church planting Darin Hufford

Darin Hufford – The Relief Project

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In this episode, Darin and Hans talk about something I have often toyed with doing myself, but have never seriously considered, mainly because I simply don’t have the time or energy to do it because of my job. But I have always been hoping and dreaming I would hear of somebody who did this, and now, Darin is planning it!

What is it he is thinking of doing? He is thinking of planting a church with the purpose of helping people get a revelation of God that help them see that they don’t actually need that Sunday morning style of church. In other words, it’s a Sunday morning church service to help people see that they don’t need a Sunday morning church service. It’s a church to help people see that we don’t need to attend church because we are the church.

church planting Darin Hufford

In my book, Close Your Church for Good, which I hope to finally publish later this year after seven years of writing and editing, I write about how I think that all church plants and all church programs should have expiration dates on them.

It often seems that churches get planted and then church programs get started which always have wonderful purposes and significance, and even go a long way in accomplishing a need that God has laid on someone’s heart to meet. And people’s lives are changed. The gospel is shared. People are brought into the Kingdom of God and shown a new way to live. But then the church continues on, or the program is not cancelled, long after it has served its purpose. I write in my book that this can be avoided by only planting churches or only starting church programs if we begin with the end in mind, and firmly and resolutely stamp an expiration date on whatever church plant or church program we start.

I have never seen anyone do this, but it sounds like Darin and Hans are thinking of planting a church in the Tacoma, WA area with this exact idea. They know that most Christians feel that they absolutely must do the Sunday morning service activity in order to be pleased and accepted by God, and they know that the message about living in a genuine, day-to-day relationship with God outside of the four walls of institutional Christianity is not something most Christians are ready to hear. They also know that many people are getting a religious message in their church that is full of duty, obligation, fear, guilt, shame, and manipulation.

So Darin and Hans are thinking of planting a church which gives people a church setting to hear the message of the unconditional love and grace for the first time, and then, after nine months or a year, let people graduate out of this church so that they can go on and live their lives as God wants us to, outside of religion.

Frankly, I don’t know if Darin and Hans will be able to pull this off. But I would love to watch them try, and maybe learn along with them as they do. If you are confused about how this would work or what they would do, this podcast sort of introduces some of this. They don’t give a whole lot of details, but there is enough just to explain the what and the why.

I love how they not only have a heart of helping Christians see a revelation of God’s love, but also for helping pastors escape the bondage of expectations and rules that pastors so often live under. I very clearly remember living under these expectations when I was a pastor, and would have loved for someone to come alongside me and tell me what Darin and Hans are saying in this podcast.

Also, did you catch it there at the end? There was another little tidbit about the Prodigal Son which sort of gave some more insight into that wonderful Parable which we heard N. T. Wright explain in the last Theology.fm podcast.

Anyway, I would love to hear what you think about this church planting idea by Darin and Hans. Leave a comment below.

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130 responses to “Darin Hufford – The Relief Project”

  1. Jason Bourgeois Avatar
    Jason Bourgeois

    Awesome!

  2. Mike Rea Avatar
    Mike Rea

    ha. I had actually thought of doing that very thing a few years ago. Hope it works for them.

  3. Jeremy Myers Avatar
    Jeremy Myers

    Yep! Since he’s in my neck of the woods, I might try to get up there sometime to see how it’s going.

    1. Mike Rea Avatar
      Mike Rea

      I didn’t listen to it although I might. I just read your summary. It’s a fun thought and conversation.

      Im kinda soso on Darin’s stuff. I did love his book.

    2. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      First, lets start from the beginning. From the VERY start I had seen your material floating around and wondered what are you teaching. I was honestly curious. I love to hear ANYONE who honestly teaches God’s Word and especially in the area of evangelism. Sooo. I was curious what ALL do you teach about. But I NEVER take it for granted what someone says, no matter who they are, taking it for granted that they are telling the truth of God’s Word. The only source/way to know if one IS teaching truth is to check EVERYTHING they say up against God’s Word, everything, no matter who they are or how long you may have studied under them, everything anyone says has to be verified completely. Sooo, therefore I was interested in wanting to know if your credible and hey there absolutely NOTHING wrong questioning those who claim to be speaking for God as God says we should question EVERYTHING to see if it’s of God. So, I asked YOU/Jeremy some completely honest to God questions to see if you were worthy of checking out further to listen to and that was ALL I was doing. Now to reply to your statements after 2 weeks of waiting. * I from the beginning asked several questions and you answered the EASY ones, but did NOT, would not answer the one you got hung up on about going to church. I had NO intension of that question becoming what it did to you, but was just curious where you went to church thinking you SURELY did somewhere, I just was curious about what was the name of it, that’s all. But YOU made me suspicious by your actions and wording. Therefore the follow up. Soooo. it seems I ran into or found something I NEVER expected from you.

