That's one way it has been done but doesn't work does it.

Another way is recognise that doing what Jesus actually wants is never going to be met with smiles from the enemy. "All who live Godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" - NT.

Where did we ever get the idea that our enemies will be Godless heathens? History has shown again and again that it is religious leaders who knew the martyrs better than anyone else were their persecutors. Changing the way the church thinks will be met with opposition from within - our greatest challenges will be standing firm against those who sit in the pews next to us.

You are right about this. For as we know ... many of the heathen will be saved.



Do the internet pews count? I was just wondering how many manly Male Man points I might get for standing up to you.

Do you think this describes your attitude a little bit?

I agree totally with this post. Almost nothing gripes me more than people who will not have an opinion or take a stand that is different from their "friends." And I have said the same thing, almost word for word. If we can't stand up for something in church, where WILL we stand up?

However, this is not a feminine or masculine characteristic. Your diatribes against women and the men who love them are pretty far-fetched and are really not helpful to your cause. Neither masculine nor feminine should be taken to the extreme, but should balance each other and enhance each other. Both sides have much to learn from the other. In my opinion, you would get further by being a little gentler. Sure, Jesus had harsh words at time, but he was also gentle much of the time. Would you call Him a feminazi?

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Both sides have much to learn from the other. In my opinion, you would get further by being a little gentler. Sure, Jesus had harsh words at time, but he was also gentle much of the time. Would you call Him a feminazi?

True, Carolaa. Jesus had a right to call the pharisees "hypocrites" -- BECAUSE He is God (at that time God in human flesh) and He knows the heart of every person.

Nowhere do I find Him giving to us the right to judge anyone as sinner or not. That is His prerogative.

So -- what about the sermons? I have no objection to a preacher calling the congregation sinners -- so long as he or she makes it quite clear that the preacher is included in that remark!

But there is a better way. Preach the truth with love -- and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. He is the only one who can convict of sin. We can't. Not all the fiery preaching in the world can convict of sin -- unless the Holy Spirit is there to do so.

In fact, it is often the well-planned simpler service, where the preacher has spent time with God in the preparation, and where the Holy Spirit has been invited, not only by the congregation, but by the preacher as he/she has prepared the service during the week. The sermon lays the groundwork. It is the appeal to the hearts of the congregation at the end which allows the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts and convict, and a well-chosen hymn of consecration allows the congregation to voice their acceptance.

Sure, there will be some in the congregation whose hearts have not been touched, because the Holy Spirit knows just where they are at right then -- and they may not be ready.

I am not talking here about what some people might call "fluffy sermons" -- I am talking about sermons that present truth in a loving way -- even hard-hitting truth, both prepared and presented in love. It is the Holy Spirit that does the convicting. As soon as a preacher tries to do the convicting, he/she is trying to do a work that is not his/her's.

God bless,

Beryl

Ha, haaaaa....you people are unreal. You carry on like a bunch of pussies - "ewww what a nasty man MM is" or "please dont get personal" - this site is a joke.

- I'm not against women but you girls sure hate a male who defends himself it seems.



You have misunderstood again. A feminazi isn't necissarily a woman - it is a mindset. Being gentle has nothing to do with it although feminazi's like to make out they are sweet and gentle but their true colours are revealed when you cross them - a bit like Beryl.



Gee Beryl, maybe I was mistaken when I read what you said about me in the other thread - silly me.
"do you not know we shall judge angels" - "judge righteous judgement" - yes we can judge but we are given a warning not to judge unfairly. Dont get me going on the greek.



Or the preacher has been brought up to believe that he must not offend one soul in the audience. This can frustrate the and lead to what is called a dead sermon. God wants to speak through our young men but the young men are trained to be nice instead of good.

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Or the preacher has been brought up to believe that he must not offend one soul in the audience. This can frustrate the and lead to what is called a dead sermon. God wants to speak through our young men but the young men are trained to be nice instead of good.

Who said anything about offending someone in the congregation? I was speaking of allowing the Holy Spirit to do the convicting --and it is possible to present the truth in love, not offend, and let the Holy Spirit do His work. Offending someone shows that the preacher is trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit him/herself.



The best service that I have heard for a long time was only a few weeks ago. It was taken by 3 young men. They managed to do what every preacher should be able to do -- they spoke the truth IN LOVE -- and they made a call for those who wanted to give their hearts to God anew to stand -- and they had a response from a good half of the congregation.

Jesus spoke in love -- even when He was pointing out the sins of the Pharisees -- because He LOVED them, and to see them turning away from truth broke His heart.

Yes, that is true -- but we will then be in heaven and have access to "the books" -- and be able to see what they did and why.

Now, we do not have access to the heavenly records here, so we can form an opinion, but cannot judge. "Judge not, that ye be not judged."


Beryl

Well, I make no pretense, and never have. ...I am a hypocrite in the first order. And you, MM, need a good whoopin', cuz you are making us males look bad. Pickin' on our senior ladies is just wrong, by anyone's standard. Calling our ladies 'feminazi' is just plain bad mouthing women in general. You need a reality check. You are just way off base...

Then why spend any time here. Why not find a manly site?



I have to object to the sexist remark. Our church has recognized God's calling of women pastors ... so why do you exclude the role of women in this remark?

Your constant attack of the woman's gender is deafening.

So whenever a biblical preacher like Paul or Peter offended the religious leaders they were trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit themselves?



Must have been a world changing sermon Beryl - I have not heard a thing and it was two weeks ago you say?

You see this is what I mean. If George Whitefield or one of the radical preachers of the 17th or 18th Century were to preach at my church two weeks ago - you would have heard the rumours by now. I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit was not there at your church or that it was a boring sermon by those young men but we need to lift the bar higher still. If you lived in the time of the Master preachers then you would hear of their reputation and it would not all be good. These men not only were famous and their reputation travelled overseas bu they often polarised public opinion and drew criticism from many quarters. I'm sorry Beryl but if your preachers are worth their salt then we shall begin to hear more of them as they stir up satan who knows good preachers and tries to bring them down.



So you have never formed an opinion in a board meeting or on a Conference executive comittee when someone's job was on the line? You have never voted to not put someone in a position when on a selection comittee? C'mon Beryl - when the scripture says "judge not that ye be not judged" - the greek word is "condemn" - quite a different meaning to how we use it today. The fact is that the church out of necessity has to make judgements every day across the world concerning those it keeps and those it allows to stay - it's called disfellowshipping. That is making judgement about a members status within the fold - please odn't use that old "thou shalt not judge" line - it's out of context and old hat.