What is your opinion/facts

[j_seph]

of Getting up on Sunday morning and going to church for 2 hrs, compared to watching a preacher such as Jessie Duplantis or other for 2 hrs.
Looks to me that this would be the same as going to a church, you are hearing the Word and learning

[matthewsman]

But i am most impressed by Christians that are adaily example.I am blessed by the relationships I have with real people day and night and the examples of Christ I see in them.They are a true inspiration and example of how I am to live.I think I would miss out on these "real world"lessons,if I just watched church on TV,rather than lived it in person.....

Sort of like the difference in thinking you are in the mindset of "survivor"from watching it on TV.Then,actually living on the island and feeling the hunger in your gut....I hope that makes sense to you?

[Todd E]

I need more than that!!

I need the fellowship, discipleship, and accountability that I find within my Church. If all I did was sit and watch some preacher on TV and that's it,.......then I haven't really accepted the mission that Jesus has for my life.

[David Mills]

I'm in agreement with Todd and Matthewsman. Scripture says "when 2 or more of you gather, I am with you". God calls us to come together as a BODY of believers to worship together, to support and encourage one another, to learn, and to fellowship.

There are some good preachers on TV and radio that I enjoy watching and listening to, most notable is Dr. David Jeramiah. But, there's only so much a person can gather from just listening to a radio or watching a TV.

[SBG]

a preacher such as Jessie Duplantis or other for 2 hrs.
Looks to me that this would be the same as going to a church, you are hearing the Word and learning

Try calling Jessie Duplantis when you need someone to visit a sick loved one in the hospital.:)

[GeauxLSU]

I was going to go running this morning for some exercise but instead I watched a triathlon on ESPN. I'm good.

[Spotlite]

I was going to go running this morning for some exercise but instead I watched a triathlon on ESPN. I'm good.


Good post, I was going to the gym but saw a Chuck Norris work out, Im good to.


Remember, "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" (not an exact quote"

[NC Hunter]

I was going to go running this morning for some exercise but instead I watched a triathlon on ESPN. I'm good.

Excellent example, but I would add this. While listening on the radio or watching a television service does allow you to hear the Word, which is something that all believers and unbelievers need, you are still missing a vital component. Attending a church gives you the fellowship that you must have to grow.

Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This is all about relationship building and you most often find those relationships that will sharpen you in your local church.

[bradpatt03]

i guess if that is how you chose to do your thing...its better than nothing at all...but i think the least one can do is get their butt out of bed and head up to church...plus think of all the friends and things you would miss out on if you stayed at home.

[cowboyron]

It dosen't come close.....(IMO)
And if we go to scripture it prolly won't come close to Gods opinion either. Again(IMO)

The primary purpose of the assembly of the Church on the first day of the week (Acts. 20:7), "To break bread"

The duty of constant attendance (Heb. 10:25-26). To neglect is to sin willfully.

1 Cor. 16:1-2 Now concerning the collections for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:

2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prospher, that there be no collections when I come.

There are many things that are commanded, that we cannot do sitting on the couch.

[Branchminnow]

Try calling Jessie Duplantis when you need someone to visit a sick loved one in the hospital.:)
Good point

You too Phil.

[PWalls]

No where good enough in my opinion.

[FESTUSHAGGIN]

fellowship is an important part of spiritual growth. you wouldnt get that sense of fellowship if you were stuck in front of the tv. also i think it is almost a sign of sacrifice. you are giving up part of your day to go and worship. if you are at the house watching reverend so and so on tv you dont really give much of yourself. just my 2 cents. plus i have never been able to get anything out of anybody on tv. too much hype and flashing lights for me. i feel that alot of thse televangelists are trying to put jewels in their crowns. plenty of face to face preachers that do that as well. but i feel better if i am in my little country church listening to the word in real time. with my ears hering his powering voice echo through the church. there is alos something to be said about the preacher getting right up close and pattin you on the cheek or the shoulder. cant happen if you are watchin on tv. i feel that church is an interactive thing and everybody has a little work to do while they are there. this once again is hard to do if you are watchin from home. by no means am i criticizing anyone that watches preachin from home. its just not my cup of tea.