      Brady, we have tried to have this conversation before, and I finally gave up because … well … just see this comment thread…

      Well, “tried” may be a good way of saying it for me too, for I innocently asked you a few questions and YOU never bothered to answer the “church” question of do you go to church. That’s a reasonable easy to answer question, sooo why avoid it and YOU still have avoided it.

      Here is a summary of what I have stated before, and still believe and teach:
      1. The church is the people of God who follow Jesus into the world.

      Ok, great, good answer.
      2. If some of these people want to meet in a building, great! I support and defend their right to do so. But meeting in a building is not required by God or Scripture.

      I NEVER made an issue of “where” the church meets/gathers, YOU did. Why create such a false issue unless YOU intended to for what reason I concretely do NOT know unless some bad baggage in your past or ideology or you have ulterior motives???

      3. The use of spiritual gifts for the edification of the church can happen inside a building or out. There is nothing magical about using spiritual gifts in a building.

      Again, I never made or even suggested such ideas as I mentioned above.

      4. I do “sit under” several pastor/teachers. I am also a pastor/teacher myself and use a variety of methods to use this gift for the edification of the Body.

      Ok, great, but that does NOT answer my question of do you go to church though. What’s it’s name???

      5. As far as getting fired from GES is concerned … “You know nothing, Jon Snow.” 😉
      Feel free to respond 10-15 times. I will not be responding further. I have to go finish my book on the atonement.

      Nothing??? Ha ha, wow. But “we” do know, something/some. People do talk and something like that is worthy of knowing for the good of the innocent. And honest to God people have NO problem mentioning they may have been let go/fired however you want to say it, because they may NOT agree or come to disagree who they once worked for. As a matter of fact if one believes what they are convicted of/believe to be true they have no problem making that known for that good cause of your new beliefs.
      And how mature of a statement is “Feel free to respond 10-15 times” when one is ONLY wanting to know the truth and NOT be use it against you dishonestly, but to only want to know the truth soo one can make better judgments, but with your answer you have made yourself a BIG target and very QUESTIONABLE for sure.
      Soooo, you never have answered my question of do you go to church??? But if you would have ONLY just said yes you do go to church or no you don’t go to church and simply explaining , ALL this would have NEVER happen. All because of what Jeremy, ulterior motives??? Inquiring minds want ot know.
      But my heart is first is to only know God and His Word and who actually teaches correctly, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,” 2 Cor. 10:5. Therefore my questions were and are purely and simply honest that a true honest man of God recognizes with no trouble.
      Kerygma,
      Brady

    3. Mike Rea Avatar
      Mike Rea

      Brady, seriously dude stop being a DICK. Dude you are seriously all over this post picking a battle with EVERYONE.

      Put your God badge down and love some one bro.

    4. Mike Rea Avatar
      Mike Rea

      Jeremy, feel free to delete my reply if too offensive. I won’t be offended by it. 🙂

    5. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      In the arena of free speech truth always prevails.. Evil never can stand the scrutiny of Truth in truth always exposes lies. The beauty of truth always questions, those of God never fail to want to answer all questions. True Love Is Spoken through truth and Jesus was a great questioner and commands people to question everything.

    6. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      God says everything should be done in the light and brought to light and not covered up, only those of evil want to silence truth

    7. Mike Rea Avatar
      Mike Rea

      Orrrr don’t take my advice. lol.

    8. Jeremy Myers Avatar
      Jeremy Myers

      Mike Your comment made me laugh. It stays.

    9. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I ask Jeremy Myers a very simple question a couple of weeks ago, “do YOU/Jeremy go to Church, as I know the Bible says we are supposed to do innocently?”
      He then surprising ask to PROVE, wow, that we are to go to church. I was shocked by his question. Then when I showed him the Scripture(s) for that. Then I NEVER heard from him till 2 weeks later with a few statements but still never answering my simple question. Sooooo?????

