•6:31 PM
For those of you who are following this topic, here is the third question:
Question #3: Do the congregation's small groups -- including youth groups -- hold you and your children accountable, support you in your times of weakness, and pray for you consistently?
Does the congregation even have small groups? If so, do the members know one another well enough to hold one another accountable, in love? Are small groups merely a forum for members to share feelings? Do youth groups offer an alternative to feel good self-esteem programs? This issue of mutual accountability, indeed, can be mighty dangerous territory. Make sure to inspect 1 Thessalonians 5: 11-22 to see the spirit in which we should relate to one another in the church. Here is that passage:
Question #3: Do the congregation's small groups -- including youth groups -- hold you and your children accountable, support you in your times of weakness, and pray for you consistently?
Does the congregation even have small groups? If so, do the members know one another well enough to hold one another accountable, in love? Are small groups merely a forum for members to share feelings? Do youth groups offer an alternative to feel good self-esteem programs? This issue of mutual accountability, indeed, can be mighty dangerous territory. Make sure to inspect 1 Thessalonians 5: 11-22 to see the spirit in which we should relate to one another in the church. Here is that passage:
11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.
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1 comments:
I hate to once again be the voice of negativity, but the church can't hold us accountable when they already think we're too conservative. I won't go into details, but that's a criticism we've gotten often. If it were up to me, we'd be a little more conservative, but my husband likes TV.