Pester Brat's Saint and Sinner Hypocrisy Blog

What Type Of Church Did The Apostles Attend? What Type OF Church Did The Apostles Attend? Elders and the People of God ............................. Recently the question was asked aqbout which Church the Apostles would have attended. I answered that they would have attended a Presbyterian Church. Now they went into the synagogues first (Apostle Paul). The Church in its formality is patterend after the synagogue. So really i should have explained that. But then in reality the Church attended would have been presbyterial since the leadership would have been by a number of elders. That is what a Presbyterian Church is ----- simply a Church ruled in the biblical directive with multiply elders. In this blog you will see this established and will learn and grow in the way God established for His Church to be led. .......Enjoy / Steve While much could be said about the church and the kingdom, believers and their roles and responsibilities as members, and the sufficiency of the word of God, T...

Act 20:17,28 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Mt.16:18-19 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Mt.18:15-18 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let...

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." Matt. 5:23-24 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother." Matt. 18:15 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." Lk. 17:3-4 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must e...

Supreme Court Rules Pro-Life Protestors Not Subject to RICO Written by Rusty Pugh and Jody Brown www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D152633%2526M%253D50011,00.html WASHINGTON (AgapePress) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a federal racketeering law was improperly used to punish pro-life advocates demonstrating outside abortion clinics. The decision is being called a huge victory for the pro-life movement. The court's 8-1 ruling applies to protests of all types, and not just at clinics. The ruling says the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act – known as RICO – cannot be used to punish those who protest the killing of children. The decision brings to a close 16 years of legal action in which pro-life demonstrators had been sued by abortion clinics in two states and the National Organization for Women. Those groups had argued that racketeering and extortion laws should protect businesses from protests that drive away clients. The Federal s...

Elders are the Spiritual Parents for Believers Doctrinal Thoughts As we close in our last study on the doctrine of the church let us focus a few minutes on a subject that is very plain from Scripture. The church, if it is a pure and true church according to the New Testament, must have a body of elders to rule, govern, and guide the church just like a parent guides his or her children. The elders are the spiritual parents for the church. For example, the elder John called the congregation his “children” (3 John 4). Furthermore, it is also plain that other elders appoint the elders. The elders are responsible to shepherd the sheep. And consequently the shepherds, the elders, are not hired and fired by the whims of the sheep. Any church that does not embrace the essential truths to the doctrine of eldership violates Scripture in a major way. The eldership, a plurality of elders, is the authoritative leaders of the body. Additionally the elders are not simply voted into office or voted ou...

I am confounded with wonder! ("Solitude Sweetened" by James Meikle, 1730-1799) "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!" (Romans 5:20) Dear Savior, in Your sufferings I not only see the infiniteness of sin, but also the infiniteness of Your love; so that, though I have cause with myself to be angry on account of sin, I need not despair. If the desert of my sinful folly is death--the merit of Your sufferings is life! If my sins mount up to heaven--Your mercy is above the heavens! Though my sins reach to the very throne to accuse me --there is One upon the throne who will not condemn me! When I look to myself and see my vileness and necessity--I am confounded with shame! But when I look to You, and see Your fullness and all-sufficiency--I am confounded with wonder! Am I weak? Jesus is my strength. Am I foolish? Jesus is my wisdom! Am I wicked? Jesus is my righteousness! Am I impure? Jesus is my sanctification! Am I in bondage? Jesus is my complete redemption! ...

How Would You Know if You Were Without the Spirit? Doctrinal Thoughts I have a dear friend of mine that I am fearful may insult the Holy Spirit. If this person does have the Spirit then I am afraid of the disaster that looms ahead if repentance does not take place. My friend you see has professed faith in Christ, been baptized, and initially has shown signs of spiritual life and growth in grace. However, at this moment of writing my friend is drifting, sliding, and growing cold to any accountability, any call to repentance, and any challenge to the faith. The professed love for the local church is no longer visible, the dedication to the saints is no longer manifested, and the submission to spiritual authority lacks. In essence signs of holiness seem to be dwindling, dissipating as dew at dawn. What truly marks the life of a believer? It is the life of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever asked why the Spirit is named the “holy” Spirit? You hardly ever, if ever, hear someone say “Holy Christ...