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SSB Gathering – November 15, 2015

Kathi

Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.

 by Kathi

poppies

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John 16: 17-33

Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me?’ and ‘Because I am going to the father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

Jesus saw they they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

“You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you from the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?

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photo credit: Kathi – poppies on Palatine Hill, Rome

11 thoughts on “SSB Gathering – November 15, 2015”

  5. I have visited this forum several times during the past year. At first I found this forum quite threatening because I’d been conditioned to not discuss matters like this openly (considered Gossip), let alone over the internet! It’s just not spiritual behaviour. haha.

    Some thoughts I’d like to share if it’s Ok. 🙂

    My family left a church we had been attending for about a year. We hadn’t been going anywhere for a couple years before that due to issues at the previous Sunday Religious Social Club (our new name for churches). The situation is basically this:

    We now come to see “the church” (institution) as something quite different than the church (ekklesia) that Jesus said he was going to build. The institutional churches are man made and seem to be run by men who love to sit in Moses’ seat. (to put it biblically haha). They love to put the word Pastor in front of their name and carry big bibles to look really smart. I have come to somewhat loathe such men (whilst hoping God understands why they grieve me so much!)

    The Church, to me is the collective of believers. When I see the word Church in my Bible I don’t see it referring to a group of believers attending some building in a specific town (how we use the word church today). I see it as referring to the brethren (as a collective group in Christ). Eg: “unto the church of the Thessalonians…”

    I read this as, “to the brotherhood/sisterhood of believers who are in the city of XYZ”. These believers could have met in ten or more houses for all we know!!! The church of the Thessalonians wasn’t a building! It was a brotherhood/sisterhood of believers who likely met in MANY places… and probably not called churches with crosses on top for that matter.

    This new perspective on the meaning of EKKLESIA has really helped me in my faith.

    When I meet with believers for the first time often the first question asked is, “Where do you GO TO CHURCH?”.

    I usually now ask them what they mean by the word Church and see how they define it. I tell them that I can meet with a few believers in my home over a coffee for fellowship and to pray and that is sufficient.

    Next question: BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR PASTOR!!!!

    No sweat: His name is Jesus. He is my SENIOR Pastor. The Chiefest of All of them.

    and He didn’t need a title. In fact, he hated fame.

    I came to trust Jesus as my Saviour as a 14 year old.

    Cried for a week.

    Had a lot of sin He took away some 2000 years ago.

    A diamond in the rough still… but Romans 5:8 is a verse dear to my heart….

    But God commends His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

    My hope?

    His resurrection.

    Romans… what a wonderful book.

    Thanks for listening… God is good.

    Liz.

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Last week was a rough one and a real struggle (I did a long post on last week’s Gathering about it). Then to end it with multiple suffering events around the world – it’s sometimes overwhelming to take to heart.

    I choose this verse because of the very last paragraph. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This has always been the words that I have gone back to when trying to place the world’s suffering in perspective. I’ll be honest, though, I often have a hard time believing it, especially when we see so much evil. I think, though, I can believe it when I see people reaching out to help when crisis and suffering strikes.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Hi Liz

    Wonderful comment. 😉

    Me too – when you write…
    When I meet with believers for the first time often the first question asked is, “Where do you GO TO CHURCH?”

    Often, when I’m in my “Wise-Guy” mood, I’ll answer…

    I can’t GO someplace that I am.
    I can’t GO someplace that WE are.

    And, In the Bible, did any of His Disciples, ever, GO TO CHURCH?

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Liz, I have come to see church in the same way, as well.

    I have been thinking about Jesus’ statement that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against” the church lately. What does it mean when churches have been co-opted by those seeking their own aggrandizement and the gospel is subverted to a system of laws. Well, I wonder if it is just this: God is adding to the collective group of believers day by day those who are being saved (Acts 3:47), in spite of it all. He will keep doing so and no one can stop him.

    Liked by 3 people

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