister act and pray we have a revival over here were the services aren’t as Shrivelled as a crisp😂
 
here in the city where I live in wales uk the churches are really boring.
The cathedral I am a part of is very beautiful building, full of ancient pictures and statues and whatnot... an organ that sounds amazing, the priests wear robes and look daft( sorry, I’ve never been a fan of strange garments lol) but the people are lovely and friendly and helpful.

Then I watch sister act and pray we have a revival over here were the services aren’t as Shrivelled as a crisp😂

lol! This reminded me of the ones that nod out 😴 during my sermons. I can't help watch their eyes get heavy so when I get to the climax, I'll say something like, "listen carefully!"

They'll wake up knowing I'm looking straight at them and start laughing 🤭 under their breath. Busted!😎
 
Hello Major;

It's been awhile and would like to share this topic with you and everyone.

I feel that many Christians like to make the statement, "We don't need a building to worship God." Its like saying the building has a "revolving door" and on any given Sunday we can decide whether we want to go into the building and worship with other like believers. Or if we don't feel like gathering with other like believers we can stay away from the building.

Years before I became a pastor my wife and I always looked forward to attending Bible study, ministry and Sunday worship service. Its because we love gathering with our church family - brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging the suffering and meeting new people. The study, preparation of our ministry and the worship service is what we do as a body of Christ. And, its in a building!

But it should not be about the building, its about the love we have attending and being with our congregation.

Of course, its understandable that we also gather with our church family outside the building, at someone's house, restaurant, coffeeshop, the beach, hiking, etc...

But when some believers like to say, "we don't need a building to worship God" is like putting restrictions on our Lord and Savior. I am grateful that God doesn't put restrictions on me.

What makes or does not make us a Christian, this is always where God constantly works within each of us on a daily basis.

Since pastoring the church, 98% of my church family attends church for the reasons to love and be with other believers, feel welcomed and comfortable to worship God corporately.

I have never been told by a church member that they don't like to attend church because its in a building.

What am I missing?

Well said my brother. I am well aware that what I am going to tell you will be questioned and probably disagreed with by others.

It is cause and effect!

It is MY opinion that when people use the old...…."we don't need a building to worship God", they are in fact not truly born again to begin with.
They may be religious, and loving and caring but they have not committed their lives to the worship and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of that they use the excuse of not needing to be in church to worship God when in fact they simply do not love Jesus enough to want to be in His presence.

I am not saying in any way that church attendance makes anyone a Christian but I am saying that a Christian wants to be in church worship on a regular basis.

Then of course....Church is NOT A building. Church is the body of Christ!!!! I think most people who argue against church attendance forget or do not understand that fact.

1 Corth 12:2 says...….
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ".

Ephesians 1:22–23 says,...…...
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

Local churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Christ and that gathering can be at the beach or yard etc. but that does not mean we choose to play gold instead of being where that gathering of people are.

It is just like the example of...…...doing good works. Does the Christian do good works to be saved....or does he do good works BECAUSE he is saved.

Cause
I am saved, that effect has made me have the desire to be in God's house with God's people.
 
Last edited:
Yanno the more Im on this site the more I wanna just pack up my Jeep and church hop on a national level. I often wonder how God would support me in such a venture. Maybe through sponsors through an online blog? I could live in my Jeep, doing the Lord's work.

The point I wish to make with all this is church can be anywhere, cause GOD is everywhere. It doesn't have to be on Sunday in a building for the saved to attend a meeting of the saints.
 
Yanno the more Im on this site the more I wanna just pack up my Jeep and church hop on a national level. I often wonder how God would support me in such a venture. Maybe through sponsors through an online blog? I could live in my Jeep, doing the Lord's work.

The point I wish to make with all this is church can be anywhere, cause GOD is everywhere. It doesn't have to be on Sunday in a building for the saved to attend a meeting of the saints.
Only "national".... why not also ponder "international"?? That would be quite an experience!
 
I agree it would be AtomicSnowflake , but with A.S. (ankylosing spondylitis) its difficult doing anything. Flying on the other hand is something my body just cant handle like it once was able to. The pain is more than I am able to bear on long flights in cramped seating. I am having realistic goals of next spring doing a down to FL, and across to CA trip, documenting my experiences online. There is still a lot for me to figure out, before Im physically unable to do such a thing at all.

Financially I would need to have some kind of a blog on a site where I can get some advertising for some income. Food, gas, and camp site fee's are what I would need to do this safely. To edit I really wanted to take a road trip this spring. Im having eye surgery (A.S. related), and my daughter/son in law are having their official wedding ceremony/reception this summer. I have to be around, not sleeping in my Jeep someplace.
 
Last edited:
I agree it would be AtomicSnowflake , but with A.S. (ankylosing spondylitis) its difficult doing anything. Flying on the other hand is something my body just cant handle like it once was able to. The pain is more than I am able to bear on long flights in cramped seating. I am having realistic goals of next spring doing a down to FL, and across to CA trip, documenting my experiences online. There is still a lot for me to figure out, before Im physically unable to do such a thing at all.

Financially I would need to have some kind of a blog on a site where I can get some advertising for some income. Food, gas, and camp site fee's are what I would need to do this safely. To edit I really wanted to take a road trip this spring. Im having eye surgery (A.S. related), and my daughter/son in law are having their official wedding ceremony/reception this summer. I have to be around, not sleeping in my Jeep someplace.

I am also dealing with A.S. It is all I can do to walk to the bathroom so traveling is out of the question for me. I am very blessed that God allowed me to go and speak at many churches over the south at an earlier age.
 
Yanno the more Im on this site the more I wanna just pack up my Jeep and church hop on a national level. I often wonder how God would support me in such a venture. Maybe through sponsors through an online blog? I could live in my Jeep, doing the Lord's work.

The point I wish to make with all this is church can be anywhere, cause GOD is everywhere. It doesn't have to be on Sunday in a building for the saved to attend a meeting of the saints.

Agreed!
 
I was born again in my own room at home..it didn't actually happen in the church building. lol

I'm kinda glad it didn't, cos God knew what I needed.
 
I say, when a person accepts Jesus as Lord he can be certain it will become difficult. I think God allows this specifically to see who will get closer to Him and who will quit and walk away from Him. I know there's a reason for this but I'm not entirely certain what it is. God may even be accomplishing several things at once when our lives get difficult.
 
Back
Top