      1. Jeremy Myers Avatar

        Brady,

        I did reply to you on that other thread. I am sorry you did not like my reply, but there is not much I can do about that.

        But don’t accuse me of not replying when I did.

        Besides, as I have seen your behavior on so many other thread, one attempt to answer a question from you turns into 10 demands that I answer more questions.

        Relax! It is okay to disagree with me, and I hope that you allow people to disagree with you.

    10. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Every spirit is to be tested by their words

    11. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Only those willing to test the spirits will be able to recognize God’s spirit, If they believe every spirit they will really NOT know which of them is truly God’s

    12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The simple believes every word,
      But the prudent considers well his steps. Proverbs

    13. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Test all things; hold fast what is good. That’s what Actually says, 1Thes. 5:21

    14. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      those NOT of God always always run, run from facing testing and answering, never fails

    15. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I am mkaing this KNOWN through out all avenues

    16. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      All thsi Needs to be exposed

    17. Steve Dehner Avatar
      Steve Dehner

      Hey, Brady, here’s a crazy thought. Maybe your words make a person not want to engage in a conversation with you. Maybe Jeremy, for one. Maybe everyone. Since you like to question and expose motives, why not start with yourself? After all, who here answers to you?

    18. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Steve Dehner , i asked innocently and God says to prove all things

    19. Steve Dehner Avatar
      Steve Dehner

      You began asking. You ended up badgering.

    20. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      no you were not there, i only did what God requires and to test every spirit God say to by asking questions

    21. Steve Dehner Avatar
      Steve Dehner

      You’re doing it wrong.

  4. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    Soooo no one should go to church, go to a building where saved people study under pastor-teachers????

    1. David Bartholomew Avatar
      David Bartholomew

      Study? Maybe.
      Show up every week because you’re told you have to? No.

    2. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The Bible tells us too

    3. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      If children in society were done the way Jeremy is promoting , that it was NOT necessary to go to school, and then we would have NEVER been the country we are today but a third world country, very ignorant people needing hand outs, but if a country needs schools to promote higher education to develop lots more smarter people to make our country what it is today then it is definitely much more important that people should do as God says and gather together as one known as a church in a safe environment as what’s known down through the centuries as a building a church building to study under Pastor teachers that God has designed to educate the masses that come Under One Roof to learn.

    4. David Bartholomew Avatar
      David Bartholomew

      What you are describing is found nowhere in the New Testament.
      A meeting of believers was an exchange of testimonies and teachings through the various gifts of the Spirit given through the members of a local church.

    5. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The scriptures makes it plain that there are Pastor teachers and that we are not to forsake ourselves coming together as some do

    6. David Bartholomew Avatar
      David Bartholomew

      Those being written to in Hebrews were being persecuted for being Christians. They were simply being told that they should keep on meeting to encourage one-another in their faith.
      The Bible describes a plurality of elders. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. One is not over the others. No one person has all the gifts and is designated “the” elder or pastor.
      The one place the word pastor is used – in a letter to Timothy – it is about a function (not an office) that Timothy fulfilled.

    7. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      the word church is used over 100 times

    8. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      And take note of the 7 churches Jesus personally addressed in Rev.

    9. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      See, Acts 7:38, 13:1, 1 Tim. 3:15, 1Cor. 1:2, Rom. 16:5,23, 1 Cor. 16:19, Col. 4:15, Philem 1:2, etc for “some” detail about christians meeting to learn

    10. David Bartholomew Avatar
      David Bartholomew

      Ecclesia – community.
      Jesus was addressing all the believers in those cities, not just those who separated themselves into a certain building, or even a certain house.

    11. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      there are lots of different cercumstances but the main fact is God called for pastor teachers to teach the church in gathering places, whether that be in homes or buildings

    12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Dominick Macelli

    13. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I have got to do some running around soo like Arnold, I’ll be back, ha ha

    14. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      David Bartholomew, Jeremy Myers, I completely see your bullseye perspective on the Biblical usage of the word church.

  5. MikenJenn Cratch Avatar
    MikenJenn Cratch

    Doesn’t Greek word ecclesia include not only ex as in exit but also a gathering? And those of us who gather on Sunday are thrown under the bus as religious. Why not fight for grace in church? And let people gather, as they see fit? such a weird discouraging battle you promote

  6. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    I think there is something very very evil in NOT promoting “going” to church. The Devil loves nothing more than keeping God’s children from going and getting an education from God’s way of pastor-teachers where we all can gather together in one spot /a churches building to sit and learn.

