The Church You've Always Longed For

I was given this 50 Day Spiritual Adventure Bible Study. In keeping with the previous post, I want to share with you an actual study.

On the back page it says, "Dedicated to Revitalizing Christians and Their Churches"
So, what is their idea of how to revitalize Christians and Churches?

The Church You've Always Longed For...

1. Works at being a caring family
   How to: Learn to listen with the ears of Jesus.
2. Captures the heart of the community
   How to: Attract others by saying good things about the church
3. Welcomes all people
   How to: Connect with individuals outside your circle
4. Empowers each individual
   How to: Help each other become all God wants us to be
5. Models integrity
   How to: Get rid of personal garbage that pollutes God's church
6. Serves a broken world
7. Encounters the living God
8. Anticipates a great future

So, here is what is expected of the reader heading into week one...
Assignment for this week:
Tell two people what you appreciate about your church
Daily Assignments:
Read the Assigned Scripture passages and answer the questions.
Pray the "Listening with Jesus" prayer.
Write down something you appreciate about your church.

Wow, that's going to revitalize a church? Let's take a look at one day in the lesson.
Read Romans 12:9-16
1. Which of Paul's instructions does your church follow well? If possible, give an example.
2. Which commands do you long to see your church practice more?
3. What is one area where you need to improve to help your church become a more caring family?
4. Have you had someone rejoice or mourn with you recently? How did that make you feel? How good are you at doing that for others? Explain.

Maybe week one was a warm up, let's see what week 2 has to offer...
Assignments for this week
Tell two people what you appreciate about your church
Before the adventure is over
invite someone to church
Daily Assignments
Read the assigned Scripture passages and answer the questions.
Pray the "listening with Jesus" prayer
Write down something you appreciate about your church

I don't like how this is going so far!
okay, let's try another day of getting into God's Word...
Read Matthew 5:13-16
1. How is your church "salt" and "light" to the surrounding community?
2. A little salt and light go a long way. What are some things you personally could do to help your church be salt and light?

I can't go on!!!!!!
Where is the teaching of God's Word?
What does it mean to be "salt" and "light" to the world? Give me some Scriptures that cross reference the meanings so I can truly understand Scriptures. If we are going to teach people the Word of God, let's do it the right way. Let's use the Bible and teach people how they can read it and gain "True" knowledge that comes from God's Word!

I am going to the end of the 50 days to see what we should have learned.
they offer little boxes for you to check so here are the questions...
I have completed most of Days 1-50.
I have prayed the "listening with Jesus" prayer.
I have recorded things I like about my church.
I have told other people what I like about my church.
I have invited someone to church.
I have connected with someone outside my circle.
I have helped someone become all God wants him or her to be.
I have gotten rid of personal garbage.

50 days have gone by, where is the mention of the need to repent? I found it on that last one about garbage.
And I must admit, garbage is the appropriate word to use for this study.
"if your main hindrance is pride or vanity, throw out a picture of yourself or a mirror. If it's greed, throw away a voided check. If you can't think of a symbolic object, simply write down the behavior that is polluting your life. Then take the paper and destroy it in some way." And under directions on Page 18 it says, "Once during the Adventure, evaluate those behaviors, involvements, or attitudes that are polluting your life and God's church. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify these things."

Only one time during the whole 50 days is the reader told they need to evaluate the need to repent. The bible tells us to examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith! we need to do this daily!!

Listen, you don't need to throw away items (unless they are exceedingly sinful in and of themselves, like a porno magazine). What you need to do is realize that unless you repent of your sins, you are headed for hell. That should be enough to create a desire in you to repent of your sins. Me throwing away a voided check if my problem is with greed, is not going to change my attitude about being greedy. My attitude will not change until I decide that I will be obedient to God's Word.

Look, if you want to be revitalized, here is what you need to do.
Read the Bible daily
Obey what you read.
Believe in Jesus (trust in Him)
Repent of your sins
Reach the lost

Do you want your church to be revitalized?
have them throw out this kind of junk posing as a Bible study!
Have them actually open up the Bible and read it one verse at a time so that the people can truly understand what Scripture is telling us.
Have your pastor stop telling jokes and stories from behind the pulpit and have him start expositing God's Word!
Have your church start practicing church discipline so that false teachings do not invade your church.
Have them practice church discipline so the person who professes to be a Christians and is still living in outward sin, will finally come to a point of repentance.

Please, if you are truly interested in doing a Bible study, I invite you to join us at Open The Bible