Christian Support Group Community Group
This is a place for everyone who loves Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (or those who are seeking Him), to come and discuss important issues in their lives and find support from fellow believers in regards to their faith and life. We uphold the Bible and living a Christ-like life, not as a way to heaven, but as a reflection of our love for God.
Ive recently and for a while, actually, been going through many personal struggles. Just recently, about 3 weeks ago, Ive decided to give Church a chance. Sometging I was unwilling and refused to do for the past 20 years. I am truly and honestly, from my heart seeking Gods help and guidance, and to let his will be done in my life. But I just feel like Im going through the motions. I pray, I listen in church, I just dont know how I get closer to God, or even know what its supposed to feel like. Im so new to trying to put trust and faith in God, I just dont know if Im even doing it right. Just would like some input from people that have been where I am. How do I grow my faith and even know what Gods will is for me? Im just confused on how it all works, but I have the willingness and the desire to keep trying.
My favorite teacher in high school was a fall-away Catholic. He talked about the old Church before Vatican II and how mean it was, how mean the teachers were.
Do you like what you hear in the sermons? What are they saying? Isthere any relevance?
Let me tell you more about my favorite teacher. So I graduated from high school. I love going to Church, I go to college, come back to see my parents andthere was Bob Rilla in Church. There were his sons sitting lovingly beside him and there was his wife sitting there much happier than she used to be!!
He even pulled me aside after Church onetime & said everything will be ok withmy Dad when he had prostate cancer
he was right. He never stopped going to Church every weekend.
He suffered and died of brain cancer the same year 9/11 happened
I have no doubtthat he's in heaven now
Other questions
How are the other people at your church?
Did they welcome you as a new parishoner? Did you register with the church?
It could be your doing the right thing but could it be it's not the right place (people don'tseem to care, minister/priest uninspiring??) then if that's the case find another church.
Glad to write a response...............
.........for all of you in the group......sorry my space bar was so lousy
How do you know if the pastor is preaching the Bible, theology and demonstrating Christ correctly? Bible reading daily and consistently is the answer. I’ve been reading the Bible daily since I was saved 38 years ago.
There are many reading plans available in-line tobl follow. I personally have always read 3 chapters of the Old Testament and 1 chapter of the New Testament daily. That gets you through the entire Bible in a year. Or you can do variations, like upping the NT readings to 3 chapters, for 3 completions of the NT in a year.. This year, I am doing 1 & 1 because I have lextensive footnotes in the NET Bible, which adds so many things I didn’t know, and I have studying the Bible in seminary, for prexching and teaching.
Prayer is the other fundamental practice we all need, to grow closer to God A good idea is to set a specific time, find a quiet place, and pour out your heart to God! And remember to listen for his answer, which requires quietly listening, not just when you are praying, but also when you going about your day.
Finally, there are many excellent books to read about getting closer to God.
“The Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster, and other books by that author are a good place to start!
“Renovation of the Heart,” by Dallas Willard and other books by him are excellent,
“Go and Do Likewise” by Spohn
“Living the Sermon in the Mount” by Glen Stassen. Most of these books can be bought used on-line, or perhaps st a local bookstore.
The most important thing we can all do is learn what Jesus’ commands are, and follow him. As far as. It being sure how things work, make sure Jesus has saved you. God is in control, and don’t grow weary in what you are doing. God is in our midst, as Rev. 1:12-18 says!
I hope you will discuss this some more here. Spiritual Formation is my topic of study these days. I would love to hear your successes and dead ends.
God bless!
I am going to remember that!