How many SermonIndex-ers are in a church?

I was curious how many people here are part of a fellowship of believers that regularly meets, could be a formal "church," house church, or if not at all. If you are comfortable sharing, please do.

Since I asked, I am in a formal church that also meets midweek in homes.

NOT AT ALL is my vote!

I am not in a formal church and have not been for at least four years. I do meet at the local jail every Wednesday night, we worship together and share the word and God is good! That has been and is my church right now!

There is one church I go to 'when I go' to formal church but I am not a member and they don't consider me one either! I just show up!

God bless,
Lisa

Yes, my wife and I fellowship with believers at a local congregation. However, we feel the liberty to fellowship with believers at other congregations from time-to-time too.

I go to a church, possibly a "house" church, not sure what it is. We meet in a building on sundays though, so perhaps that throws us out of the house church mingle?

It's a blessing to be part of a body of believers.

We are in a formal church, though we are not members. Some of our best years though were when we were in a house church for about 4 years.

Curious as to why you ask the question....

Attend a church, am a member, and believe in "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together". With that said, I believe the only membership that is necessary for heaven is being born again.

I lead a House Church on Tuesdays. A bunch of House Churchs meet on Sundays to worship together, but it is not traditional, and it is not charismatic.

Don't attend a church now. Did attend a very large Baptist church but kept leaving grieved. Where do I find a home church?

I am going to a Baptist church whose pastor is Nondenominational so he is more open to other views and denominations. We currently have a large variety of denominations going to the church which is kind of interesting at times. We have small groups Sunday evening and midweek service for youth.

We are members of a brotherhood that is part of a larger one, the Biblical Mennonite Alliance.

Wednesday evenings we have cell groups - something that was started over a year ago and we love it. It is informal, just like a Sunday School class but with some structure.

Our brotherhood is not perfect because the devil is working hard to destroy it. But then, humanly speaking, we are all imperfect people who are in the process of being changed from glory to glory - can get messy at times.

We have communion once a year. In this service we also wash each others feet - literaly. Since Jesus instituted communion just prior to his crucifixion, we have communion services the Wednesday before Resurrection Day. I love this service - taking of the fruit of the vine, the unleavened bread and the feet washing (males with males, females with females).

In the summer we have Vacation Bible School. During the school year we have kid's clubs. Now this is a challenge in every sense of the word. May not be much but our brotherhood is small but this is where the LORD would have us at the moment.

ginnyrose

EDIT: Health permitting we attend all worship services. It is not just an ocassional, "when I feel like" attendance. We need the fellowship and support of like-minded brothers and sisters. Many times on Sundays we may visit each other informally in the homes. Have people in for lunch or supper when there is no service.

Got more then you asked for, didn't you? Can get long-winded at times...SIGH

I am joined to a local body of believers, and frequently meet on Sunday mornings, and then at homes and coffee shops throughout the rest of the week.

After wandering around for a couple of months we found a fellowship where we are going to settle. The word is good, and I go to the mid week prayer meeting. We have family devotions and I lead a fellowship in a nearby University.

I was not in a Church for a long time. Hit and miss then went to care for Mother for 3 years. God heard the cry of my heart for true fellowship with true Christians. He brought me here to SI. Then to this town - just passing through but have not left. Glory to God.

He took me downtown to be part of "Church without walls". Ministering to the less fortunate. He has taken me to a Church where we pray, pray and pray. Reach out, literally to the lost & hurting. The pastor's heart is prayer & the lost. My passion. So I am thrilled to be there. Non Denominational. Living Waters Church.

And we have a home group of the people ministering with Church without walls downtown a couple times a month. We all attend different Churches. Today we are going to break bread - communion. And share a meal. Glory to God.

Our goal is to get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to actually be in charge. Praying we can do this. So far we are in awe of what the Lord is doing downtown.

The Lord takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. The only credentials we have is that we all have a passion for Jesus and to see the lost saved.

I would say to those without fellowship to pray and tell God your heart. Stay close to Him in Word & worship and be faithful to Him. He does hear and He will bring you into the fellowship you long for. I can testify of that. All glory to God!

KingJimmy....I am joined to a local body of believers, and frequently meet on Sunday mornings, and then at homes and coffee shops throughout the rest of the week.

Amen! Brother same here, by the way "we" are the Church, without us there it's just a building.

I know some of the saints do not even go to a church at all in America and canada right now because of the situation spiritually. I agree it can be hard to fellowship at some churches and be encouraged.

But my prayer is for every brother and sister to at least find a church they can go to once a week to submit to the leadership and find some direction even if you feel like David under Saul.

Those are very good points, Greg.

I am often reminded of the "Hebrews 10:25" rationale for Church fellowship. However, I think that it is important to remember the verse just before it too.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

"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; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)

I think that one of the things that is often missed is the admonition to ENCOURAGE (EXORT) one another. It seems that this is one of the purposes of fellowshipping with one another. Our rationale for meeting together isn't just to be taught -- because, by this time, we ought to be teachers (Hebrews 5:12). Rather, it is to encourage one another.

I have fellowshipped with several congregations since I met the Lord as a teenager. I have noticed that some congregations are merely "indoctrination centers" where the motivation seems to make "disciples" -- but merely of the church's particular sets of doctrines. I have noticed that some were so "loose" in their fellowship that you felt like a stranger in the midst and that nothing important was really said...and that you walked out not really knowing the point of going in the first place.

Still, I have attended small congregations where the greatest strength of the congregation didn't come from outreach projects, dynamic teaching, exciting programs or vibrant worship. Rather, the substance was found in a group of people who either know God (or want to know Him) and who simply encourage one another. I think that I found more comfort and vigor in such meetings than the others.

I have read about congregations in persecuted places (like China, Cuba, or Islamic nations). I have fellowshipped with congregations in extremely poor places. I have met with the indigenous Tarahumara believers in the rugid Sierra Madre mountains of southwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. The Tarahumara Church literally met beneath a certain tree. I think that I felt more of the Lord and First Century Biblical Christianity (if that makes sense) there than in the modern institutions found in many churches in the United States.

I pray that believers in Western nations (like the United States, UK and Canada) can discover the unity and strength that comes from simply encouraging one another in the love of Christ. We don't have to be in poverty or persecution to participate in such encouragement. Oh, that the Church could ever get a hold of such encouragement!

I work at an urban mission & church plant and we have Sunday Morning Worship along with weekly Bible study, youth ministries, house Bible studies and numerous neighborhood service. It's a very tight Acts-like community of believers at the core and then extends as people desire to serve.

by mama27

Curious as to why you ask the question....

I was prompted to the idea based upon a post in another thread, rather than addressing it there and derailing that thread's topic, I opened a new one. It peaks my interest for reasons similar to what Greg and Ginny described: accountability, fellowship with believers, etc. I think those things are important, but the negative spiritual climate Greg described is also very real. So I was wondering how people coped with these things.