tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post6604969660567127999..comments2023-11-02T02:58:53.594-07:00Comments on From the Pew: Re-Thinking The Sunday Church Service (Part 3)Steve Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297044571819912511noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post-12290286167720078602011-04-30T12:02:57.273-07:002011-04-30T12:02:57.273-07:00I have been on a quest for the Biblical meaning of...I have been on a quest for the Biblical meaning of the word love, for I've been accused of being "unloving", and while I'm sure the accusations have merit, I'm not convinced such merit is always based on the reasons the accusations are made. With that in mind, I picked up on something I've never noticed before as I read this:<i>and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another...</i> I find it interesting that the "stimulate... to love" seems to carry a distinction from "good deeds". It is my estimation that in this modern age those two have been morphed into one and are without distinction so that to do good deeds is the exact same thing as to love someone. But as I see it, this is not the case. One of the ways to love someone is to point to and hold sound doctrines, or perhaps more pointedly put, to indoctrinate properly so that truth will reign supreme in our lives so that we will ultimately glorify God and advance His kingdom... and live a more abundant life in circumstances in which to do so would seem impossible in the process.Danny Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006024707303951009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post-28094881376148260652008-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:002008-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:00Sit back and think through your whole Church exper...Sit back and think through your whole Church experience........all the different Churches, pastors, and people.<BR/><BR/>When, where and from whom did you receive love?<BR/><BR/>We tend to so focus on doctrine, worship style, music, proper ecclesiology. etc that we forget the key is love. <BR/><BR/>Sign outside Church 2 blocks away says " Jesus is the visible face of an invisible God"<BR/>Dead Wrong........<BR/><BR/>We are (and a nod to nature) the visible face of an invisible God. We are his ambassadors, his people, his.... whatever descriptive word you want to put here........<BR/><BR/>God loves us and we know that because the Bible tells us so (and we sing a song that tells us) Yet, sometimes we doubt God's love because his visible lovers here on earth don't do much loving. (and I include myself in that judgment)<BR/><BR/>I cor 13 is still in the Bible much to our shame. <BR/><BR/>I have had a few people in my life show me genuine love. My wife. A mentor. My kids. And a few friends. It seems for many people they can't love without a string being attached. I am grateful God loves with no strings attached.<BR/><BR/>BruceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com