Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[acrucifer]

Wow- quiet morning-you can tell it is Sunday and everyone was at church!
Sooooo....what was one thing that stood out to you from your worship service this morning?

Our sermon was on serving. How everyone has gifts that they can use to serve others, and serve God. And without servers, nothing would get done! Makes you think about the behind the scenes people-sound man, janitor, people who decorate and do maintenance, people who prepare communion, people who put together the worship songs, etc... Makes you appreciate people. And the programs that there is at our church.

I like to volunteer, but one thing the pastor said-find what makes you feel like a 10. Not everyone works well with kids. Not everyone likes to be in the spotlight. Not everyone is organized. Not everyone can sing. Find your fit, and you will love volunteering.......Find where God wants you to be.....

well, our sermon today was on the person inside. we (all of us have several people inside) the person we want others to think we are, the person others think we are, the person we would like to be, and the person that we in fact are (the person God sees). anyway, we should strive to be what God wants us to be without worry about what others think, expect or react. It was a good message. God has had a purpose for each of us before we were born. we simply need to discern what the purpose is and follow it. HAVE A BLESSED DAY.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I have a question for my fellow Christians. I understand why we don't have to adhere to dietary restrictions of the Old Testament. What I don't understand is what keeps us from keeping the Holy Days of the Old Testament? God says that we are to observe those days "for ever." "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants." Exodus 12:24 "...This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live." Leviticus 23:31

He doesn't say that we are to observe them until Jesus comes and saves us. My DH and I have started observing some days and I am drawn to observing more of them. How do you feel about Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, etc.?

 

[Talking Hands]

I prefer NKJV, that is what I always use. There is no preferred version at my church/bible studies, and actually it makes it quite interesting to hear the same verse in different interpretations. However, I think NKJV is 1. easier to read the KJV, and 2. uses more specific wording than some other versions. JMHO. At bible study groups I have been involved in, a lot of times we end up concentrating on a word or phrase NKJV has used as opposed to other versions because we have found it more descriptive or specific.

Personally I prefer Die Bibel (Luther-U"bersetzung) for my personal reading and then KJV, but go to NIV, The Message, CEV and Holman when preparing a Small Group lesson for the Deaf Small Group. The class is taught in sign language and signing KJV goes right over many of their heads. We have many levels of English in the class from some who are totally ASL and practically illiterate when it comes to reading English to very some with really good English skills who sign in a very English manner. I have to make it clear to all of them not just the ones who are strongly English.

 

[ElizK]

Wow- quiet morning-you can tell it is Sunday and everyone was at church!
Sooooo....what was one thing that stood out to you from your worship service this morning?

We've been studying the book of Romans for the last couple of months. What a great study! Today's lesson was about grace, and how we are forgiven as soon as we ask, but still have to deal with the consequences.

Today's lesson reminded me of a lesson I heard on the radio several years ago:

"Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don't deserve."

I though that was a pretty good definition.

 

[ElizK]

I have a question for my fellow Christians. I understand why we don't have to adhere to dietary restrictions of the Old Testament. What I don't understand is what keeps us from keeping the Holy Days of the Old Testament? God says that we are to observe those days "for ever." "Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants." Exodus 12:24 "...This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live." Leviticus 23:31

He doesn't say that we are to observe them until Jesus comes and saves us. My DH and I have started observing some days and I am drawn to observing more of them. How do you feel about Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, etc.?

I don't know for sure, but my first thought is that those rules were meant for the Jews. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Albertan mom]

"Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don't deserve."

LOVE THAT!!!!

SO true!

Thank you all for sharing. Sounds like lots of good learnin' going on this morning!

 

[Albertan mom]

Our sermon was on how you need to let go of things of your past in order to move on with your future. That God has great plans for us, but many of us refuse to move on with those plans because we are stuck in thinking about the bad things that have happened in the past (or even in the present) and feeling sorry for ourselves.

That is a hard one for me. I still have a hard time with guilt from things I did in my late teens. I believe that God has fogiven me, but have a hard time forgiving myself......

[/QUOTE]
To me, the sermon was so personal because it was reinforcing something we had just been talking about this weekend.[/QUOTE]

Dont you love- and sometimes Hate- when that happens!? When you feel the sermon is aimed right at you!!!

 

[binny]

well I was in the kids program today so it was NOT quiet LOL

It was a lot of jumping around and praising God! It was amazing. Or Childrens pastor has more energy than anyone else I know and I know he's over 60! He just blows me away! Whatever coffee he drinks, I think Im switching


Anyway, kids had a blast and so did we.

The lesson was " seeing things through Gods eyes"

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I don't know for sure, but my first thought is that those rules were meant for the Jews. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

But then wouldn't God have said that? He says it is supposed to be followed by the descendants. We are the descendant of Judiasm. Also He said it is to be followed for generations to come. Again, there is nothing about those Days being followed until Jesus came and died for our sins. Yes there is scripture in the New Testament about not having to be so legal, but again, I point out that God said that the descendants and generations were to follow this. I find it interesting that some people tend to basically throw out the Old Testament because of Jesus. But without the Old Testament there wouldn't be the New Testament. People would not have known of the Messiah's coming. So I guess my next question is, how much have you studied the Old Testament and how important is it to you?

 

[dcentity2000]

"Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don't deserve."

