Lack of Enthusiasm

[Pentecost]

Secondary distinctives?? I can't find a church that decently meets my primary requirements.

• A worship service that focuses on God. This means a praise band that leads worship; not provides a performance.
• Competent sermons based on the Word of God. Bonus points if the sermons are not always self-help/therapeutic - i.e. 5 Biblical ways to improve your love live doesn't count for me.
• The Lord's supper is practiced on regular occasions.
• For my wife, decent fellowship with other ladies of the church.

Truly? That's a disappointment. Which region are you in? I want to pray for it.

I come up in the Reformed tradition. Having been in both High and Low worship services, I find High is more likely to consistently connect me with God than Low. I'll have to look at the AOG churches around here.

Thanks.

God bless brother.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Have you tried visiting various churches? Which secondary distinctives if any are you particularly tied to or repelled by?

Secondary distinctives?? I can't find a church that decently meets my primary requirements.

• A worship service that focuses on God. This means a praise band that leads worship; not provides a performance.
• Competent sermons based on the Word of God. Bonus points if the sermons are not always self-help/therapeutic - i.e. 5 Biblical ways to improve your love live doesn't count for me.
• The Lord's supper is practiced on regular occasions.
• For my wife, decent fellowship with other ladies of the church.

They say non-denominational churches are pretty much Baptists with cooler websites, so you could perhaps find a Baptist church, from what I know they are generally Reformed, and I assume you are because of the whole PC(USA) thing. There could be an Episcopal or Methodist church in your area that is more conservative than the denomination as a whole if you prefer Mainline churches. I know at least three TWebbers who post fairly regularly (myself included) are Assemblies of God members, I have consistently had positive experiences visiting A/G churches that are not my own when I find myself out of town on a Sunday maybe give it a try? Obviously, CP is right, when you find a church you can fit in, even if it's not like a glove, maybe a little too loose or tight, if you forgive the metaphor then you should get involved.

I come up in the Reformed tradition. Having been in both High and Low worship services, I find High is more likely to consistently connect me with God than Low. I'll have to look at the AOG churches around here.

Thanks.

[One Bad Pig]

So you invented the system you're recomending and you didn't disclose that information in the opening post? That's kinda shady.

No, he didn't invent it (as far as I can tell). It would really, really help, however, if he linked to the post he was quoting rather than the blog's front page. I do find it interesting that the latest post is honoring St. Patrick, who would have disagreed quite sharply with the whole "LTG" idea.

[Pentecost]

As we were talking it became clear that all three of the young men were involved in Life Transformation Groups (LTGs) even though they were at different churches and universities. The boys had no idea that I had been the one who innovated the strategy many years ago. When they found out it was quite a surprise. I love it when that happens.

So you invented the system you're recomending and you didn't disclose that information in the opening post? That's kinda shady.

[Cow Poke]

http://cole-slaw.blogspot.in/

You had said....

Just join a church using the LTG system:

The fact that SOME people had a good experience with a LTG is a HORRIBLE reason to join a Church "using the LTG system". Lots of Churches glob onto the latest fad. It would be a whole lot better to look at the pastor and his beliefs, and the Church and their teachings / policies, etc....

Your "Just join a church using the LTG system:" is profoundly faulty advice.

[footwasher]

http://cole-slaw.blogspot.in/

Quote
Later that evening something remarkable occurred. We all went out to dinner and went back to the host’s home for cake, coffee and conversation. He had two sons in their early twenties who joined us as well as one of their best friends. All three young men went to different universities and were part of different church ministries near their schools. Because of the holidays everyone was back together and enjoying this discussion with some “famous” Christian authors in comfy sofas around a fireplace.

As we were talking it became clear that all three of the young men were involved in Life Transformation Groups (LTGs) even though they were at different churches and universities. The boys had no idea that I had been the one who innovated the strategy many years ago. When they found out it was quite a surprise. I love it when that happens.

[Cow Poke]

Just join a church using the LTG system:

https://www.cmaresources.org/article/ltg

Yes, it's always better to join small groups where people can pool their ignorance.