  7. David Bartholomew Avatar
    David Bartholomew

    What Darin describes reminds me of the Alpha course. A designated series of lessons to be given for a season, then repeated again for a new group that needs to hear it.

  8. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    God designed and purposed Pastor teachers to teach his children the word of God in what become known as a church building where save people gather to learn under teachers as the scripture says do not forsake the coming together as some do

  9. Chris Jefferies Avatar
    Chris Jefferies

    Jesus speaks about the kingdom over and over and over again. Many of the parables are ways of explaining what the kingdom is like. But he uses the word church (ekklesia) only three times, once in Matthew 16:18, and twice in Matthew 18:15-17. Why?

    We, on the other hand, tend to talk endlessly about church and hardly ever think in terms of the kingdom. Do you think we might be missing something important here?

    1. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      If one is NOT believing in God’s structure of learning by pastor-teachers where people are to gather together to learm from pastor teachers then YES we ARE “mising something” God’s plan of how to teach His Children as He describes and says NOT to for sake the gathering of each other

    2. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Ephesians 4:11-13 – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

      I see five gifts here: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. And although elsewhere Paul writes about the church in a house, a city or a region, he doesn’t use the word at all in this entire chapter. Might we be missing something here, too?

    3. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      the word “YOU” in a sentence is NOT always use in the sentence but by what’s said and context it’s very understood it’s there

    4. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      and the word “church” is used over a 100 times, the Greek word that is

    5. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Indeed it is, Brady. But for some reason not in this chapter. Paul uses the phrase ‘Body of Christ’ instead.

      It seems to me that church today has lost much of the original vision of the early days and has focussed attention on structure, numbers, wealth, tradition and authority. These are not necessarily bad things in and of themselves, but have we lost some other things along the way?

    6. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      As Jesus said you will be saved therefore there are only going to be a few churches that are legitimate

    7. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      So that does not cancel out what the Bible describes as meeting together to be taught under Pastor teachers end what’s known as Church buildings

    8. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      And the Bible has many synonyms and the body of Christ is a synonym for the church

    9. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Brady, you mentioned that we can’t, ‘Cancel out what the Bible describes as meeting together to be taught under Pastor teachers’.

      I don’t want to cancel anything out. I just want to understand what the New Testament is telling us here. Can you tell me where the Bible mentions meeting together to be taught under pastor-teachers? It’s clearly not what this Ephesians 4 passage is saying.

    10. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:25 . Christ are not to assembly themselves together just to look at each other, but to be under a pastor teacher to teach them God’s Word on a regular basis. That’s the job of Pator teachers, da.

    11. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:25 . Christians are not to assembly themselves together just to look at each other, but to be under a pastor teacher to teach them God’s Word on a regular basis. That’s the job of Pator teachers, da.

    12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Also don’t YOU know we are commanded to meet regularly and have the Lords super regularly and that only a couple things along with meeting regularly to be taught by pastor teachers

    13. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      OK Brady, but I don’t see anything about a pastor teacher in the passages you have quoted. And would you say ‘exhorting one another’ sounds like one person exhorting and the rest listening?

      Let’s stick with Ephesians 4 for the moment. Where do you see pastor teacher in this chapter? In verse 11 Paul says that Jesus himself has given us five gifts, and he lists them out. In verse 12 he tells us these gifts are to equip us to serve.

    14. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      And the Gift of Pastor Teacher is NOT for every one , but for a select “few” to teach WHO????? The congregation. The church instructions are scattered through out the New Testament as certain subjects were addressed and only then do you see what all is involved for having church.

    15. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      But this whole thing about where you meet whether out in the open in the woods or building is actually a red herring a straw man argument cause that’s not the point of where it is but what’s being done together as we are supposed to

    16. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      we as Christian are command to go to church and to be under Pastor teachers and honor the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis

    17. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      Brady Pollitt, believers ARE THE church.

      Have you ever heard the expression… the church BODY?

    18. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      yes , but that is NOT my question ever, again I made it plain, are Christians to gather and meet and be under a pastor teacher, and sooo practically speaking when Christians should meet in a building if is most natural the building only building is the Churches building be called a church building or going to church , meaning where christians meet

    19. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      Most natural? Says who? Show me your opinion is equivalent to what the Bible says.

