Chris King

We have an apathetic attitude because we have become used to having everything we want and we don't have to work hard to get it, so we have developed a me first attitude, in turn we have become cold in our christian life because everything should be easy and if it is not we don't get involved and if we are not involved in other peoples lives especially those that are hurting and Christ in there life we become lazy.

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity? The reason that we are compromising today is because we have lost or love for the things of God this is what happens when we live to close to the world we are to be in the world but not part of the world system, we like what the world has to offer and we have come to the point where we want all that they have and we are to busy trying to get it and we have lost sight of what God wants for us, true riches in contenment with him we cannot seek both the riches of the world and the riches of the blessing of Jesus Christ. If God blesses us materially that is ok but if that is our focus then we lose or focus on Jesus

When a church losses its focus on what its purpose is, to many times we focus on the things that we want instad of the needs of others and that happens when we take our focus off of Jesus Christ the head of the church and the one that has redeemed us.

Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love?

That it is very important that each member me included that we figure out where our gift lies then us it to glorify God if that is our goal unity in the body will be our end.

Q1. (Ephesians 5:21-24) What does "submission" mean in regards to the Church's relationship to Christ? What does your own submission to Christ mean in practical experience? What would a congregation look like that actually took seriously submitting its corporate life to Christ? We talk about Christ being the Head of the Church. What does this mean in actual practice, if anything We must submit our will for the sake of others, not my will but theres first if we would be more concerned about others well being as Christ was for us, how wonderful that would be. It means that I will go to visit someone that is sick even if it means dening my own pleasure, the same with the church if the church needs me even if I have other plans I must submit to the church body. If we all submit as we should there would be more shoulders then we would need.

If the body is unified in the ministry that Christ has ordained for them then they will be able to be effect in there work if the body is splintered in its ministry gift it will be ineffect in its work because it will be to busy trying to keep its members happy.

Pastors and teachers are the primary source of teaching Gods word to the flock. If there is a lay person in the congregation that has the gift of pastor that is not ordained then they need to help with the teaching of the word and in that way they can grow stroner in the word. A person with the gift of pastor may also have the gift of mercy and they will have a deep concern for the flock and tend to want to care for them.

An Evangalist is a person that has a heart for the lost and goes around the country or the world to proclaim the gospel to a lost people and to help bring new beleivers into the local congregations where the church can deciple them. However an evangalist may also be useful in making the ergency of commiting ones life real to some already associated with the local body but not yet saved.

We must keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ the author of our salvation and the head of the church, it is for Him that we do good works and not for our own edification, if we can keep that in mind it is much easier to live in unity with the body.

It is most comforting that one Lord came to save us, for if it where not for that non of the others could exist, and because he did come and established His church we have a body that we can be part of that can help us overcome. Praise the lord

One Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, One Faith, one baptism, one Father

We are now joint heirs with the jews we are part of the citizenship of God we have been adopted into His family the church, we can now enjoy the same privledge as the jews did before they crucified our Lord, yet at the same time we have the responsibility to share that message with those we come into contact with and to grant those the same love that Jesus did to us.

When we see the power of the early church one has to wonder where has all the power gone. That power is still available to us today through Jesus Christ He has promised us that power in relation to our faith in Him and in our obedience to his word, the church seems to think it needs to be run like a business when all we have to do is rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us.

Through Christ we have all the power of the God head availabe to us as we submit to His will and are obedient to His teaching. Progrmas and activities are important for every church but they will be inaffective if we do not spend time on our knees and humble ourselves before him, only then will He work through us.