As to Bibles......

[Snake Pleskin]

Pocket editions? A thing of the past for me!

Bob Wright

I have 6 of them. I have my grandfathers, fathers, mothers, grandmother(in Swedish) etc, and my brothers & my own. They used to be given to you as a child when you started attending Sunday School etc, also, every male member of my family has one from the "service" as they were given to anyone who wanted one. The oldest I have is My grandfathers from 1918, he was in the US Army Cavalry!

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Pocket editions? A thing of the past for me!

Bob Wright

Yes, the small print is quite challenging for older eyes.

 

[1av8r-SW]

I do not view "church" as a building nor any specific assembly of people. Churches I've encountered in my 70+ years have been a great disappointment. "The Church", in my view, is the sum total of all believers and those seeking the Word of God. If you need the presence of a building and the association of its congregation, then go with God. The "Word" is in the Bible. Study the Bible. Do good as God reveals and do not judge others.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I do not view "church" as a building nor any specific assembly of people. Churches I've encountered in my 70+ years have been a great disappointment. "The Church", in my view, is the sum total of all believers and those seeking the Word of God. If you need the presence of a building and the association of its congregation, then go with God. The "Word" is in the Bible. Study the Bible. Do good as God reveals and do not judge others.

I have been in many Churches around the world. Some are quite amazing in their architecture, and design. I can't help thinking that they were not built to honor Jesus(the simple carpenter) but were a testament to man's pride self aggrandizement, a monument to the person who originally asked for it to be built.(IMHO) I have found the best solace & comfort to be in God's true church, the deep, silent, almost primeval forest/woods. When hunting, I would do 'still" hunting, and was totally immersed & surrounded by the beauty, serenity and remarkable stillness. It always left me in awe.

 

[Bob Wright]

To those of you who disdain local churches, I'd ask you to consider that Jesus has promised that "Where two or three are gathered together IN MY NAME, there will I be also." And, "Forsake not the assembling yourselves together as the manner of some is."

As to beautiful church edifices, it was Solomon who likely built the most beautiful church (temple) as God's dwelling place. Nothing wrong with a worthy edifice. But beauty can not replace the preaching of God's Holy Word.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

I have been in many Churches around the world. Some are quite amazing in their architecture, and design. I can't help thinking that they were not built to honor Jesus(the simple carpenter) but were a testament to man's pride self aggrandizement, a monument to the person who originally asked for it to be built.(IMHO) I have found the best solace & comfort to be in God's true church, the deep, silent, almost primeval forest/woods. When hunting, I would do 'still" hunting, and was totally immersed & surrounded by the beauty, serenity and remarkable stillness. It always left me in awe.

So long as you don't let the creation upstage the Creator.

Bob Wright

 

[Rustybob]

my parents gave me my bible in 1965 purchased with S&H green stamps, it is falling apart,I use a nkj Patriots bible at home it has a lot of US history in it

 

[Kevin]

Indeed, Christians are admonished, even commanded, to go to church.

Well said, Bob…the whole post.

 

[HoosierBilly1]

By reading the Bible, you will find that God always sent Prophets to his children, and at no time any Prophet started an organization, or church as you call it today. They spoke the Word of God, and those who listened and followed the Word of God, were called the "elected" or "church". Never an organization. When the Apostle Paul admonished the "church" or the saints that are in Ephesus or other places, he was not talking to any organization. Paul was talking to those that follow God by listening to His Prophets. It always was a pagan idea to have an organization that controls the believers, under one organization that controls doctrine, and money of course. When Jesus came to this earth, there were organizations among the Jews, but Jesus never pledged to any of them Pharisees or Sadducees, etc. You can go to any church you want to, but that doesn't make you a believer. You can only be His Elected or His Church by following God's Prophets, God's Word. So, the admonition of not forsaking to assembling yourselves together means to gather together with those that are following God's Word.

 

[Bob Wright]

John the Baptist being the last prophet, the local church was organized on the Day of Pentecost. And yes, Paul did indeed address the local church, actually the local churches. As has been noted, first in individual's homes, then in church buildings.

Bob Wright

 

[Dave P.]

Here you go....

 

[1av8r-SW]

Matthew 6:5-6

 

[Diabloman]

I too got a Gideon Bible when I arrived in Korea in 1979. fwiw

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Bob,
Speaking of Bibles, are you familiar with the Dake Annotated Reference Bible?

Reason I ask is back in 1974 I was working on a new Seminary building on Ashland University and a couple of Seminary students would often stop by to chat at lunch time.
One day the conversation was about interpreting the meaning of Bible verse's. I replied that I was often confused as to some of their meanings.

A few days later one of them stopped by and handed me a Dake Annotated Reference Bible, he told me to look at it and see what I thought of it. I was amazed at how it broke down and explained
the verses and their meanings, but to be honest it was over my head at that time.
Just curious!
Terry

Dake's Annotated Reference Bible is as good as they come. It's my favorite.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I understand that. But we were in Moab and St. George, and several other places that don't come to mind right now, and we stayed in Hampton Inns, and every room we had did have the Book of Mormon. This around the year 2000 or so. Also one Hampton Inn in Colorado had the Book of Mormon.

Bob Wright

I'm talking about the 70's so things might have changed since then.
Actually , I know for a fact they have.
I haven't seen a Bible in a hotel room in many years , unless you brought it yourself .

 

[Mag-force]

Amen to that Mr. Bob! that's exactly what it says.

 

[HoosierBilly1]

John the Baptist being the last prophet, the local church was organized on the Day of Pentecost. And yes, Paul did indeed address the local church, actually the local churches. As has been noted, first in individual's homes, then in church buildings.

Bob Wright

I don't see that there was any organization on the Day of Pentecost. That day God spoke through Peter's mouth and said, "Repent and be baptized, Every one of You, in The Name of Jesus Christ for The Forgiveness of Your sins. and You Will Receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit". The Holy Ghost was promised under the condition or repentance and being baptized in The Name of Jesus Christ, but no organization involved. I am not against having a church, I just don't believe in organizations. As long as you believe God, that is sufficient to me.

 

[Bob Wright]

I don't see that there was any organization on the Day of Pentecost. That day God spoke through Peter's mouth and said, "Repent and be baptized, Every one of You, in The Name of Jesus Christ for The Forgiveness of Your sins. and You Will Receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit". The Holy Ghost was promised under the condition or repentance and being baptized in The Name of Jesus Christ, but no organization involved. I am not against having a church, I just don't believe in organizations. As long as you believe God, that is sufficient to me.

Two offices of a local church are ordained in New Testament teaching, the office of pastor, and office of deacons.

Bob Wright