    20. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      The building being a church, is a later historical development, that’s not exampled in the Bible.

    21. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      No one I known ever thought of the building being the issue, wow

    22. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      the issue IS. where Christians meet on a regular meeting , wherever that may be, but with big numbers of Christians buildings of course is where Christians would meet to do the Lords super and listen to God’s gifted men teach the Bible

    23. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Brady, I don’t want to have an argument. I’m sure we agree on most things. But I’m really puzzled about the pastor teacher idea.

    24. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      Buildings of course? Prove that.

    25. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      When 3,000(large numbers mind you), were baptized, were they in a building, or outside? 🙂

  10. Fran Means Avatar
    Fran Means

    Has anyone ever considered that believers after the fall of Jerusalem did not have a lot of choices for gathering places? They weren’t always welcome in synagogues and if they were enslaved they lived at the whim of their masters. Yet the gospel spread across the Roman Empire and beyond. Maybe they just took care of each other within their circumstances then gathered for teaching and refreshment when they could. Paul’s visits seemed to occur in homes and outdoor places.

    1. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      The same could be said for the Chinese church during the rule of Mao Tse-Tung, or the church in Pakistan or Iran today. And in the early days you mention, Fran, they didn’t even have the New Testament. It seems this is a movement that can grow rather well without many of the things we see as essentials!

  11. Dominick Macelli Avatar
    Dominick Macelli

    I think we need to be careful giving infallibility to anyone other than God.
    Teachers will face judgement, and there can be no judgement without the possibility of error.
    See James 3:1.

    We shouldn’t treat Pastor’s in a role of dictatorship.

    1. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      true but that is NOT the issue

    2. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      but the Bibloe does talk about Christians should meet on s regular basis, do the Lord’s super regularly and learn ftom gifted men God has specially given to the Church to teach the congregation on a regular meetings

    3. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      da

    4. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      The issue is, they addressed you that a Pastor has …
      “a function”.
      They’re not against a Pastor teaching a flock. You continually miss their point.

      Here’s the question you should ask them:

      Are you saying it’s the congregations function, to teach the Pastor, or vice versa?

    5. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      They agree Christians should meet regularly.

    6. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      No have NOT missed the point but of course if one wants to make another point , great, MY “point” all along has been, are christians to go to church and be under a pastor teacher??? That all I have asked and kept it there only

    7. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      And that has been met with GREAT resistance the whole time and denied

    8. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      If you mean by “meeting together”, then yes, we “go to church” as the church BODY is meeting together, which can happen anywhere.

      Question:
      Can you show me just 1 NT verse, that says Christians met in a building? Just 1

    9. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      You said “under a Pastor”.

      Can you explain to me what that means?

    10. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      wow,

    11. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      now come you know , if not grab a dictionary

    12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Greek dictionary

    13. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      along with the context it’s found in

    14. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      Brady Pollitt, I challenge you to give me 1 NT verse, that says the church is a building.

    15. MikenJenn Cratch Avatar
      MikenJenn Cratch

      The church is us when we gather. But when we gather, We need not end up under the bus

    16. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Dominick Macelli , I have never ever said the Church is the “building” never. I have ONLY ever refered to the building as being where the Church meets and is housed for meeting. And I have also refered to “going to Church” as ONLY where Chrsitian meet as Chrsitians ARE to DO “regularly” as God commands us to do for the Lord”s super and to listen to God’s gifted men known as pastor teachers. Why have YOU not understood what I have SOO MANY TIME ONLY SAID. As from the beging I have ONLY question this, “do you believe in going to Chirch (meaning, which to MOST is obvious, where the church gathers, da!!! sorry but sooo true) sooo simple but why has this been soooo made into something it should have NEVER BEEN. Ask any person from a kid to grown adults when you ask them do you go to church or believe in going to Church and they respond over whelmingly yes, knowing that where “THEY GO” is where the Church IS and is GATHERED.

    17. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The ONLY reason I “guess” is to do away the the idea of going to Church as commanded,( as seems Jeremy and some out there have apparently said by NOT answering direct questions do you go to church and liasten to pastor teachers) you can NOT go to Church where there is NO Church gathered.

