Bible versus - Fellowship?
819234
Phil 2: 1-4\n\n1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
611779
I agree with you on your points. The problem is that people cannot look at the Bible objectively. The part that gets me the most like you said that they cannot see the fundamental difference between the OT and NT and how they completely clash with each other.\n\nI also find it funny to think that if you Believe in the Bible then automatically that works like the Koran and the Veddas also cannot by divinely inspired. Who is to say that G-d did not give different religions to different people.
602433
Going to church for "recognition" from others/peers is the WRONG reason for goin.   Get to know the big guy alone, and in private.  There's NOTHING wrong with fellowship....but u gotta get to know him on a very PERSONAL level first.\n\nJust my opinion.\n\nBless u.
475430
if you have friends who have read the bible then its better to read with them so that you can be able to discus with them.. the bible has so many parables that it's better to share while reading it coz you may not understand all the words in it...but if u dont have these kind of friends then you can always read and try to reflect afterwards and if you have passages that you dont understand you can always approach sombody (priest,pastor,parents if they are religious) to clarify and discus this things...
384528
The reality is, as you are so correctly noting, that anyone can take the bible and use it to back up or justify just about any opinion.  So simply quoting some text out of context is no way to settle anything.  It is a waste of time.\n\nBetter, consider the overall theme and purpose of the bible which is simple that people come closer to God by coming closer to people.  So the point is we are to be kind to one another and work at getting along.\n\nStay nice.  Stay happy.
337602
To fellowship with God.\n\nMan ruined it by disobeying God's only command at the time, but, to bring man back into fellowship with Him, he provided a sacrificial covering of our sin, through the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Whosoever believeth in Him shall see life eternal.
782884
Well.... I have a problem with 1, for starters.  I don't think the 10 commandments of the bible are that hard to improve on.  Let me find a thread for you.
1086541
Hello hippoterry2005.. :)\n\nThey won't differ..\n\nFor there are some, that attend our Church that read the KJV..and some that read the NIV..we do not believe any different.. :)\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
924742
If the Bible study you have been attending is not helping you to grow spiritually and helping you to get closer to God, it is good for you to find another.  Fear of displeasing men is not nearly as important than fear of displeasing God.  Really search for the truth of God's word and you may be able to help lead your friends to life everlasting.  That would be so much better than just pleasing them socially now.
481553
Very true indeed. If you want to see a host of differences read the Christian Bible (any of them) side by side with the Jewish Tanakh (Bible). The differences between and Old Testament and the Tanakh are very evident.
608654
Hebrews 10:24, 25 "And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near"\n\nOn various occasions, large crowds assembled before Jesus Christ, realizing many benefits, as in the case of the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt 5:1–7:29) While these were not like specially arranged assemblies, at times they lasted long enough to make necessary the feeding of the congregated multitudes, a circumstance that Jesus met with the miraculous multiplication of food. (Mt 14:14-21; 15:29-38) Often Christ gathered his disciples and gave them spiritual instruction, and after his death his followers met together, as on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., when the holy spirit was bestowed upon such assembled ones.—Ac 2:1-4.\n\nIt was the custom of early Christians to meet together, generally in small groups. However, sometimes at their gatherings “quite a crowd” would assemble. (Ac 11:26) Jesus’ half brother James found it appropriate to give spiritual Israelites counsel against showing favoritism toward the rich at a public gathering (Gr., sy·na·go·ge´) of the congregation.—Jas 2:1-9.\n\nImportance of Assembling. The importance of taking full advantage of Jehovah’s provisions for assembling to gain spiritual benefits is emphasized in connection with the annual Passover observance. Any male who was clean and was not on a journey but who neglected to keep the Passover was to be cut off in death. (Nu 9:9-14) When King Hezekiah called inhabitants of Judah and Israel to Jerusalem for a Passover celebration, his message was, in part: “You sons of Israel, return to Jehovah . . . do not stiffen your neck as your forefathers did. Give place to Jehovah and come to his sanctuary that he has sanctified to time indefinite and serve Jehovah your God, that his burning anger may turn back from you. . . . Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and he will not turn away the face from you if you return to him.” (2Ch 30:6-9) Willful failure to attend would certainly have indicated a forsaking of God. And, while such festivals as the Passover are not observed by Christians, Paul fittingly urged them not to abandon regular assemblies of God’s people, stating: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.”—Heb 10:24, 25\n\nThe Bible lays down principles of upbuilding associations (1Co 15:33; Heb 10:24, 25; Pr 5:3-11; 13:20)\n\nGatherings for the worship of God and a consideration of his law were important in the congregation of Israel. (De 31:12; Ne 8:1-8) Similarly, meetings for the worship of Jehovah and a study of the Scriptures are an essential feature of the Christian congregation of God, the writer to the Hebrews admonishing the recipients of his letter not to be forsaking such gathering of themselves together. (Heb 10:24, 25) Activities in the synagogues of later Jewish history included the reading and teaching of the Scriptures, the offering of prayers, and the giving of praise to God. Such features were carried over into places of Christian assembly, though without the ritualistic accretions that had eventually developed in synagogue services. In the synagogue no sacerdotal class was set apart, sharing in Scripture reading and exposition being open to any devout male Jew. Comparably, no clergy-laity or similar division existed within the early Christian congregation. Of course, neither therein nor in the synagogue did the women teach or exercise authority over the men.—1Ti 2:11, 12.\n\nJesus’ disciples followed his footsteps in Christian educational work . They not only preached the good news of God’s Kingdom everywhere but also taught those who would listen. (Ac 2:42) They, like
600436
We should encourage each other that the Living Word is that which makes true the words in the Bible and not the other way around. \n\nThe Bible doesn't even point to the Bible. The Bible points to the Lord ... and so when I point to the Bible ... it is not for any other reason except for the highest hope that in there they might be able to focus on Jesus. And with that highest hope, it is now that I will point to the Bible (or actually the lack thereof) to demonstrate what I am talking about.\n\nWhen Saul (who became Paul) was stopped on the road, he was stopped by Jesus Christ the Lord, but this was not the Jesus of the New Testament ... nor the historic Jesus. At that time none of the books of the NT had been written, not even the gospels ... and though Saul had much (if not all) of the OT memorized ... Saul, like the Pharisees of that time, were searching the scriptures in vain, for they had not come to Christ for Life. However, provided that the Lord Jesus revealed many mysteries to Paul, it was then BY FOCUSSING on Jesus ... that we have two-thirds of the scriptures of the New Testament, for Paul only knew the Risen Lord by experience and experience alone.\n\nI am not saying "don't read your Bible."\nI am not saying "don't read your Bible."\nI am not saying "don't read your Bible." (thrice for effect.)\n\nWhat I am saying is that we should NOT underestimate the effect of focussing on Jesus because the nearness of the Lord and the instruction by the Spirit (that leads us to all Truth) is the perspective FROM WHICH the scriptures are written ... and any of us so blessed by the nearness and the instruction might one day find that the Bible reads like a deja vu (spelling?) \n\nWe might find ourselves reading what Paul wrote and saying to ourselves: "That sounds like something that I would have said."\n\nAnd it is to this end ... this highest hope ... that I say AMEN to the Bible, but even more so to the inspiration by which it was written and to which it points - the Risen Lord - the Living Word!
1099951
Back then the word basically traveled by word of mouth.  The bible is a collection of writhings..66 to be exact.  Faith and trust in Jesus  'blossomed' and florished right from the day he began his ministry.  And it is still blossoming today.
1151042
#  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34)\n \n#  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) \n\n#"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7) \n\n#"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)\n\n# "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:17)\n \n# "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law." (Romans 13:10) \n\nI think you have a cool idea and I hope this helps.
1143809
Denominational confrontation is such a mystery to me...\nEven if no proofs exist - all of humankind still has God's grace - no matter what your membership status is. Given that, you may end up in hell while I go to heaven - you better watch yourself!
74578
To find and have fellowship with your Creator.
49014
I don't think it's a sin not to attend church services, but you are missing something that's an important part of most religions: fellowship with other believers, which helps to maintain and strengthen our faith and beliefs.