[NC Hunter]

One day a little bunny and a rattlesnake met each other crossing a road. Both had a case of amnesia and it seemed that neither of them knew exactly what they were.

The bunny said to the snake. “Could you describe me, I can’t seem to remember exactly what I am?”

The snake said, “Well, you are furry, you have long floppy ears, four legs, and a cute little fluffy tail.”

The bunny said, “Wonderful I’m a bunny rabbit.”

The snake said, “Now describe me because I can’t remember what I am either.”

The bunny said, “Well, you slither on the ground, you have a forked tongue and you are covered in diamonds.”

The snake said, “Well praise the Lord, I’m a TV evangelist!”

[Jody Hawk]

I need more than that!!

I need the fellowship, discipleship, and accountability that I find within my Church. If all I did was sit and watch some preacher on TV and that's it,.......then I haven't really accepted the mission that Jesus has for my life.

Amen Brother !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I too need more than that. Get the Lord in your heart and you can't wait for the church doors to open. They are not open enough for me !!!!!

[Gator1679]

Amen Brother !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I too need more than that. Get the Lord in your heart and you can't wait for the church doors to open. They are not open enough for me !!!!!

I don't totally disagree with anyones opinion so far, but have to say that the church doors being open or not should have little bearing on your own growth. If you talk about you have to have "the fellowship with other believers to grow" like many have said, having been in church and work in a large church now, I see little fellowship inside the church that actually is a catalyst to growth. I know the church is important, and Jesus loves the church. But the "church" better be careful cause to me according to Acts 2, the "church" is starting to get off base from what the first churches looked like.
Maybe that last part was off base to the original question, but doesn't real growth come from spending time in the Word of God. It is probably safe to say that most people can't talk much about what your pastor taught on a few weeks ago. You may have felt uplifted, or had your toes stepped on at the time, and received help for a need, but you grow best by doing. A man/woman that gets into the Word and studies to learn not just to read some words in a book cause you've always been told to read your bible everyday- is the one that is going to grow.
So I guess to answer the original question-- I think it is- Yes and No. Yes you can watch a preacher on TV and get as much growth from the Word (as long as he is teaching sound doctrine) as you can from a preacher in a building you attend. But No, because there are certain responsibilities that the church holds that you can't be a part of unless you belong and attend a church.

[Swamp Runner]

One day a little bunny and a rattlesnake met each other crossing a road. Both had a case of amnesia and it seemed that neither of them knew exactly what they were.

The bunny said to the snake. “Could you describe me, I can’t seem to remember exactly what I am?”

The snake said, “Well, you are furry, you have long floppy ears, four legs, and a cute little fluffy tail.”

The bunny said, “Wonderful I’m a bunny rabbit.”

The snake said, “Now describe me because I can’t remember what I am either.”

The bunny said, “Well, you slither on the ground, you have a forked tongue and you are covered in diamonds.”

The snake said, “Well praise the Lord, I’m a TV evangelist!”

:rofl::rofl:

[celticfisherman]

of Getting up on Sunday morning and going to church for 2 hrs, compared to watching a preacher such as Jessie Duplantis or other for 2 hrs.
Looks to me that this would be the same as going to a church, you are hearing the Word and learning

Sharing the communion with your brothers and sisters. But I am struggling with this too.

[Swamp Runner]

I need more than that!!

I need the fellowship, discipleship, and accountability that I find within my Church. If all I did was sit and watch some preacher on TV and that's it,.......then I haven't really accepted the mission that Jesus has for my life.




Amen!!!!

[addictedtodeer]

I need more than that!!

I need the fellowship, discipleship, and accountability that I find within my Church.