    18. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      You can NOT go to Church where there is NO Church gathered. And where God’s people are gathered is the church whether in building or anywhere. But the MAIN point is, Do YOU go to church??? Do you listen to a pastor teacher??? Easy to understand questions. Why make it into something that it’s not. Most everyone knows what it means to go to church and they also know the build is only a housing for the Church where th Church meets. wow

    19. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Sooo Jeremy has really ruin or cause very bad “heresy”.

    20. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      1.The reason why I address the building aspect, is based on your comments.
      You reference the building as “most natural”. That’s a ridiculous statement. If it’s the most natural, then why does the NT not mention it?
      Can you answer that?

      2. Do we listen to Pastor’s? Yes. Are they ever wrong? Yes.(JAMES 3:1) Should we be Bereans(Acts 17:11)? Yes.

    21. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Points 2-3 are not the issue. that’s a completely different subject. and I whole heartedly agree with YOU on those points. For we each are responsible for what we believe no matter where it comes from, whether someone elses teaching or our own. But Point 1 you “MAY” misunderstood exactly what I meant. I will do that in the next thread

    22. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      When I used the words “most natural” I was speaking of what’s most practical in the sense especially down through the centuries based on peaceful times, it IS “most natural” for Christians to have a place of their own, where they can always all the time meet comfortably, out of the weather and a dependable place. Sooo again, therefore, You can NOT go to Church where there is NO Church gathered. And where God’s people are gathered is the church whether in building or anywhere. But the MAIN point is, Do YOU go to church??? Do you listen to a pastor teacher??? Easy to understand questions. Why make it into something that it’s not. Most everyone knows what it means to go to church and they also know the build is only a housing for the Church where th Church meets.

    23. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Sooo Jeremy has NEVER addressed “my” questions of does he go to church, now lets not play word games, you and I both know what I mean by that and others do to and sooo DOES Jeremy , but he refuses to answer such a innocent questions. And causing others to maybe even go into heresy now by his stance of making people think one does NOT have to go to church, wow

    24. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I see Jeremy( even though he is apparently saved, but God said even the very elect will succum to evil and false doctrines) as DANGEROUS. He raises questions with no answers and promotes some falsehoods it appears

    25. Dominick Macelli Avatar
      Dominick Macelli

      Most people have a misunderstanding of what the church actually is.

      Churches met in homes. Is that outside in the weather? Really, think before you type. You make a unnecessary stink about a building. There is no Biblical basis for that perspective. Am I against having a building? Of course not, but I’m not dogmatic about it either.

      Do we go to church? Yes, we gather with other believers who ARE THE church. We can meet anywhere. Do we listen to a Pastor? Yes. It’s part of his “function”.

  12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    What kind of mind says, “we don’t go to church because we are the church”????
    First I want to hear an explanation for that statement. For every Christian is responsible to go to church wherever it is, yes every Christian is commanded to go and learn from God’s gifted pastor-teachers.

    1. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      I’m sorry, Brady, I didn’t realise you were still puzzling over that. It’s not that we don’t meet together, just that there isn’t necessarily a place we call ‘church’. I meet every day of the week except sometimes Friday and Saturday. The other five days I’m meeting with different groups of people for Bible study, prayer, to eat and drink together, to chat about life, to be disciples together and to be accountable to one another. We meet in homes and coffee shops mostly.

    2. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I see you like to put your own imaginations to what someone may think..Not cool.
      But , socializing and just meeting people is not the same thing as assembling yourself together to learn under a pastor teacher as Hebrews 10 25 talks about.

    3. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      I myself do a lot through the week meeting people discussing the Bible in discipleship and all kinds of issues about the Bible in my daily walk meeting people and socializing, but that is not the same as God has called us to go assembly ourselves together and study under a pastor teacher what is known as Church.

    4. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Brady Pollitt Well no, Hebrews 10:25 says we shouldn’t give up meeting together and that we should encourage one another. This is what I do with my friends in homes and coffee shops. We meet and we encourage one another.

      But that verse doesn’t mention pastor teachers.

    5. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Well I do the same thing I have the privilege of going out every day and meeting people and discussing the Bible and I do, but that is not the same thing as God’s commands to go to church and be under a pastor teacher to learn. Hebrews 10:25 it’s not necessary to mention the pastor teacher it’s understood by assembling yourself together that there will be a teacher to teach those who gather themselves together regularly and the purpose of that verse was not to talk about Pastor teacher’s butt to tell the people to not forget to assembling themselves together in the first place

    6. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Going out every day and meeting with friends and individuals and talking to people about the Bible is not what is called going to church and being under a pastor teacher biblically

    7. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      And stop and think about it for a minute in Hebrews 10:25 when it says to assemble yourself together it is not talking about someone that’s going out every day meeting people and having Bible discussions can coffee shops or wherever but it’s talking about a group of people that are Christians are supposed to come together assembly their self together to study under a pastor teacher.