[footwasher]

Just join a church using the LTG system:

https://www.cmaresources.org/article/ltg

The Life Transformation Group System

by Neil Cole

Posted on May 19th, 2009
The Life Transformation Group (LTG) system is a grassroots tool for growth. Through this simple system, the most essential elements of vital spiritual ministry are released to common Christians without the need for specialized training. It taps the disciple’s internal motivation and provides the support needed to grow in the essentials of a spiritual life. The LTG empowers the common Christian to do the uncommon work of reproductive disciple making.


A Life Transformation Group is made up of two to three people, all of the same gender, who meet weekly for personal accountability in the areas of their spiritual growth and development. A group should not grow beyond three but multiply into two groups of two rather than a single group of four. If a fourth person is added to the group, it is recommended that the group consider itself “pregnant” and ready to give birth to a second group. After the fourth person has demonstrated sufficient faithfulness to the group for two to three weeks, the group should multiply into two groups of two.

There is no curriculum or training needed for the LTG. A simple bookmark that stays in the participant’s Bible is all that is needed. The LTG accountability consists of three essential disciplines for personal spiritual growth⎯a steady diet of Scripture, confession of sin, and prayer for others who need Christ...

Read the rest of this excerpt about LTGs here (PDF)

[Pentecost]

Have you tried visiting various churches? Which secondary distinctives if any are you particularly tied to or repelled by? That is a good way of narrowing it down to which prospective churches to visit. I for example would avoid Mainline churches unless I was specifically invited, and prefer a church open to charismatic expressions, even if they are not. A quick look at a website usually has a "we believe" section, even for non-denoms.

They say non-denominational churches are pretty much Baptists with cooler websites, so you could perhaps find a Baptist church, from what I know they are generally Reformed, and I assume you are because of the whole PC(USA) thing. There could be an Episcopal or Methodist church in your area that is more conservative than the denomination as a whole if you prefer Mainline churches. I know at least three TWebbers who post fairly regularly (myself included) are Assemblies of God members, I have consistently had positive experiences visiting A/G churches that are not my own when I find myself out of town on a Sunday maybe give it a try? Obviously, CP is right, when you find a church you can fit in, even if it's not like a glove, maybe a little too loose or tight, if you forgive the metaphor then you should get involved.

[One Bad Pig]

The last church we were at was a PC(USA) looking to leave the denomination. My wife favors the non-denominational. I live in a large metropolitan area so if you name it, its represented here. Also means travel time is not really an issue. From my house you can get to most places in about 1/2 hour. If I was single, I would look into an Orthodox church (we have Greek, Russian, and Ukrainian here) but these are non-starters with my wife.

My problem is this whole region is biased towards liberalism and the churches reflect that bias. I've been through trying to be conservative in a liberal (they would have said big tent) church and it doesn't work well.

It sounds like you're in a tough spot. IMO non-denominational churches are more likely than others to be reflections of their communities because they don't have a strong organization to establish something counter to that. Fair warning that Orthodox can be liberals too.

Regarding the Evangelical Free Church: it's a very loose organizational structure, so you can have relatively wide variety between EF churches (though I knew some people in college who were from that tradition, and highly recommended it).

[Thoughtful Monk]

I grew up in an EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) church and am very pleased with them.

If you are looking for a good church, you should find an Evangelical Free Church in your area.

Here is a link to the national organization's "What We Believe" page.

http://www.efca.org/explore/what-we-believe

Thank you. Looks like a possibility as there is a church in our town.

[Premo316]

I grew up in an EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) church and am very pleased with them.

If you are looking for a good church, you should find an Evangelical Free Church in your area.

Here is a link to the national organization's "What We Believe" page.

http://www.efca.org/explore/what-we-believe

[Thoughtful Monk]

What denominations have you visited/are available to visit? How far are you willing to travel? I know of people who drive for 2 hours to get to church.

The last church we were at was a PC(USA) looking to leave the denomination. My wife favors the non-denominational. I live in a large metropolitan area so if you name it, its represented here. Also means travel time is not really an issue. From my house you can get to most places in about 1/2 hour. If I was single, I would look into an Orthodox church (we have Greek, Russian, and Ukrainian here) but these are non-starters with my wife.

My problem is this whole region is biased towards liberalism and the churches reflect that bias. I've been through trying to be conservative in a liberal (they would have said big tent) church and it doesn't work well.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Sounds like you need to start your own church...

No calling from God and no gifting from God to do so. I have too much respect for the office of pastor to start a church just because I think others are doing wrong.

[Teallaura]

Find one.