AMEN!
Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Notice we are not being made into separate temples but one temple.
As part of our faith we must learn to love each other, forgive each other, deal with each other, worship with each other. Churches are never perfect but to not be apart of a local body means we do not get to experience verse 22.

It will be painful at times but in the end it will be glorious, no thanks to us or others but solely due to Christ's perfect work.

[Doc_Holliday23]

Who do you pay tithes to? Does Jessie come see you when you're sick in the hospital? Does anyone call you to ask if everything is ok if you miss a Sunday? Who do you call when you have an urgent prayer request? Will Jessie perform your wedding or preach your funeral?

These are the REAL reasons we need to be a part of a local church... because they are the ones that actually have a hand in our everyday lives. They are our accountability, our stability, or shoulders to cry on, and our friends we rejoice with. My best friends in the world go to my church.

Also, going to church is not all about hearing a sermon. We, as Christians are also here to be a blessing to others. We should minister in the church, each of us in our own way as God has enabled us.

[No. GA. Mt. Man]

try calling jessie duplantis when you need someone to visit a sick loved one in the hospital.:)

bingo!

[jason4445]

You go to church for basically one primary reason - It makes you feel good. You gather with others that believe spiritually generally like you do and you share positive energy. Even the most crabby and dour among us can go and at least for two hours a week - feel good.

First we dress up for church - generally to put on our nicer "church clothes" makes us feel better - we project a nicer physical appearance to others.

Then we get to put on our glowing Christian face of all smiles and change our usual cynical personality traits of how humanity sucks to one of all love and acceptance to those that believe as we do.

I use to see this all the time in my ornery and crabby father in law. The Mr. Southern First Baptist indeed. I mean he was never really abusive, but sitting around all week griping and complaining about this and that, would not flip a nickel to a homeless fellow, hardly having a nice thing to say about anything, but let him walk through the church doors and man what a change.

All smiles, handshakes and back slaps, knew everyone in the 300 or so he passed, laughing and joshing with all that spoke to him. Man, everyone one who just knew him from those two hours completely loved the man. Then once he crossed his front doorstep afterward it was like a switch flipped, back to the crabby and ornery ways. It just amazed me, and I have seen this with many others. All the Simon Legree's in business, the ones that have to consume alcohol every day, and mothers and wives who constantly whine and gripe and browbeat their kids and husband - they like my father in law can through the exchange of positive energies with others can at least feel human for an hour or two a week.

Then there is the service. There we not only get to share positive energy with each other (fellowship we call it), but with God as well. We get to sing songs about how everything is going to be wonderful one day, feel generous when the plate is passed, listen to up lifting and good music, and in some services get to move and dance about and finally "hear a man of God" tell us how much God loves us. And do all of this usually in a very attractive facility. A place of God.

So we leave feeling wonderful about ourselves, full of positive energies, and knowing that no matter what personality disorders we have at least, besides our dog, someone else, God/Jesus/The Virgin/etc. , loves us too.

And this is all good, it is why we go to church and participate in a religion - to feel good about ourselves.

[Ronnie T]

There's lots of good responses here. Not much else to be said.
This one was about the best for me............


Amen Brother !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get the Lord in your heart and you can't wait for the church doors to open. They are not open enough for me !!!!!

Being a part of a congregation will bless your soul.

[magnum62]

I truly believe that it is necessary/important to fellowship. I have come to think that may necessarily not be at an "organized" church. I have attended good churches and bad ones, you can really tell the difference between them.

[Ronnie T]

I've traveled all over this country and overseas. The only place I was not able to find a friendly, comfortable group of loving Christians to meet with was in Vietnam.
They need you. You need them.
Most of the Bible wasn't written to individual Christians. It was written to local churches in the form of letters.

[Big7]

The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of Holy Communion.

In John’s gospel, Jesus summarized the reasons for receiving Communion when he said:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:53–58).

Ain't figured out how to do that on TV.
I can watch it on EWTN - Not the same thing though. :D