    8. Jason Bourgeois Avatar
      Jason Bourgeois

      Brady, how is it understood that the purpose of the assembly is to be under a teacher? That’s where you’re injecting your own personal interpretation based on your experience with church. That’s not in the bible, though.

    9. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      In the first place to assemble yourself is not to come together to just look at each other and have friendly discussions

    10. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      But to assemble yourself is to gather yourself together regularly 2 honor the Lord’s command of the Lord’s supper and under a pastor teacher the purpose of a pastor teacher is to have a congregation to teach or an assembly

    11. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      A pastor teacher is teaching a group of people that have gathered together or you can stay at 10:25 and Hebrew says do NOT for sake the assembly yourself together

    12. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Stay was to be say

    13. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      When it says not to forsake yourselves assembling together it’s for the purpose of studying and learning the word of God buy the gift of Pastor teacher. But the verse Hebrews 10:25 is not talking about pastor-teachers, but about people not forsaking themselves to come together so they can be taught under a pastor teacher

    14. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Brady, you keep on saying that we are to assemble together to be taught by a pastor teacher. You claim that the Bible tells us to do that. But neither you nor anyone else can find that idea in the Bible – it’s just not there.

      The New Testament tells us we should meet together. It tells us to encourage one another, love one another, pray for one another. It tells us that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to equip us for works of service. It tells us to feed the hungry, care for widows and orphans, to be kind and patient and self-controlled. It tells us to be pure and holy. It even tells us that when we meet, everyone (each one) should bring a word or a song or a reading – everyone. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

    15. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The whole purpose of having a pastor teacher is to have a congregation or an assembly so the pastor teacher can teach them therefore Hebrews 10:25

    16. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Also you won’t find the word Trinity in the Bible ever but we know by the rest of scripture that 3 person are described and so is therefore how rich is described as you look at the various parts in the Bible where the subject may come up

    17. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      The very purpose of Hebrew saying not to forsake not to assemble yourself together is so you can come together all together and do the Lord’s supper and study under a pastor teacher

    18. Jason Bourgeois Avatar
      Jason Bourgeois

      Okay I’m out. Sorry Brady, I tried. Good luck, Chris. I’m afraid your efforts will be futile beyond this point. You’re being very gracious in your efforts though. I admire your patience and clarity of thought.

    19. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Ok, Jason, butt later I will provide much more evidence on the subject and I cannot help but think how you can ignore all the scriptures where the word Aguilar Garcia the word for church is used over 100 times and it talks about the Assembly of the church coming together and learning but like I said there is over 100 times the word church being mentioned and you have to look at the all the context of the those

    20. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Correction my phone over corrected the word for the Greek word for church sorry bout that and said the wrong word

    21. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      It is evil and the devil who wants to not have a church on assembly where you all come together and meet and study under a pastor teacher to deny that is one of the most evil things there is to do

    22. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Evil does not want a church Gathering or church assembly if it had its way there would be no church assembly under a pastor teachers at all

    23. Jason Bourgeois Avatar
      Jason Bourgeois

      I’m just gonna block you now. It’s for my benefit. I apologize that I can’t be of more benefit to you.

    24. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Well, Jason it’s typical of people who cannot stand the heat get out of the kitchen it’s a big boys world and evil is always exposed when truth is allowed to prevail

    25. Chris Jefferies Avatar
      Chris Jefferies

      Brady, you seem to be telling Jason he can’t stand the heat, he’s not a big boy, and perhaps there’s some evil in his thinking. I think this is unhelpful.

      Jesus said we know people by their fruit, and Paul describes spiritual fruit quite clearly in Galatians 5:13-26. And again in Ephesians 4 he uses some of the same words, urging us to be patient and gentle. I see only patience and gentleness in Jason’s messages.

  13. David Joseph Brncik Avatar
    David Joseph Brncik

    Darin wrote a masterpiece book in the Misunderstood God. Darin understands the heart of God in a remarkable way.