That is really beautiful



Rich::

 

[disneymom3]

Our sermon this morning was about sin. Had me teared up for most of the day, actually. I have been a bit of an emotional basketcase. The main points being that God sees all sin as the same--no levels or degrees of sin. (I have a hard time with that.) God forgives us of our sin and sees it no more and that is what he wants us to do with others whose sin affects us. (That was one part that had me teary. I don't think I have completely let go of some issues and I was really convicted about that.) And that we need to move on from sin. (Which also had me tearing up because I know there are sins that I just keep repeating over and over and over and I will just not leave them laying at the foot of the cross as I need to do. For instance, worry about finances, impatience with my kids, losing weight/eating healthy.) It was a really good message and one I really needed to hear. It was closed with the song On the Ocean Floor and that was when the tears really hit me. The nice thing was DH was sitting with me and most Sundays he is up on stage leading the band. So, at least I had someone to hold my hand while I cried.

I just love my church and am so very thankful God led us there.

 

[JennyMominRI]

But then wouldn't God have said that? He says it is supposed to be followed by the descendants. We are the descendant of Judiasm. Also He said it is to be followed for generations to come. Again, there is nothing about those Days being followed until Jesus came and died for our sins. Yes there is scripture in the New Testament about not having to be so legal, but again, I point out that God said that the descendants and generations were to follow this. I find it interesting that some people tend to basically throw out the Old Testament because of Jesus. But without the Old Testament there wouldn't be the New Testament. People would not have known of the Messiah's coming. So I guess my next question is, how much have you studied the Old Testament and how important is it to you?

He did..That is from the Torah,..The Torah was given too Jews,for Jews,halacha,or Jewish Law is /was for jews

 

[ElizK]

The main points being that God sees all sin as the same--no levels or degrees of sin.

I'm not sure I entirely believe that... If all sins were the same, why are there different penalties and reparations (did I spell that right???) laid out in Leviticus? The penalty for this sin is death, the penalty for this sin is a sacrifice. Do you know what I mean? I think we are completely forgiven when forgiveness is sought, but does God really see all sin the same? Help me work this out!

eta...I realize we're no longer under the law, I just use the law as my "exhibit a," if you will.

 

[phillybeth]

All sins are equal, but some are more equal than others, perhaps? I understand a sin is a sin is a sin, but telling a white lie to keep from hurting someone's feelings is much different than murder.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm not sure I entirely believe that... If all sins were the same, why are there different penalties and reparations (did I spell that right???) laid out in Leviticus? The penalty for this sin is death, the penalty for this sin is a sacrifice. Do you know what I mean? I think we are completely forgiven when forgiveness is sought, but does God really see all sin the same? Help me work this out!

eta...I realize we're no longer under the law, I just use the law as my "exhibit a," if you will.

I hope people don't mind me posting here..I'm just posting to these Jewish related question..
One of the most important Jewish laws is to establish courts of Justice..The Torah lays out the basic of Jewish law and the Talmud covers them in depth. G-d is sometimes telling the Jews how to set up actual Jewish courts of law... This is not the same as divine law I assume...G-d may punish differenty than we humans do..I really don't think Judaism views all sins as being equal though.
Off tpic slightly but many Jewish laws are not "Do nots"..They are do's
Build a Sukkah..Eat Matzah on passover, etc..

 

[ElizK]

JennyMominRI.... I'm not sure I understand your response... Would you mind clarifying for me? And, I, for one, am glad to see you here! I have done several Old Testament studies, but you seem much more knowledgeable than I. Thanks for jumping in!

 

[JennyMominRI]

JennyMominRI.... I'm not sure I understand your response... Would you mind clarifying for me? And, I, for one, am glad to see you here! I have done several Old Testament studies, but you seem much more knowledgeable than I. Thanks for jumping in!

Sorry if I'm not explaining well,and keep in mind this is coming froma Jewish POV..Jewish law,which is what you see the basics of in Leviticus, is telling Jews what the HUMAN penalties are for certain crimes..Breaking the Sabbath gets one penalty, Murder gets another etc.. This is actually helping Jews to establish courts of law called Beit Dins..G-ds penalities/punishments for these sins may be very different from the ones he expects Jews to carry out..
I don't think He views all sins as the same..I don't think he sees Murder as being on par with stealing something.

 

[JennyMominRI]

JennyMominRI.... I'm not sure I understand your response... Would you mind clarifying for me? And, I, for one, am glad to see you here! I have done several Old Testament studies, but you seem much more knowledgeable than I. Thanks for jumping in!

I just wanted to add,I probably don't know any more than you,I just see things differently because I come at it from the Jewish point of View..Judaism gets very different things from the Torah than what Christians get from their OT

 

[Albertan mom]

I have also struggled with the "all sins are equal' thing.

I can't see the sins of a pedophile being equal to the sins of a child who steals a candy to the sins of a mother who tells a little white lie to her children to make them feel better as being all equal.

But there is also a verse in the bible talking about how pastors will be treated more harshly for their sins, because they know better, and are to be a living example of God. So maybe the sins of Christians who cheat on their taxes are equal to the bigger sins of Non-Christians, because we know better?

Know what I am trying to say?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm a bad Catholic as I don't clearly understand the different types of sin--but they do have it...as far as how you handle it and what happens to you--I get lost...but there is a clear difference between murder and stealing candy.