What does the church look like?

[BlessedinHim]

Acts 2:36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The gospel presented.

37Now when they heard this, they were *****ed in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

These people are not saved yet, but they are asking what they must do to get right.

38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

They are told what needs to be done.

39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.


42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

This is what took place after they had received His word and obeyed it.

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Do you know of any churches that practice church like this?


If, we the church, practiced like this, what do you suppose would happen?

How now ought we to live?

[BlessedinHim]

I Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the
temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I think you might have misunderstood the question here. I am talking about how we should live out our lives in Brotherly Christian love today.

About the body and how we should treat each other and what it should look like in practice.

[RefinedbyFire]

I Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the
temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Romans 14: 13-15 "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

The word "Destroy" is a strong word, but in Scripture, I'm not sure if it necessarily means the absolute end of a person (in eternal seperation). A ministry can be "destroyed" by an exposure of some corruption within it, but that doesn't mean that it can't "pick back up the pieces" and rebuild if God grants it to do so. Same when God allows a storm "destroy" a house. Though shattered in pieces, the foundation is still there, and it can be rebuilt. Then again, the Lord destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah. So, it is a definitely a word that also means a final ending.

1 Corinthians 5:6 shows to expel the immoral brother out of the church, to make them repent, so their spirit is saved on the day of the Lord. So, that person obviously "defiled" the temple of God. Therefore, that verse must mean if they die "defiled" (unrepentant) in their sins (without being washed white by the blood of the Lamb)? I'm just wondering...

[CelticMist]

With the agape style love... the unconditional love as our heavenly Father loves us

[BlessedinHim]

Has anyone ever went to a church that shared everything alike? Is there a church like that out there? Where church is community and they all pitch in and help each other. If a house burned down, they would all gather and help the poor fellow rebuild? barn raising? etc etc??? or is it just the Amish and/or the Minninites that do this?

[HeIsEnough]

Has anyone ever went to a church that shared everything alike? Is there a church like that out there? Where church is community and they all pitch in and help each other. If a house burned down, they would all gather and help the poor fellow rebuild? barn raising? etc etc??? or is it just the Amish and/or the Minninites that do this?

I knew of one (my wifes church before we married), close to what you are intending anyway. Many members sold their houses and all, giving to the common good, as they thought. Problem was, the pastor was downright evil and took advantage of it all and the whole thing exploded into nothing. If the leaders would have been true, who knows what might have happened. Not necessarily the example you were looking for, but it is one which came to mind...

I do know that many members where I attend now help many other members build and fix all sorts of things. Not sure whether a whole house has ever been built, but I would not doubt it. There is also many different funds available for those in need, member or not. I can just about guarantee you'd see a bunch of us over helping build a members house which burnt down, if needed.

[LaMontre]

Has anyone ever went to a church that shared everything alike? Is there a church like that out there? Where church is community and they all pitch in and help each other. If a house burned down, they would all gather and help the poor fellow rebuild? barn raising? etc etc??? or is it just the Amish and/or the Minninites that do this?

If you were living in a society that was as hard against the Christian faith as those in Jerusalem were at that time, you might.

They sold their possessions because had they not, when it was discovered they had been converted, they would have had them taken from them. Christians during this time lost everything to follow Jesus.

We really, in America, have no conception.

This is still true for believers in Muslim communities. They lose everything if they reject their faith; their possessions, their loved ones, and sometimes their lives.

[BlessedinHim]

If you were living in a society that was as hard against the Christian faith as those in Jerusalem were at that time, you might.

They sold their possessions because had they not, when it was discovered they had been converted, they would have had them taken from them. Christians during this time lost everything to follow Jesus.

We really, in America, have no conception.

This is still true for believers in Muslim communities. They lose everything if they reject their faith; their possessions, their loved ones, and sometimes their lives.

That is a good point.

[BlessedinHim]

I knew of one (my wifes church before we married), close to what you are intending anyway. Many members sold their houses and all, giving to the common good, as they thought. Problem was, the pastor was downright evil and took advantage of it all and the whole thing exploded into nothing. If the leaders would have been true, who knows what might have happened. Not necessarily the example you were looking for, but it is one which came to mind...

I do know that many members where I attend now help many other members build and fix all sorts of things. Not sure whether a whole house has ever been built, but I would not doubt it. There is also many different funds available for those in need, member or not. I can just about guarantee you'd see a bunch of us over helping build a members house which burnt down, if needed.


Wow, too bad the leader of that church was corrupted. I hope those affected werent too hard afterwards.

I was wondering, I had never gotten the privilege to attend a church with that mindset. You are blessed.

[HeIsEnough]

Wow, too bad the leader of that church was corrupted. I hope those affected werent too hard afterwards.

I know my wife and in laws are over it.


I was wondering, I had never gotten the privilege to attend a church with that mindset. You are blessed.

It's a small church in a small town. The Lord moved us in a house right across the street...without consulting us. :heh

It has many older believers who are well grounded in the faith. :nod

It is a blessing.