    1. Jeremy Myers Avatar
      Jeremy Myers

      Yes, Darin’s book is excellent.

    2. Brady Pollitt Avatar
      Brady Pollitt

      Jeremy Myers , First, lets start from the beginning. From the VERY start I had seen your material floating around and wondered what are you teaching. I was honestly curious. I love to hear ANYONE who honestly teaches God’s Word and especially in the area of evangelism. Sooo. I was curious what ALL do you teach about. But I NEVER take it for granted what someone says, no matter who they are, taking it for granted that they are telling the truth of God’s Word. The only source/way to know if one IS teaching truth is to check EVERYTHING they say up against God’s Word, everything, no matter who they are or how long you may have studied under them, everything anyone says has to be verified completely. Sooo, therefore I was interested in wanting to know if your credible and hey there absolutely NOTHING wrong questioning those who claim to be speaking for God as God says we should question EVERYTHING to see if it’s of God. So, I asked YOU/Jeremy some completely honest to God questions to see if you were worthy of checking out further to listen to and that was ALL I was doing. Now to reply to your statements after 2 weeks of waiting. * I from the beginning asked several questions and you answered the EASY ones, but did NOT, would not answer the one you got hung up on about going to church. I had NO intension of that question becoming what it did to you, but was just curious where you went to church thinking you SURELY did somewhere, I just was curious about what was the name of it, that’s all. But YOU made me suspicious by your actions and wording. Therefore the follow up. Soooo. it seems I ran into or found something I NEVER expected from you.

      Brady, we have tried to have this conversation before, and I finally gave up because … well … just see this comment thread…

      Well, “tried” may be a good way of saying it for me too, for I innocently asked you a few questions and YOU never bothered to answer the “church” question of do you go to church. That’s a reasonable easy to answer question, sooo why avoid it and YOU still have avoided it.

      Here is a summary of what I have stated before, and still believe and teach:
      1. The church is the people of God who follow Jesus into the world.

      Ok, great, good answer.
      2. If some of these people want to meet in a building, great! I support and defend their right to do so. But meeting in a building is not required by God or Scripture.

      I NEVER made an issue of “where” the church meets/gathers, YOU did. Why create such a false issue unless YOU intended to for what reason I concretely do NOT know unless some bad baggage in your past or ideology or you have ulterior motives???

      3. The use of spiritual gifts for the edification of the church can happen inside a building or out. There is nothing magical about using spiritual gifts in a building.

      Again, I never made or even suggested such ideas as I mentioned above.

      4. I do “sit under” several pastor/teachers. I am also a pastor/teacher myself and use a variety of methods to use this gift for the edification of the Body.

      Ok, great, but that does NOT answer my question of do you go to church though. What’s it’s name???

      5. As far as getting fired from GES is concerned … “You know nothing, Jon Snow.” 😉
      Feel free to respond 10-15 times. I will not be responding further. I have to go finish my book on the atonement.

      Nothing??? Ha ha, wow. But “we” do know, something/some. People do talk and something like that is worthy of knowing for the good of the innocent. And honest to God people have NO problem mentioning they may have been let go/fired however you want to say it, because they may NOT agree or come to disagree who they once worked for. As a matter of fact if one believes what they are convicted of/believe to be true they have no problem making that known for that good cause of your new beliefs.
      And how mature of a statement is “Feel free to respond 10-15 times” when one is ONLY wanting to know the truth and NOT be use it against you dishonestly, but to only want to know the truth soo one can make better judgments, but with your answer you have made yourself a BIG target and very QUESTIONABLE for sure.
      Soooo, you never have answered my question of do you go to church??? But if you would have ONLY just said yes you do go to church or no you don’t go to church and simply explaining , ALL this would have NEVER happen. All because of what Jeremy, ulterior motives??? Inquiring minds want ot know.
      But my heart is first is to only know God and His Word and who actually teaches correctly, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,” 2 Cor. 10:5. Therefore my questions were and are purely and simply honest that a true honest man of God recognizes with no trouble.
      Kerygma,
      Brady

  14. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    Only those willing to test the spirits will be able to recognize God’s spirit, If they believe every spirit they will really NOT know which of them is truly God’s

  15. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    Test all things; hold fast what is good. That’s what Actually says, 1Thes. 5:21

  16. Brady Pollitt Avatar
    Brady Pollitt

    those NOT of God always always run, run from facing testing and answering, never fails