Expressing Christ in Organic Church

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Al Nelson

mark's avatarExperiencing Christ

I’ve found that when people hear about a church that gathers without a designated leader to present a prepared sermon or teaching, it is difficult for them to imagine how else the church would gather.  The pastor-pew format is so ingrained in today’s church culture, it is hard to picture anything else.  But there are, in fact, “organic churches” who meet together with no human person designated as her leader, where all of the saints gather together and share the riches of her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and allow Him to be the head of the church meeting.

Frank Viola has described organic church as this:

By “organic church,” I mean a non-traditional church that is born out of spiritual life instead of constructed by human institutions and held together by religious programs. Organic church life is a grass roots experience that is marked by face-to-face community, every-member functioning, open-participatory meetings…

View original post 809 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Al Nelson

For those of you who liked “A Living Expression of Christ, please consider what my brother Mark wrote.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Living Expression of Christ

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Al Nelson

Can only come through the gathering together of the Saints as they meet in fellowship in Truth and Spirit. This has been a recurring theme over the past few years in my thoughts and understanding since I have been writing this blog. This has been re-confirmed recently and is a call by the Lord through the Holy Spirit to all who have ears to hear and eyes to see. It’s not merely going to a building called church on Sunday, but gathering to share what the Lord has done through and for you, to share your struggles and triumphs. It is a time to seek the Lord and a time to prepare for whatever the Lord is preparing the Body for. There is so much more to this, but it begins by coming together. Not to sit in a pew, but to be ready to give and share your time, gifts and talent that the Lord has bestowed upon you for the edification of the Body of Christ and the Glorification of our Savior. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Mat 18:20) He didn’t say where did He? Just wherever we are gathered. Study Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and we can get more clues as to how we should be organized. But all within the context of what Christ commanded: 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Mat. 23:8-12)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Al Nelson

Tricia's avatarWhat's Happening...?

adoring the new popeToday as I came to prepare my blog about the new pope, I re-opened a note I’d made a week or so previously, and had never finished. Now, it seems even more relevant, so I will start off with what I wrote then:

View original post 4,477 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The Lord is my Shepherd

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Al Nelson

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever. (Ps 23)

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Holy Father

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Al Nelson

Today millions or billions of people are sad because a man they refer to as their holy father has left an office he was elected to. Presumably, according to them, by the Holy Spirit.

I declare to you today that this practice of calling any man on earth father was forbidden by Christ and is recorded in Scripture.

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9)

Let us look more closely at the verse in context though.

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.(Matthew 23:1-12)

Do you see it? The call is not just about not calling a man “father”, but about titles and positions of authority over others. In further support of this idea, look at verse 8.

But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

And you are all brethren. If we are all brethren, then we are equal to one another. Despite if one is more mature than the other. In maturity each person has a different piece to offer anyway. So that together we make up the whole. Does that make sense? We cannot stand on our own, nor can we rightfully stand if we are lording over others or someone is lording over us!

What shall we do? Twice in verse 8 and again in verse 10 he says “for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” If he is our teacher, then let’s let Him teach us so that we can rightfully and completely serve our Holy Father in Heaven!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Purify Your Soul

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Al Nelson

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever (I Peter 1:22-23)

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth”

I’ve written before about following the commands of Christ and being obedient to His will, but what the Apostle Peter tells us here is of paramount importance. Obedience to Christ in obeying the truth purifies our soul. Have you ever heard or read that before? Or did that part pass you by the last time you read Peter’s first epistle? I don’t think it’s ever struck me quite the same way as it did today reading it.

Yes, we know that Christ’s shed blood was the price for our salvation if we have chosen to accept His glorious gift. But did you think in these terms that obedience to the truth purifies your soul?

So what truth can Peter be writing about? Peter goes on to talk about our conduct in this world. Acting in love towards one another and that’s an important aspect. Do you think that recognition and separation from this world is part of it? I do. How else do you relate the aspect of this truth that we need to be obedient to? Everything we say, do and think is judged whether it be of the Kingdom or not. In light of this Scripture, isn’t purifying our soul and keeping it purified an imperative aspect of our walk with Christ?

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Al Nelson

ian vincent's avatarIan Vincent

Please see Comments

View original post

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Following the law vs Following Commandments

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Al Nelson

This post is not going to be about the 10 commandments verses the commandments of Christ. But consider this. Men have laws that have been passed by their governments in various forms. For the most part men have no problems following those laws of their respective lands. When one of those laws are broken by a person, they are subjected to the punishment prescribed by the law in question. So then O Christian, why is it so difficult to understand that Christ’s Commandments are the law of His land? Why do are we cognizant and accepting of the laws of our earthly governments, but ignore what Christ has decreed? In what things has He made decrees you ask? Have you not read Scripture? Isn’t Scripture the Lord’s where He has given men what He has said, done and decreed for His church (ekklesia or called out ones)? If it’s so easy to follow the laws of man, why isn’t it much easier to follow the Commandments of Christ?

It is written in John 14:15 that Jesus said “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” and again in verses 23 & 24, 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

What’s so hard to understand about that? Nothing on the face of it. But what are some of the things He told us to do? In John Chapter 15 we begin to see a little more.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Why then are you wasting your time by not reading Scripture? Do not consult men as to its understanding, but consult the Lord Himself through prayer. I often ask the Lord to open my eyes to the Truth of the words I am reading. Dividing the words in context to get the full true meaning of what is reflected there. Become doers of the Word and not hearers only. Apply what you read to the way you live your very life. In prayer, in thought, in practice. This becomes life of a Christian. Living for Christ and not for ourselves.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

An Anouncement Against the Mayan Calender Fiasco

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Al Nelson

The Lord will still reign supreme the day before, on and after December 21, 2012. And we will still be looking for the return of Christ. King of kings, Lord of lords.

14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (Rev. 14-15) Excerpt pertaining to the pouring out of the bowls.

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. (Rev. 19:11-21))

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a[a] thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4-6)

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment